Arc V: Path of the Hero
Chapter 49: Ties That Bind
If there was one word she hated, it was "defeat".
Thunder boomed and lightning flashed outside, heralding the start of yet another rainstorm, but the shouting, yelling and laughing more than made up for it. The tavern was full of rowdy people stuffed with liquid courage, with one group cheering on their buddies' arm-wrestling contest while throwing knives thudded their way into a shredded dartboard. For those who loved drinking with friends, it was as good a time as any.
Cinder had none of that. Her table was located near the darkened back, empty and somewhat cleaner due to its lack of use, but she wasn't here to get drunk or make friends. Instead she glanced from beneath her hood to a wall-mounted TV, watching photos of Mistral appear on Lisa Lavender's latest special.
Haven, for lack of better terms, was a shitshow. Unlike Vale, where she at least killed Ozpin, regained Fall's powers and crippled Beacon, she was forced to flee despite favourable odds.
"…where did it go so wrong…?"
The TV flashed to reveal new photos - distant shots of a silver-eyed girl and a blonde boy in green.
"Ah. Of course," Cinder growled internally. She remembered dark skies and a city under siege from within like yesterday, all thwarted by a poor excuse for a huntsman and his band of misfits. She should've killed him when she had the chance. She and Link would've disposed of him oh so easily after doing the same to Ozma and Pyrrha, only for that silver-eyed brat to interfere at the worst possible moment.
Fire magnified within her clenched fists. Just like when she slaughtered her stepfamily, she was on the run once more.
Fortunately, her chance for revenge might not be so far away.
"…I'm just saying, Em, you shoulda cracked his face on the bar instead of just walking away. Now everyone here thinks we're dweebs who don't have the balls to stand up for ourselves."
"Here you go, ma'am. Eighty proof, like you asked," Emerald replied, sitting down with Mercury and sliding Cinder a glass of clear liquor. "And that sounds like a 'you' problem, dumbass. Why worry about having balls when you lack anything useful down below? Besides, Cinder said we're supposed to remain incognito while we're here. I'm not gonna break cover because someone said a bad word."
"You sure broke cover after spending last night with me -"
Mercury shrugged when Emerald ineffectively kicked his shin, gulping ale down from a large tankard. "Fuck off. Look around. See how some guys keep eyeing us? Maybe if you did something, they'd have left us alone –"
Cinder slammed her fist down loud enough to silence the thief and the butcher without drawing undue attention. "Enough, both of you. Did Salem send me to acquire ancient power or babysit hormonal teenagers?"
"I'm s-sorry, ma'am."
"Sorry, boss."
"Don't be sorry. Be better," she snapped, taking a large gulp and feeling the burn without flinching. "We're not here to prove ourselves to drunk mercenaries who can't even last a second against us when sober. Mistral still stands, in case you haven't noticed."
Emerald's gaze fell while Mercury scowled, no doubt remembering the painful aftermath. While the chaos made retreating easier, the following days were nothing short of miserable. Constant rain while fending off Grimm and piglike monsters on horseback when she could've been basking in victory did not a happy Cinder make.
Worst of all, she had no glowing power to show for it.
Cinder glanced at a corner to see only shadow, but knew it wasn't empty. The wraith, the corpse, the Hero...Link was her ace in the hole. A pale reflection of Jaune from ancient times that was strong enough to match Ozpin without much help from her.
And he failed.
But she couldn't stay angry forever when failure yielded unexpected results. While strangling the unlife from Link and taking his glowing power was still on the list, now she'd have to contend with the man in her vision from the last time she tried. He was neither Link nor Jaune, but the similarities were too strong to dismiss as mere coincidence.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he could take Tyrian, Hazel and Qrow Branwen together without much difficulty. Not only have I never faced someone so powerful, but something about him felt incredibly old, and he did seem familiar with Link and Jaune. Why would he call them time and destiny? Is he a distant ancestor, perhaps?"
Cinder narrowed her eye.
"…or maybe Ozma's condition isn't as unique as I thought it was. Either way, it all leads back to the golden triangles on their hands. I will never know for certain until I claim it for myself. If he's what that idiotic blonde might grow up to be…"
The mere thought made her feel the smallest shreds of doubt, for Link's obedience wasn't nearly so absolute after Haven. She had Jaune's radiant blitz to thank as it somehow weakened Salem's spell, hindering efforts to rein Link in. He looked more like a feral dog when they found him in the nearby forest, and Mercury, in his infinite stupidity, chose to kick a cornered, injured beast. It was only due to Hazel's strength and Link's serious injuries that the magic held him long enough to keep Mercury's throat intact.
"So what's our plan, ma'am?" Emerald asked, voice uncertain. Cinder fought the urge to cringe at her self-imposed meekness, even though it was pleasing to know she accepted her place. If only the same could be said for Link and Mercury. "Do we continue waiting until the dragon draws them out?"
"I say we follow that bandit tribe and set them up against each other," Mercury argued back. "A good number of 'em are pussies, but the guys worth their weight in salt are seriously brutal. I almost wish I knew how to feel bad when they go nuts on those burning villages. Remember how we ran into them on the way east?"
