Arc V: Path of the Hero
Chapter 53: On Stranger Tides
Ruby's first instinct when she heard the voices was to reach for her weapon.
"Huh? Where did it - oh."
Years of academy training, wasted for two reasons: her scythe was propped against the wall out of reach and the voices, thankfully, belonged to neither Grimm nor bandits. Instead, it drifted in with the breeze, the faint scent of burning steel and the vibrant hum of bustling crowds.
"...if only I had their energy right now. Why am I always tired no matter how much I sleep? Is this what it means to be a grown-up? Am I gonna start drinking coffee like Ozpin every morning while paying taxes like Dad?"
Ruby curled into a ball beneath the covers, though seconds became minutes and sleep never came despite the serenity of her room. All she could do was wonder why the world was so loud until her door creaked open.
There was no one there.
No one human, anyway.
Ruby's heart melted, and it took all her strength not to run over and snuggle the baby dragon. Ember might not have been a dog, cat, or any other typical household pet...but it was a baby. Freaking. Dragon! Even Weiss, conflicted as she was, did a poor job hiding how much she found him cute. Ruby thus settled for kneeling on her bed with a gentle smile. "H-hey there! How are you doing? It's okay, little guy. I don't bite. You're safe with me."
Her smile faltered when he retreated a few steps into the hallway, emerald eyes shy yet full of curiosity. When Ruby extended a hand, Ember eyed it for a moment before warily crawling forward.
"...ber? Where did you - ah! Come on, buddy, let's not wake Ruby up when she's sleeping in."
The door opened fully for a pyjama-clad Nora, who scooped him like a fluffy, heated pillow. Sprawled across her chest at half of Zwei's size, Ember made a noise reminiscent of baby crocodiles. "Sorry if he woke you up. We were heading for breakfast until he slipped away like the rascal he is. Aren't you, my darling little ball of flames?"
"Eh, no worries. I've been awake for a while now, so he's nice to see first thing in the morning," Ruby chuckled as Nora scratched beneath his chin. Ember purred. "Are you guys doing...alright, though?"
Nora's grin seemed to lack her bubbly zest. "We're fine! I was actually gonna go shopping for meat treats later since Ember's already eating out Daruk's pantry at just three days old. Seriously! He's putting me to shame! I kinda feel bad when the Chief's been a gem after everything he and his people went through."
"Means you're taking care of him well," Ruby replied, not at all missing how Nora ignored half the question. Figuring she could push the issue later, Ruby padded over on bare feet and extended a hand to Ember once more. He stared for a long moment, cautiously sniffed her fingers...
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
...and belched a small fireball that made Ruby yelp, though it was too weak to burn her hand.
"Ember, no! She's our friend! Bad boy!" Nora huffed. Ember recoiled with a rather guilty expression. "Well, it's a work in progress. Vale wasn't built in a day, and it's not like I've really taken care of anyone outside of..."
"Ren?"
"...my team," Nora finished with a tense voice and evasive expression. She stepped into the hallway with Ember held like a baby. "A-anyway, hurry up and join us for breakfast already. I can smell Yang's cooking from my room!"
She hurried off before Ruby could respond, leaving her with the telltale scent of frying meat.
"Now I'm even more worried. What else happened when we were split up? And...what exactly are we gonna do next?"
Questions that could only be answered by the Hero himself. One shower later, Ruby headed downstairs to find her equally pyjama-clad friends scarfing down a late morning meal. Nora was tag-teaming with Yang to feed Ember a bunch of sausages - to Ren's aversion and Weiss' poorly-hidden glee - and in the corner, Roman and Neo were in the midst of a tense conversation with Qrow and Daruk, the latter warily watching the baby dragon.
But what really stole the show was the array of items spread across a large coffee table, from stacks of rupees to the Lens of Truth and Nora's hookshot. At least until a bowl of cereal appeared before her face. "Guh. Who? What -"
"Me and diabetes, in that order," Jaune quipped, grinning lightly through long, untied dirty blonde hair that almost reached his shoulders. "Don't worry, I made sure to buy the one with the multicoloured marshmallows that'll rot your teeth off."
"Aww. You know me so well," Ruby snorted as she accepted the bowl and plunked down between Blake and Oscar. "Is this everything we collected during our journey so far?"
He clenched his fist upon glancing at a rectangular empty space by the table's edge. "Most of it, thanks to Cinder. The Fierce Deity Mask was our most powerful item and the reason why Blake and Yang survived their ordeals. Knowing that she's the one who now wields it, with the powers of Fall and Spring to boot..."
"...that's on me," Yang sighed, taking a moment from helping Nora feed Ember. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have tunnel-visioned myself while fighting Raven."
Blake shook her head. "Don't blame yourself. It's not like we expected Cinder to be there, especially when they went underground after Haven. How do you feel, at least?"
Yang was silent for a moment. "After going a few rounds with the one you dedicated most of your life to find, I guess 'numb' is the best way to describe it. Yet I also feel...lighter. Clearer. Like I just finished a movie or a long book. Think I'm finally ready to see what's next." She clenched her fists and glanced at her prosthetic. Dull. Metallic. Colourless. "And I know just how to mark the occasion."
She met the supportive gazes of Qrow, Weiss and Oscar, nodding when Blake placed a hand on her shoulder. "We're with you all the way, and don't forget we still have more in our arsenal."
Ruby glanced over the table that held the Lens of Truth, a vial of Gold Dust and Pirate's Charms - down to three, as Raven destroyed Weiss' during the assault on Roman's safehouse. With the Fierce Deity Mask gone, the only masks left were the Mask of Truth and one Jaune explained as a relic of Skygor history, leaving the stacks of assorted, multicoloured gems he mentioned as currency from ancient Hyrule.
"I wonder if there's someone who'll take rupees or convert them into lien. We're running out of money and we can't rely on Qrow's paycheck when he's not doing missions or Weiss' bank account since her father cut access."
"...last but not least are these," Jaune finished by placing down the Goddess' Harp, Farore's Medallion, half of Din's Medallion and another small, ornate vial that sparkled with a faint, golden mist. The room went quiet when Courage rang.
"Whoa."
"That's the Triforce of Wisdom for you," Jaune hummed, meeting Ruby's amazed stare. Something about the mist seemed...alluring, after all. "Sealed in an alternate form as both a failsafe and test for the true Princess. We also need the Medallions to restore the Master Sword - the only weapon capable of harming Ganon and potentially Salem. No matter what happens, we can't afford to lose any of these items, because we're screwed without them."
Weiss cleared her throat. "Then we won't. Fool us once, shame on her; Cinder will not catch us off-guard a second time. That being said, we cannot afford to stay here longer than we have to."
"I agree! And, um, Ozpin too. He says that Cinder's likely trying to outdo us by staying a few moves ahead in the shadows," Oscar added. "So...Vacuo, right?"
Jaune nodded. "The Sage mentioned the other Spirit Guardians are in the desert and somewhere icy, and since Atlas is locked down with martial law, we're gonna sail for the kingdom that hasn't closed its doors yet. All we have to do is find someone who'll take us there."
"Across Remnant's most dangerous ocean, no less," Qrow interjected from the corner. "There are many places that are seldom travelled, have been lost to time or are simply unexplored due to the danger surrounding them. The Agaat Ocean is one such place. Shipping traffic is already scarce between east Mistral and western Vacuo, so I can only imagine how much things have changed since the Fall."
They all traded worried glances before she piped up. "What can we expect?"
"Some of the wildest weather Remnant has to offer and troves of aquatic Grimm, a few being rare enough that they haven't been categorized or are considered semi-legendary." Qrow leaned forward. "Local sailors will know more, but we shouldn't spare any expense preparing for the worst."
Weiss coughed. "And Vacuo?"
"I'd be careful if I were you," Daruk grunted, swivelling to face them from the corner table. Even then, that didn't stop the side-eyes between him and Ember. "They're, uh, not exactly the most welcoming with outsiders, and ever since the Night of the Red Moon, traders and other wanderin' folk coming from across the pond say there's trouble brewin'."
"Is it the White Fang?" Blake asked tensely.
"Not exactly. A different one more focused on bringin' down their Council. Either way, Shade Academy's got their hands full," Daruk replied. "Best not expect a warm welcome. It's a harsh place with even harsher people."
Silence descended until the familiar ambience of the Golow Underground made itself known through an open window. It was a sound Ruby realized she'd miss when all they'd have is water and Grimm, at least until they trade the former for burning desert sands.
And yet, some part of her couldn't wait. Maybe somewhere over there was the key to figuring out her eyes for good instead of having them flare up by chance, like when she and Qrow fought the Zora Poe in Kakariko Village. But no matter what happened, Ruby swore to herself that Vacuo would not end up like Haven or Windpath.