Cinder leaned back. It wasn't just unexpected because they ran into the Branwens, but because they were bold enough to stalk the beast as it spread destruction across the landscape. Though she was indifferent to their cruelty, she can respect the efficiency that came from waiting in the treeline until the dragon left before raiding the survivors.
But in the end, pulling strings from behind the scenes might give them more favourable opportunities while they recovered.
"And if they figure out what we're doing? Sneaking into that island village, gathering intel and stealing Fireshield Earrings was easy, but that Raven woman is no joke," Emerald countered. "I bet fighting her will be harder than when we had to escape from that weird grotto temple inside the volcano."
"Which is why we shall continue waiting as Emerald asked," Cinder replied. "Watts' intel was good there, and now the cards are in our favour once more. Those two bird pillocks couldn't stop us from provoking the dragon and finding a moon pearl for Hazel to return to Salem with. If Mistral sends its remaining forces on suicide missions against the dragon, it won't be long until Jaune's party rear their stupid little heads. Until then, we wait. We recover, and we prepare."
Emerald nodded eagerly while Mercury sighed, reclining on his chair.
Cinder glanced at the corner and found Link staring back without emotion.
"And this time, they won't stand a chance when we -"
The front doors burst open as another rough-and-tumble group barged in, eliciting angry cries from the other patrons. Though Emerald and Mercury watched with rapt attention, Cinder took another sip and resigned herself to the rest of Lisa Lavender's report –
"Huh? Whaddya say? Look, I don't speak bitch but my fist sure does, so why don't I let her translate for me one more time?"
A choked yelp, followed by a haughty voice. Familiar, too.
Cinder looked glanced towards a group of people dressed in the blacks and reds of the Branwen tribe crowding around a girl that just punched some drunken thug. Her hair was long and was swept right in an undercut, but she still recognized the girl as some sort of retainer to Raven. After the thug fell beneath a barrage of punches, Vernal ducked beneath another thug's haymaker before sweeping his legs and kicking him into a third bandit. A fourth and final one charged her with a dagger, but right as it zeroed towards her neck, Vernal raised a palm and blasted him into a pillar with a beam of ethereal wind.
Only Lisa Lavender's voice remained in the silence. Vernal smirked as Raven Branwen emerged from behind the group, who then gave her an approving nod.
"If anyone else wants to learn a new language, you're in luck because I'm here to stay!" Vernal crowed, fishing a wallet from the unconscious first thug. "And so is happy hour, boys, because drinks are on these guys tonight!"
The Branwen bandits cheered and began shoving other patrons off their seats near the bar and entrance. Emerald and Mercury looked to her for orders, but she too remained silent. Even Link was ignored.
…though she can understand why he looked so curious. He hadn't taken his eyes off Raven, and neither had she.
Not after they noticed a masked Raven before anyone else had, subtly weaving a finger that trailed red fire. Magical fire.
Maiden fire.
"I believe it's time we paid our tab," Cinder chuckled darkly, leaving a few lien on the table before heading for a back door. Yet all she focused on was that within arm's reach were powers that would elevate her beyond any Maiden in history. If she killed Jaune, Link and the other three Maidens and took all their power, it might even be enough to challenge Salem on equal footing. In the end, Raven and the wraith still had their uses after all.
It was dark, the air was humid and rain poured down in sheets, but nothing could wipe Cinder's smirk as they disappeared into the night.
(==|======-
"...and I no longer see unbloodied boys and girls before me, but lions and wolves!" A gruff voice roared over the drunken crowd, similar to his but with twice the fiery passion. "Those pathetic bastards who thought themselves our rivals now kneel before us because they realized the strength of our clan - the strength you all possess."
Qrow stood with the others as their chief raised his mug.
"Tonight, we dine not as bandits, but as conquerors!"
"Hail to the Branwen Tribe!" Raven yelled beside him. "The strongest clan in all of Anima!"
He joined a chorus of voices that were drunk on adrenaline and high on victory. It was a night he'd never forget, from the fire, the smoke and the cries of his enemies as he tore through their ranks. Bandit clan wars were often long and bloody, and while this was no exception, fortune favoured those who broke the status quo. Those no-name upstarts who thought they could just steal their pride ended up in the dirt like the rest.
"Heh. Maybe having shitty luck for a Semblance isn't so bad after all."
...so why did it feel more hollow than expected?
"Isn't this great?" Raven unknowingly agreed, drawing him in by the neck for a tight hug that caused his Aura to flicker. "I can still remember how they tried so hard and got so far, but in the end, it doesn't even matter. The survivors didn't even have the balls to look back at me as they ran. Tch. Cowards."
"Well, duh. Even the weakest in our tribe could take them head-on. Not gonna lie, I almost felt sorry for them."
Raven blinked, then pushed him away. "Are you developing a conscience, my dear brother?"
"Hell no! I wanted a challenge and instead I got sparring practice. Never mind. I guess my bad luck got in the way after all."
"Like that time when I was thirteen and had to save your ass from a fucking Beowolf?"
"That was four years ago," Qrow growled. "Shut up."
Raven smirked. "What'cha gonna do about it, huh?"
He met her smirk with one of his own. "Why don't you come and find out?"
They stood and pushed the table aside, drawing excited gasps until another arm caught their necks, locking them into a tight, uncomfortable hug.
"Ha! That's the spirit!" the gruff voice laughed as he and Raven squirmed for freedom. He manhandled them towards a secluded corner table, and when he let go, so too went his smile and warmth. Not that he had much anyway in his tattered black and red cloak, held together by a silver clasp while a black feather pelt was draped around the neck. Beneath was a grey vest atop a dark red shirt, which was tucked into dark brown pants and black boots. Combined with a thin beard, pale red eyes and long black hair that flowed down his back like a mane, Qrow couldn't stop wondering if this was what he'd look like in thirty years.
"Nothing like a good fight, a hearty fuck and seeing your kids take after you. It's almost enough to make me think you two can make it."
Two bloodied scrolls clattered before them. He blinked once, twice and thrice upon seeing the screen –
"…an offer to try out for Beacon Academy's Initiation? All the way in fucking Vale?"
Corvin Branwen plopped onto the chair opposite and took a long swig before eyeing them sharply. "The other tribe's chief got his hands on some forged applications. Just because a few of us have huntsman training doesn't mean we can take on several teams at once. It could've been us instead of them."
Various emotions flashed across Raven's face as she glanced between him and the scroll.
All he felt, however, was dread. That and a vague sense of...longing? Anxiety?
"This is what those rich city bastards call a long-term investment. You two will become huntsmen incognito before returning to teach our people. Only then will we truly become the strongest on the continent. Who knows? Maybe we could one day rule over the wastes around the continent. The others already think of you two as an omen of power and a harbinger of ill fortune, the ideals our tribe strives for."
Their father leaned forward with a piercing stare. "But remember that the greatest strength you both have is each other. We've fucking ruled this clan for generations because our individual strengths and capacity to work together outshine the rest. Will you remember your bonds...or will you falter?"
Raven nudged his knee and Qrow met her determined look. The same look she had when he dared her to climb the tallest tree when they were kids, and when she discovered her Semblance right before a Beowolf could end his injured form.
Corvin poured a new round before raising his tankard in a toast, no doubt to the future he saw for the both of them.
He felt the strength to meet it only when his sister held his hand beneath the table.
=I=
Qrow slammed his flask down and stared at the mirror, revealing his haggard face after days of travel. For a moment, he saw the familiar tattered cloak, long black hair and red eyes of his father but it disappeared with another shot of warm flask whiskey.
"Ugh. Is the lack of sleep finally gettin' to me? Haven't thought about that stuff for decades, so why does it have to be now?"
The house shook ever so slightly and the wind howled from the open window beside him, followed by a low metallic groan from one of the massive valley windmills.
"Then again, it's not like I expected to be back here either."
Windpath had grown over time, but the streets were still full of bandits and the few honest folk left struggled to make ends meet. In other words, water was wet. The only difference was that his family – those who mattered, anyway – had legitimate reasons to dip their toes in, no matter how much he wished otherwise.
"Aside from that little run-in on the road to Mistral, I never thought they'd see you again this way...though it's not like you'd care otherwise, right, Ray?"
Qrow sighed, pocketed the flask and left the washroom.
"But as long Ruby and Yang are fine, I won't complain. I just wonder what the hell's next for me once they're safe for good.
For now, six young adults who needed help were crammed into a tiny hotel penthouse within an out-of-the-way corner of the city. In the corner was a pile of brown travelling cloaks that were probably thick enough to stop rain as well as knives.
"...I feel like I can finally breathe," Neptune sighed as he reclined on the couch. "This place gives me the creeps. Everyone looks like they want to steal from me or stab me in the back."
"And believe you me, they hundred percent would," Qrow rasped. "It's a dog-eat-dog world beyond these walls, so act weak and they'll eat you alive. If you think Kuchinashi was bad, then you're in for a rude surprise."
"I admit that first impressions are less than savoury," Weiss replied, clasping her hands as she sat on a chair. "But assuming the entire city is out to get us sounds far-fetched."
"For now. Talk to me when people start finding out we're huntsmen. Double for when they see you're a Schnee."
Weiss, Yang and Ruby tensed as Blake stepped up. "They wouldn't get far when we've fought worse things than random street thugs."
"Sure. Let's beat up some people, call it a day, then spend the week fighting off bounty hunters while fending off ambushes at night. You won't last long when a city of bandits is out for blood, and if Raven finds out, all it takes is one portal. Then Sun will never know peace."
Blake growled, then deflated when Yang laid a hand on her shoulder. "I hate to admit it, but my uncle's right. Raven comes first over every other lowlife here."
"Who also happen to hate huntsmen," Qrow quipped.
Weiss frowned. "Doesn't Windpath have some sort of law enforcement?"