"Look, sweet as you all are right now, though we're gonna have to take a rain check," Roman quipped, and they turned to see him and Neo walking for the exit. "We'll leave the Grimm-slaying and world-saving to you guys."
"Wait, hold on," Weiss snapped as she followed them outside. Trading glances with the others, Ruby followed them onto the porch to see her partner begin laying on them. "Are you just going to hide after all this?"
Roman's expression was incredulous. "Well, yeah. We never were on the same team, Ice Queen. We fought Raven together only because our interests aligned."
"Does that mean we can turn you over to the authorities?"
"Sure. Then I'd escape from prison and fuck you over from behind the scenes like a certain Maiden," Roman shrugged. "Do you run into a tornado when it touches down? Hell no! I'll be hunkering down and riding the storm out."
Neo mimed putting on a hood. Weiss scoffed, tried walking around and nearly tripped on her outstretched leg.
"That storm is gonna end us all if we sit around and do nothing!" Ruby insisted, ignoring Weiss growling at Neo's unfazed smirk. "There's gotta be some way you can help -"
"Yeah, and that's staying out of the fire you guys are so keen on throwing yourselves in."
Weiss crossed her arms. "Yet what we saw in Windpath were master thieves hard at work resurrecting their criminal empire. Safehouses, connections, pacts with the local underground..."
"A man's gotta make a living, and in a town where crime is the local economy, am I really doing something wrong?" Roman asked. "When everyone's smuggling dust, weapons or stolen cash, I'm less a thief and more of a businessman. Something about your family tells me you'd understand, Ice Queen."
He sighed at her glare. "Come on, now. We've spent enough time travelling together that this shouldn't surprise you. You're smarter than this."
"...I could say the same of you, Torchwick. I expected nothing and I'm still disappointed. What happened to the huntsman that cared enough for his team, that he'd fight through a falling city to save them?"
Weiss grunted when Neo shoved her back, though Roman merely shook his head. "It's alright, Neo. And I wouldn't know since Team ASTR is quite literally dead and buried thanks to Jaune's old man."
Ruby gasped.
"Yes, that's right. One reason why I'm avoiding Jaune like the plague is that I see my team leader in him. I'd rather not be reminded of Mountain Glenn every waking hour." He nodded to Weiss. "It's hard enough when I've got the mistress of high maintenance pestering me every second."
"And somehow, my sympathy vanished into thin air," Weiss groaned. "That being said, I would like to enlist your...nefarious services before you leave."
The two thieves eyed the rusty padlocked cylinder Ruby handed over, after which Neo began shaking it up and down while maintaining smiling eye contact with Weiss.
"You're despicable!" Weiss snapped, covering Ruby's eyes when she made a confused noise. Neo cackled silently. "I don't know if I can ever touch that again."
"Your loss," Roman chuckled, mirth subsiding as he and Neo turned to go. "I'll have this ready for you before your maiden voyage. Just remember that Neo's like a daughter to me and I won't risk everything we have left to get ourselves killed. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and if you don't learn how to pick your fights, you'll learn what it means to be six feet under. Like my old team."
"Someone's gotta step up, though," Ruby whispered, meeting Neo's gaze as her eyes flashed an illusory silver. "If no one will, then who?"
Roman chuckled without mirth. "Hmph. I didn't have an answer the last time I asked myself that. Now that I've done my part, I know that this is more than I've ever signed up for. Who would've known the brat I fought at the dust shop would one day have to save the world?"
All Ruby could do was watch the two rogues walk away. No matter how hard she tried, there was a part of her that couldn't imagine giving up when innocent lives were at stake. She could understand the pain of loss, and that only drove her harder to be the hero she always dreamed of being - someone that could save those in the crossfire and leave places better than how she found them. Someone...like Jaune.
Someone like Summer.
Ruby blinked past the sudden itchiness in her eyes before she and Weiss headed inside.
(==|======-
When the tavern door closed, Blake sagged against the wall feeling like jackhammers were drilling her temples.
"I can't blame people for refusing to help, but it's rather demoralizing when we have nothing to show for the whole morning. Out of...maybe a hundred? I lost count a long time ago and it won't be long until I lose faith as well. I don't know. What do you think I should do?"
She glanced at the hovering red glowstone that bathed the Golow Underground in warm light. On account of luminous rocks being terrible therapists, it provided warmth, light and no answers whatsoever.