"That doesn't do backdoor dealings with local criminals? You're funny. While it's okay out in the open, it gets dark and cramped in quite a few places. People will be looking to rob you at every corner, but if you walk like you can handle yourself then there's nothing to worry about."
She hummed. "I see. What else should we know about the area?"
Qrow paused as the walls shook once more, followed by a mournful wind passing through the window. "Windpath's less like Mistral and more like a collection of walled towns built atop close mountain peaks, but the real kicker are the valleys in between. The Horon Lagoon to the northeast is rich with wind dust, so it aggravated the sea breeze into powerful gales that carved through rock in ancient times. But hey, that's why they have those giant-ass windmills built into the cliffs and cloudy valleys. Generates power and all that, though the poor guys who live further down get the worst of it."
"What about the tribe itself?" Ruby asked. "Do they have actual tactics or just rampage everywhere like Vernal?"
"Oh, there's method to the madness, kiddo. I mean, I don't know if Raven changed anything since she took power, but everyone's organized into squads with a lot of autonomy. Think huntsmen teams at Beacon."
"Hmm, okay. Well, if we can't make a lot of noise, then we'll be like those guys in Atlesian spy movies. Why don't we split up into pairs and scout around for information? We can plan our attack when we find out more."
"I'd like that," Blake agreed. "I suggest checking out markets and cafes since there's usually a fair amount of information you can glean from gossip. That and darting between rooftops when tailing people instead of being on foot."
Ruby, Weiss and Neptune looked between themselves and nodded.
"Yang? What do you think?"
The girl in question blinked, then nodded almost distractedly. "I'm game, Blake."
"I just have one question before we go out and do anything."
They turned to Sage, who had been leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. "You speak as if you specialize in…clandestine operations. Sun did mention you taking the lead when sneaking into the docks back then, and you -" he narrowed his eyes at Qrow - "You seem a little too familiar with who the Branwens are. Have you had dealings with them before? And the more I look at you..."
Qrow merely snorted. "That's one way of putting it. Then again, after what my sister did, I guess 'dealings' are the most we've talked since. Not like she checks in on us anyway…"
Sage blinked and even Blake looked surprised, though Neptune blocked his teammate when he stepped forward. "Don't do this, man. We've come all the way here for Sun, and I don't want to screw things up when we have a plan."
"Hmph. And what about you, Blake? Is there a reason why the news was filled with stories about White Fang fighting each other across Menagerie? Don't tell me you roped Sun into that nonsense too."
She shook her head as Yang levelled a glare at the green-haired boy. "It's okay, Yang. I spent some time in the White Fang before joining Beacon, but I left when I realize how too far gone they were. It was there we confronted my past...together."
Sage glanced between her, Qrow and Neptune before scoffing. "I see. No wonder he was so vague when we asked him about what happened there. How…protective of him."
"And he's not around to protect you if you keep getting in my teammates' faces. What the fuck is your problem?" Yang snapped, switching Ember Celica's safeties off. Neptune stepped between them while Blake and Ruby held her back, but Sage merely headed for the balcony.
"The problem, Yang, is that you're right and it's all because of her. How can I trust that the terrorist and ex-bandit won't backstab me in a city full of their kind?"
"Maybe you can't, and I won't try to convince you otherwise," Blake whispered. "But if Sun trusted me enough to stay when he could've run then I owe it to him to see this through. Even if his team doesn't like that I'm trying to make things right."
For the longest time, Sage stared without emotion until he hopped off the balcony without a word. Neptune followed until Weiss called his name.
"Are you of the same opinion as well? Is it safe to assume that this is how your team views my own?"
"I…well, Scarlet's not too happy either, and part of me's still pissed off about it all," he replied without turning. "But I know you're all good people trying to do the right thing, and I'm just happy my best friend came back alive. I don't know what I'd do if he didn't, so…I'll leave it at that. I'll keep you guys in the loop if we find anything."
The balcony door closed as Neptune left, leaving them alone in stilted silence. Ruby stepped in to hug Blake while Yang and Weiss watched on, and before long, the four girls began whispering amongst themselves and looking more determined by the second.
Qrow stepped back, content to let them support each other while fighting the subtle ache within his heart. STRQ might no longer exist, but he was happy to see his nieces thrive in a team whose bonds were more robust than his own family.
A small, selfish part of him wondered if he'd get to feel that again.
(==|======-
Smoke rose from the metal chimney beside her as she whipped a small pebble over the ledge. It disappeared into the dark, cloudy valley; if it were large enough to make noise, she wouldn't hear it anyway over the howling winds below. A small aerial sailship drifted around the windmills, and across the ravine, Windpath's walled neighbourhoods sparkled from various mountaintops like beds of fireflies.
It was breathtaking to see, at least until the city lights began glowing red and the faint scent of ash tickled her nose. She blinked and found Amity Colosseum smeared across the Emerald Forest while the Blood Moon cast an eerie red light over the festival grounds, now overrun with Grimm.
And in the distance, that same masked shadow stood atop the rubble and stared back at her through its bone-white mask…and long, black hair.
Yang blinked and found herself back on the hotel rooftop, but it wasn't enough. She whipped out her scroll and dialled a number she had long since memorized.
"..."
"..."
"...I'd probably wake him up, on second thought. But still..."
Yang's thumb hovered over the call button until she clicked back and texted him instead.
"Hey, Vomit Boy. You still up?"
She stared at the screen, then put it away when nothing happened. Maybe Jaune was sleeping or fighting deadly monsters in some cave across the continent, but she still saw that bright-eyed kid from Beacon with a dream. Despite his scars and the weight on his shoulders, he never failed to watch out for his friends. The few times they'd talk around the campfire, sharing their nightmares after everyone else had gone to sleep did more for her than she'd ever admit. Deep down, she wondered if they could've been partners in another lifetime, but it remained just that. A thought. They had their own demons to face and friendship wasn't a substitute for a cure. Raven wasn't his mother and it wasn't Dark Link that sliced her arm off.
What Yang wished for, however, was a fraction of Jaune's courage. They'd be confronting Raven soon, and from the little she knew not everyone would live to tell the tale.
"None of this makes sense. Why am I so anxious when we've already met? A year ago, I would've killed to run into her, but it's kinda unsettling now that we're hunting her down. Do I even want to find her? Do I still want anything to do with her?"
A soft pair of footsteps was her only reply. Yang sighed and leaned back.
"Don't be a stranger, now. Come on over."
The footsteps stopped nearby as black pants and a white shirt appeared in her peripherals.
"I didn't want to intrude. You looked like you wanted some time alone to think."
"Please. I've been thinking about this for eighteen years. When I was a kid, I even put Ruby in one of those kiddie wagons and walked into the forest to try and find her, and it was only because Uncle Qrow was visiting that ran into us before they Beowolves could. And right before Beacon started, I was going around bars in Vale asking if anyone had seen someone with her description."
Blake walked around and leaned against an air conditioning unit.
"So in case he didn't make it clear enough, the woman who rendered Sun comatose was my absent bitch of a mother. Sorry, I…I wanted to tell you beforehand but Sage beat me to the punch."
"I admit I was surprised, but there's nothing to forgive. If anything, I'm even more grateful," Blake replied. "This was a personal mission you had no stake in and you still came to support me, even if it meant going against your own mother. Had I known earlier…" She pursed her lips and looked troubled. "No. It's too late now but thank you for doing so. You deserve better than what she did back then."
"They fill you in on the details?"
She hummed. "No parent should ever abandon their children."
Yang's grin was crooked and hollow. "But does it change what you want to do?"
Blake looked away. "I now fully realize why you hold trust more sacred than others might, but...I can't say that it does."
"Good, because I wouldn't have it any other way," Yang sighed. "She needs to get her shit kicked in and I don't want anything else to do with her."
Yang's gaze fell, even as Blake looked on in concern. "I'm mostly sure of that, anyway. This feels more surreal than just running into her by accident."
Blake took a deep breath. "In the end, she's still your mother so I don't blame you for hesitating to face her. Finding her in the forest was a fluke, but I think that now you have time to reflect on what it means, you're also preparing yourself to confront what's haunted you for the past several years."
"And it's fucking scary, Blake," Yang rose, exasperated. "I hate her for leaving Uncle Qrow without a sister and Dad a depressed wreck. For some time I thought I'd lose him too, and when I met Raven for the first time she couldn't care any less. Actually, there was some girl down at her camp who she treated more like a daughter than her own flesh and fucking blood. Like, what kind of bullshit is that? So, no, I didn't just come along to help you out, but so I could give her everything she deserves. Then maybe, just maybe, I can finally bury it all for good."
She sat back down and leaned on her knees. "Why is it so hard for people to not leave those they care about? What did I do to have everyone I know walk on me?"
Blake looked away, and for a moment they waited together in stilted silence. Some small, vindictive part of her wanted to keep lashing out at Blake, but while she would've relished that several weeks ago, the mere thought brought some guilt as well. The last thing she wanted was to push everyone away when they were already leaving on their own accord -
"It still changes little."
Yang blinked. "Huh?"
"If anything, it makes me even more determined to bring Raven to justice," Blake continued. "Because she attacked innocents in the aftermath of destruction, abandoned her family and put the man I...I -"
"Love?"
Blake blushed and gave her a little glare. "Don't put words in my mouth, but Sun's in the hospital because of her. I realize how selfish I may be, that I would hunt one criminal amongst others for my own personal reasons but refusing to run means confronting those who'd hurt me. And you didn't just stare your demons in the face, Yang. You kept swinging after they claimed a part of you too."
She froze. "I -"
"You're one of the bravest people I know," she continued. "When you think you're all alone, remember that I partnered up with Yang Xiao-Long, not Yang Branwen. Sister to Ruby, teammate to Weiss and the daughter of Summer Rose. If there's one lesson I learned, family isn't about blood, but those who've been there since the very beginning."
Blake kicked off and gave Yang a quick tiny smile before walking past her.