What Blake did get was a text from her partner, so she kicked off and made her way to the surface. Perhaps Yang might've had better luck since they split up to cover more ground, and it didn't take long to find her amid Skygors clothed with mining attire.
"Yang? What are you -"
"...and...there!"
A loud cranking noise revved from the group, followed by streetlamps and lights inside nearby houses flickering on.
The group cheered and some clapped Yang on the back, whose hair was tied in a ponytail while her Hunter outfit's jacket was tied around her waist. Grime creased her face and torso as they all stood around an archaic dust generator that could've been mistaken for a steam engine.
"You came right before I was gonna find for you," Yang grunted, joining her after tossing a wrench back in its toolbox. "Can't remember the last time I worked on anything larger than my gauntlets, so this was good practice shaking the rust off as well."
Blake watched her mime a boxing stance. "It does seem like you have a knack for it. I could picture you as a mechanic in a Remnant without Grimm."
"Hmm. Maybe. Now that you mention it, you could say the image is quite...riveting."
It took four seconds of Yang thoughtfully rubbing her chin for Blake to process that and walk away.
"Sheesh, tough crowd," she called out, jogging to catch up. Blake refused to acknowledge her, instead following the road east to the shoreline. "I know you appreciate my lyrical genius, somewhere deep down in that catty heart of yours."
"..."
"Come on, Blake. Throw me a bone here. Look at me."
"I'm not going to."
"Because if you do," Yang said slowly, poking Blake's cheek. "You'll crack like an egg."
Every fibre of her being squashed the urge to say yes. It wasn't like she hated puns - she was usually quite neutral about them - but hearing them meant Yang was more or less back to her former self. Mellowed, wounded or changed, a dragon was still a dragon. It almost brought a smile to her face.
Almost.
Blake met Yang's poorly hidden grin. "You don't have to admit it. Silence is golden because it says so much. Anyway, I didn't text you just to joke around."
"You bring me great joy," Blake drawled as they reached the coast. Golow Harbour was the most ruined district and it showed; from small fishing trawlers to a few ore-carrying freighters, various half-sunken ships lay scattered around the circular lagoon. Some that remained floating indicated salvage work being done, though she hoped at least one could accommodate them. "Have you found anyone willing to ferry us?"
Yang shook her head. "Either they're too busy rebuilding their homes or they don't want to risk sinking what few boats can still float. At this rate, we're getting real close to taking the long way through Vale."
She was about to respond until hearing loud, muffled cheers drift from down the harbour. Nestled amongst half-ruined fisheries was a tavern consisting of a windmill-shaped building connected to a boxy shorefront restaurant, though the building's metal walls, wooden trim, crisscrossed windows and steel scale roofing reminded her of an odd cross between a bucket and crab trap.
"Well, it's noon and we could ask around while eating lunch," Blake replied. "Shall we?"
The ruckus and accompanying live music intensified as they drew closer. A hanging sign depicted a Skygor whose face was half-covered by a comically large hat while carrying a barrel with a fuse, and Blake's dread intensified when they approached the saloon-shaped doors. Sharing a glance, they swung them open in sync -
And an empty tankard of ale narrowly missed Blake's face, clattering onto the road behind her.
"Oi! What the - oof!" Yang cried out, which achieved nothing when everyone else was yelling before being jostled around. While she'd seen a few pirate movies before, Blake now knew how it felt to star in one as the lamplit interior was full of burly, hardened Skygor sailors enjoying their lunch. The round tables were littered with mugs of ale, decks of cards and various forms of seafood - all of which had her salivating at the mouth. Peak lunch hour dictated the bar and restaurant staff were run ragged, and a small stage on the side featured a live band complete with flutes, guitars and accordions. Half the tavern was rowdy and most sang along at the top of their lungs.
"What shall we do with the drunken huntsman, what shall we do with - great. That'll be stuck in my head for the rest of the day," Blake mentally sighed as she and Yang trudged through the floor. They couldn't even get halfway when another deafening cheer had them tracking the source to a crowded window table.
It was by sheer luck that Blake just managed to see familiar orange from between everyone's shoulders.
Huffing, she took Yang's arm and weaved through the patrons -.
"Begin!"
And the crowd yelled as a hulking, eyepatched Skygor sailor leaned into the table to give him extra leverage. That proved futile when Nora slammed his hand down in an arm-wrestling contest.