"…you forgot to put 'partners' in that list."
The footsteps stopped for a moment before disappearing down a ladder, but the ensuing quiet no longer felt so lonely. It didn't last for long when something moved in the corner of her eye, and Yang looked down to avoid the shadow that lumbered out from behind a chimney. The bone-white mask was stark against hair that shimmered between short, cropped red and long, wild black, and its body flickered wildly like living static.
Her heart rate sped up and high-pitched ringing flooded her ears as it staggered over, but Yang forced herself to pay attention to the truth behind Blake's words. While her mother never cared, the people that mattered did and that was enough to let her trust once more. That gave her more strength than Raven would ever realize.
Yang stood up, faced the shadow and walked right through, feeling her heart slow down and the calm ambience return. She glanced at her grey, metallic palm before raising it skyward against a night full of stars.
"You know, maybe it's about time I do something about this…"
There were no shadows when her mind wandered again. Instead, she imagined her father coming home after a long day's work, followed by a young Ruby munching on cookies that Summer - her real mother - baked for dessert.
She paused when she felt her scroll vibrate and winced as her eyes adjusted to the light.
"Sorry, just saw this. Are you okay? Do you want to call?"
Yang smiled.
"I'm good, Jaune. Thanks for asking, but everything's alright now."
Or at least it was going to be. Raven might've been looking at the same sky across the city, but Yang doubted her thoughts were any happier.
(==|======-
When one thought of Atlas, the first thoughts were usually along the lines of strength, pristine cleanliness and good order. The streets were free of litter, holographic lights made its white stone buildings sparkle like crystals, and the pettiest crimes were prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Some considered it a safe haven, which wasn't far off when Remnant's most powerful military protected it.
But Weiss knew that Atlas and Windpath weren't so different. Trading suits for roughspun leather couldn't undo a childhood of suspicious stares and false smiles, and they remained the same whether they belonged to obnoxious young nobles or hardened mercenaries.
"This is the last place I'd prefer to fight in, but everyone looks like they would spit in your face rather than slander you behind closed doors. To be so honest about being dishonest is...surprisingly refreshing."
Lost in her thoughts, she sidestepped to avoid an oncoming stranger that shoved into her anyway, offering a specific finger when she protested about his lack of social awareness. Was it so hard to move when someone was walking in your direction? The sheer audacity to think people would just get out of your way...unless it was on purpose, and Weiss discreetly checked her purse to make sure there weren't any cuts or missing lien.
Thankfully all was safe, but she couldn't afford to drop her guard in the middle of what was essentially a black market. Stalls, wagons and the occasional stone building created zigzagging paths beneath a canopy of multicoloured fabrics, creating a kaleidoscope of shadows within nooks and crannies so that even the smallest person could vanish. Combined with neon lights and dim lanterns like some grungy cross between Kuchinashi and Kakariko Village, it was all too blatant why Qrow wanted them to stay vigilant. He even bought traveller's cloaks before they entered the city, which was worth making her hot with the Snowpea coat underneath.
Schnees didn't travel the world to solve ages-long mysteries or fight crime with capes from the darkness, but then again, tradition was the last thing on her mind. Weiss ignored a few suspicious stares and some dubious merchants that called out to her, though not without glancing at their wares - tools, trinkets, dust vials with a familiar snowflake crest...and an altogether different kind of dust that one bandit snorted off his finger.
Weiss never felt so out of place.
So was her partner as she retreated from a large, sweaty weapons vendor not too far away. While her people skills had improved since Beacon, Ruby couldn't hide the nervous expression that melted with relief when Weiss approached. The merchant's voice rang out but they ignored it and headed behind some food stalls in a less crowded portion of the market. Ruby sagged against a tree while Weiss exhaled a breath she didn't know she held.
"You know, that was probably the first time I've seen you uncomfortable to be around weapons."
"Because not only were they all dirty and mangled up, they were clearly stolen too!" Ruby complained. "There was a sword that still had its owner's initials engraved on the pommel. I know Uncle Qrow said it was a city full of criminals, but it feels pretty gross just to walk around. Everyone stares at you when they think you're not looking and the air smells like rotting meat."
"Might as well burn it, then. The more I look at it, everything seems to blend into one large fire hazard."
"..."
Weiss scoffed when Ruby gave her a look. "Relax. I was being sarcastic."
"I know. I almost wish you weren't," Ruby grumbled. "This whole place gives me the creeps, and we dealt with actual ghosts before!"
"I...cannot refute that. All the more for us to find Raven so we can leave as soon as possible. Have you found anything valuable, at least?"
"Apparently they trashed a nearby tavern not too long ago, but otherwise it was just rumours about them being brutal in a fight. Nothing specific about where they're at."
"No doubt because people didn't want to paint a target on their backs by outing themselves as snitches," Weiss replied. "Perhaps we could go to this tavern and ask them for information? Maybe offer some compensation in return."
Ruby raised an eyebrow. "You mean, like a bribe?"
"A financial incentive for repairing minor property damage."
"Snrk. That's so...you," she snorted. "But while I'd say yes anywhere else, we're gonna risk revealing ourselves now we know they've frequented the place. We could scout out the area from a distance, though."
Weiss nodded and followed Ruby out of the bazaar into a open derelict residential area beneath the shadow of a massive windmill. Cobblestones withered to unkempt dirt and one of every three houses was boarded up and falling apart, which didn't help when the winds screamed from the valley below. It didn't stop the residents, however; a few kids in dirty clothes playfought in the streets with sticks, a young man with a brown cloak, green shirt, grey pants and black hair slicked right lounged upon a bench with a girl in a white and brown village dress, and an older woman drew a water bucket from a well.
Aside from the occasional curious glance, no one spared them much attention as Ruby led her up a wooded cattle path. She then veered off and ducked behind some bushes at the edge of a small drop that overlooked a padlocked gate and a patio for a tavern that had seen better days.
Most importantly, they were still in business, and before Weiss could ask, Ruby pointed to a group of bandits just a few meters below them -
Bandits garbed in the familiar black and red of the Branwen Tribe.
"Now that I think about it, their dress is rather uniform for a band of savage bandits."
"...and realistically speaking, you never know what you'll find in people's homes. This one guy ate some brown leaves, turned into a raccoon and flew off into the sky," a blonde, bearded bandit laughed. "Funniest shit I've ever seen."
The second bandit, with short brown hair, glasses and a dagger twirling on one finger, nodded and took a drink. "Oh, I believe you, mate, and on that note were you part of the raid on the village just south of Kuchinashi?"
"Huh? No, I was tasked with camp sentry that day. Why, did you find something interesting?"
"Not so much us finding something as something finding us," the brunette bandit replied, shivering. "Remember that big-ass red dragon we always used to follow? Well, another fucking dragon showed up to do battle and beat the shit out of it. I swear, nothing's the same anymore after the Night of the Red Moon."
"I mean, I'm always down to hunt some powerful monsters, but yeah, this is starting to get ridiculous..."
"But look. Even though that raid was a failure, we did manage to find something good from all the chaos. Or, rather, someone..."
The two leaned in with hushed voices.
"...some kind of old treasure map or sea chart..."
Weiss blinked and did the same, ignoring Ruby when she frantically tapped her shoulder.
"...red-haired huntress...powerful Aura...healing touch..."
"Ruby, did you hear - mmph!"
She tumbled into thicker brush as Ruby used her Semblance while prone to heave them both over. Before Weiss could protest, the sounds of footsteps-on-dirt silenced grew louder until another pair of Branwen bandits stumbled onto the path.
And while both their faces were flushed red, Weiss could never forget the pale blue eyes, brown hair and light-grey jacket of her captor.
It took all of Ruby's strength to hold her back as Vernal and her companion walked out of earshot before creeping after them within the treeline. For a moment, the forests went dark and her ears rang with gunfire as memories of captivity rushed back to her, but rather than cower Weiss matched it with anger; anger that tightened her grip on Myrtenaster with every step until she eventually threw stealth out the window and simply beelining towards the two -
A loud crack of a snapping twig jolted her out of it, and she didn't resist when Ruby yanked her down while hissing her name.
"Huh!? Whozzat?" Vernal snarled, drunkenly brandishing her weapons while the second bandit almost toppled over in the process. Weiss' breath hitched as she prowled along the treeline and scanned the treeline, but just as her gaze roamed past their still forms, Vernal snapped back and fired a burst in their direction, sending them tumbling onto the path.
"Y-you really think you c-can - hic - sneak up on a Branwen!?" she slurred as Weiss and Ruby picked themselves up. "Who the hell do you - hic - think you are? Someone with a d-death wish?"
"Someone who's grown tired of your obnoxious threats," Weiss replied as she threw off her cloak. Ruby followed suit and deployed her scythe. "And this time, it won't be me who will be leaving this place in chains."
Vernal's eyes widened, glanced behind them for a second and gasped dramatically. "S-Schnee! You have no idea how much I've - hic - missed you!"
"I'll take that with a healthy dose of denial, thank you."
"J-just like back in the cart, r-right? Don't worry. Your silver-eyed partner can join you."
Weiss threw up a glyph as Vernal charged her at full speed -
Right as a dark shadow suddenly leapt from the treeline, clocking Vernal's head with a meaty thunk and treating Weiss to her face smushing up against her glyph. When she dropped it and let the unconscious bandit fall, the same young man with black slicked hair stood behind her.
And the more she looked at him...the more he looked...familiar?
Ruby held her scythe back but remained wary. "W-who are you? Why did you - no, why are you helping us?"
"Questions that can be answered later, I'm afraid," the man chuckled in a very, very familiar tone. "That is if you want those other bandits to join our lovely group discussion."
He pointed behind them, nearly causing them to scream upon seeing the small village girl look up at Ruby with an impish grin. In the distance, however, were more Branwen bandits who were no doubt attracted to the gunfire.
"Y-you..."