Yang grinned and Blake flattened her cat ears as the people around them erupted with cheers. Nora roared with them as she shook the sailor's hand.
"Oh, please! You guys are the best, and so this goes to you, and you, and you! Everyone gets a round on me!"
This time, Yang winced with Blake at even more deafening cheers. It proved to be the last when the crowd dispersed, allowing the victor to see her two frazzled friends. "Hey there! Ya here to eat or to throw down some more!?"
"Oh, I'm always down for a good fight. But first, we feast," Yang chuckled, plunking down opposite Nora. "Somehow I'm both surprised and not to see you here. How many did you win?"
She raised a finger as if to count, thought better of it and shoved forth a small pile of lien. "Enough that people started betting on it! Not like I could've resisted when they challenged me, and now I have some spending cash for all of us!" Nora rubbed her chin. "I can even get more food for Ember than I planned. He's gonna be soooo happy!"
"Wait, so if you're here, where's Ember?" Blake asked.
"With Ruby and Weiss. I'm glad to see how much they love him, even if Weiss sucks at hiding it," Nora replied, grin faltering somewhat. "If only everyone did..."
There was a moment of silence until she piped up again. "Speaking of...everyone, do you know where Ren is? None of us have seen him since we split after breakfast."
"Wherever he is, I'm sure he's fine."
She and Yang traded glances. "Nora -"
"Hey, I'm his partner, not his caretaker," Nora shrugged, smile tensing. "It'd be really unlike him to get lost on an island with a town in it. He's smart and can take care of himself, so why can't I have some 'me' time for once? Turns out I even get free money!"
Blake frowned as Nora gulped down her tankard. And yet, while most of her instincts wanted to argue back and play devil's advocate...the smaller, resistant part triumphed. Her past self wouldn't have hesitated, so why did it almost feel...wrong to advocate not leaving her partner?
"I know what you're thinking," Yang began after seeing her hesitation and Nora's evasive gaze. "After everything that happened, I get that the truth feels less genuine if the pot calls the kettle black. But that doesn't make it any less right. I think there's nothing wrong with having time to ourselves if it means you can come back and talk it out later. As huntresses, we have partners for safety, not just accountability."
The ginger sighed. "Can't I enjoy not being joined to his hip for once? I don't remember the last time it was only Nora and not Ren and Nora. It feels so weird, and yet I can kinda vibe with it. Ren probably does too. I mean, who is Nora? What is Nora?" She asked with a dramatic tone and smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Find out more tonight on the six o'clock news."
Despite the cheery tavern ambience, the silence between them stretched on as Blake could only feel conflicted.
"...you know what? When things settle down in Vacuo, I'll take y'all out for the night. A girls' night," Yang declared. "My treat. We'll probably need it, anyway."
"Seconded!" Nora exclaimed, burying her sadness with another bombastic smile before sliding over some lien. "And I know you buggers told me you're starving, so why don't we grab something to eat?"
"I'll get it," Blake replied, grabbing the cash and making her way to the bar. It was manned by a portly, balding bearded man reminiscent of a younger Professor Port. With a red shirt, mutton chops and a light blue apron, he set a freshly wiped glass down and nodded. "Welcome to the Powder Keg, young lass. I'm Barten, the proprietor of this fine establishment. To what can I get you and yours?"
She placed the lien down, glanced at others' seafood dishes and was sold. "Blake. Two fish and chips, one smoked haddock and some ale. Oh, and a round for everyone as per my friend's wishes."
Barten began hollering kitchen orders while a few patrons at the bar waved gratefully. The longer she waited, however, the more she heard others whisper about her - not maliciously, but in a way that was almost...sympathetic?
"Good luck, young huntress," a sailor chuckled as he passed by. "Yer gonna need it."
"Why would I -"
"Hello there!"
Blake flinched as the seat beside her was suddenly occupied by a lanky man with sweptback hair, a wispy goatee and a ragged red scarf tied around his neck. A sailor, no doubt, considering the ocean blue overcoat fraying at the seams, though the ambition in his sunken eyes suggested an inner fire hidden from the untrained gaze.
"...hi. Can I help you...?"
"I am Linebeck, captain of the S.S. Linebeck," he declared with a haughty bow. Blake stared. "And I'm here to offer my services."
"Oh, boy, here we go," someone muttered.
"You see, I heard how you and your friends need, erm, portage over the ocean," Linebeck continued. "Thanks to you, Golow Village and perhaps all of Mistral is safe once more. We are forever in your debt."