"The choice is yours, my Ice Queen. And, uh, you too, Little Red," the man continued as he hefted Vernal like a sack of potatoes and stood by the trees with the girl. Their bodies then shattered like glass into a million pieces, leaving a bowler-hatted thief and a heterochromatic assassin. "Wait for Raven to show up or listen to what we have to offer. Preferably in a safer place than here."
Weiss opened and closed her mouth but no sound came out. Ruby, however, whined in frustration. "Ugh. I don't like you! And I don't like any of this!"
"But what are you going to do?"
"And what will we tell the others now that Raven will know we're here?"
When gunfire answered for them, Ruby responded by grabbing Weiss' arm before dashing into the woods after Roman and Neo.
- AN -
Welcome back to A Descendant of Legends!
Holy shit, it's been a while, eh? I apologize for such a long delay in between chapters, and the reason why is because honestly...life happens. I wish I had a better explanation as to why I've been gone for some time, but in short I've been busy with work, chilling with friends, pursuing other hobbies and trying to enjoy the summer breaks I've had. And that meant taking time off fanfiction and creative pursuits in general, especially when my urge to write was low. Eventually I slogged this out, and I hate that the first chapter in two months is a slower-paced one focused on a sidequest mini-arc, but it also reminded me how much I missed this story. To that end, I reiterate my promise and desire that I'll finish this story and that it won't be abandoned. I'll do my best to squeeze in another chapter (hopefully two) before summer ends, and while nothing is certain, I also promise that I won't pull a George R.R. Martin.
In any case, the chapter! And two very familiar, mischievous faces! While Jaune and his team will deal with Revali and Volvagia, I decided to tie up some loose ends on the RWBY side of things. That isn't to say that you'll never see Roman and Neo again after the next few chapters, but considering how far some of Ruby's teammates have come so far character-wise, I felt it best to focus on closing the chapter on their current character arcs before seeing how they can move forward afterwards. All while setting the stage for what the entire crew might encounter in the near future.
On that note, thanks for sticking around and I to see you all next time!
- Reviews -
SentinalSlice: Alas, some egos just won't listen until it's beaten into their skull. And yes! I agree as well, strategy is a big part of any Hero, really, and Jaune must work even harder if things go awry because of an impulsive decision. Even if I don't blame him for feeling that way.
Super heavy weapons guy: Yup, and though they still need to be fleshed out, I have various plans / ideas as to the fates of many of the major Zelda races.
Guest: Thank you! And it's definitely easier sometimes to divide and conquer individual characters' arcs before moving on to more decisive parts of the story. While Jaune isn't a pushover, Weiss is also correct about knowing one's limits...we'll just have to see how things go!
jeremiahkelley93: Thank you!
Guest: It's true, I didn't write many Weiss + Neptune interactions, and numerically speaking Raven and the Branwens are at a disadvantage here. It seems the cards are in RWBY's favour...for now, at least...
Guest: Thank you! It's kinda fun to see Revali butting heads with a Hero again, even if Weiss, Oscar and Ren are concerned about how things might end up in the future. We'll just have to see what happens with the Fygors and the RWBY side of things, though at least Jaune knows that certain partings need not last forever...
Arsenal: We'll see!
Fyr RedNight: Thank you, I appreciate it! I'm hoping it'll be sooner too!
Reader: Power is indeed a dangerous thing, so we'll definitely see as things come to a head!
Guest: Definitely! He's no longer the stumbling young warrior he was before and there's still plenty more to come. A bit of DL and the villains as well, mainly to give some background as to their plans / motives post-Haven, but there'll be more DL in the future too!
Guest: Thanks, and go Team RWBY!
Guest: Thank you! I really appreciate your (and everyone's) patience, and while I won't overload you all with personal life details I don't want to keep you guys totally out of the loop as well. Good communication matters, but I'll do my best for the next few chapters to be released sooner than later!
Guest: Lol!
oppopopo: Thank you, that really means a lot. Sometimes, even I can't imagine just how much I've written and it can definitely be daunting to look at, but that's okay. I think my greatest mistake was committing to writing a grand epic with absolutely no creative writing experience, and yet I don't regret it since I've learned so much (while keeping me sane during covid, lol). I'd say start smaller (eg oneshots or short stories) and once you feel comfortable writing longer stories or chapters, make outlines for them to help organize your ideas.
Most importantly, don't be afraid to write terribly. I know it sounds harsh, but get your ideas down on paper as if you're reading them for yourself until you start to see that a paragraph could go here instead of there, or maybe a character is better introduced later in the scene instead of near the start...just get those words down and build yourself from the ground up. As you do so with consistency, you'll develop your own style and realize your strengths.
Thanks again and hope that helps! Good luck with your writing journey!
Guest: Thank you! I appreciate the motivation, and don't worry, I'll say it as much as I have to that I won't abandon this story and I'll see it to the end!
- Stats -
Upload Date: July 29 / 2022
Chapter Word Count: 7389
Approximate Page Length (Times New Roman, size 12, single-spaced): 18.6
- Disclaimer -
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.