"You're really laying it thick, there..."
She glanced around to find half the bar doing a poor job hiding the fact they were eavesdropping. "Well, we're always happy to help, but how did you know we needed to go to Vacuo?" She narrowed her eyes. "Have you been...following us?"
"Not at all! Word gets around fast in a small island town," Lineback scoffed. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple as Blake stared, eventually caving after a few seconds. "O-okay, so people were talking about how the huntsmen who saved them were trying to cross the ocean, and since I'm the only one actually willing to go out there, they pointed me in your direction."
Blake crossed her arms and mentally repeated those words in disbelief. Could…this be their lucky break? Linebeck, suspicious as he seemed, was the only lead they had.
"I see," came out instead. "Go on."
Linebeck held his arms out as if asking for praise. "Listen carefully. As a professional crate inspector, a world-renowned treasure collector -"
"- never heard of you," someone quipped.
"- you're a fraud," another added.
"- I am nothing of the sort! Only a true man of the sea with an eye for all things precious," he retorted haughtily. "You see, the Agaat Ocean is a challenge worthy of only the bravest adventurers. It is said that a vessel lost to the sea holds legendary treasures, from instruments that can control the weather to artifacts that can stop time itself. All I need are supplies and a hardened, hearty crew. In fact, I won't even charge you passage."
That...wasn't a bad deal. In fact, it worked almost too nicely within their plans and means, though Blake's curiosity indulged him. "And you would have us help in your quest for... mythological treasure?"
Linebeck's grin was a little too excited. "Myth? This history, my dear. I've seen it once as a wee lad. A grand single-masted galleon gilded with precious metals. And yes I would, for huntsmen always find interesting things along the way. Help me find the treasure and I will ferry you to Vacuo free of charge."
Ah. There's the catch. With all the red flags Linebeck exuded he might as well have made the offer in semaphore, and yet Blake stopped herself from outright refusing. Taken at his word, it would've been unfair to look a gift horse in the mouth - one that came to her, no less - so the least she could do was consider it. Worse comes to worst...they were all experienced warriors.
Precisely what Linebeck was asking for...
"I'll see how the others feel first," Blake replied evenly. "Just don't forget that we're not in it to get rich. We're huntsmen who fight for a better future."
Linebeck chuckled. "Then you should have no problem leaving more spoils for me. Should you accept, meet me at my ship at the far end of the docks. A world of adventure awaits beyond the horizon, young huntress; wouldn't you and your friends like to see it?"
Like to? As if they had a choice in the matter. Blake was about to reply until her food arrived, and when she returned to Yang and Nora, she glanced back to see Linebeck toasting her with a mug of beer.
Little did he know that adventure had already ensnared them hook, line and sinker.
(==|======-
"Whoa."
The smithy was little more than a steel-walled hut with a roof that angled up into a trapezoid. A large hearth burned left of the counter that doubled as the work desk, and to the right was a cauldron of water that contained...well, water. And a tiny yellow rubber duck, of all things. It was the most captivating sight after the weapons affixed to the walls - one, an odd sword with two razor-sharp connected blades, another, a massive two-handed katana that looked more like an elongated cleaver.
While they were no doubt cool swords, he didn't come for just any random weapon.
"That's, like, three times as large as I am. Is there anyone even large enough to wield it?"
Jaune rubbed his chin in thought. "There was a guy named Yatsuhashi whose sword was as tall as he was. Super calm, super chill and could cleave you in half with one hand."
Oscar shivered. "I don't want to imagine fighting someone who could rip and tear his way through Grimm like a meat grinder."
"Strength is only half the battle. Everything else boils down to your plans, your ability to improvise and the arsenal you bring - which is why I took you here." He pressed a small desk bell. "Is Fugo there? I have an order for Jaune Arc!"
"Comin' right up!" a shadow yelled from deeper in the shop. It emerged as a hulking Skygor blacksmith who put Jaune to shame at eight feet tall, with a topknot like Shiro's, a pair of shorts and swirling white tribal tattoos. Oscar stared up at Fugo as he dropped Nora and Ren's weapons on the countertop, both tightly wrapped in grey cloth. "Your friends from both teams take care of 'em nice and proper. It ain't always easy with mechashift weapons."
"If you don't maintain your equipment, they'll fail when you need them the most," Jaune agreed. "So what's new with them?"
Fugo patted the covered Magnhild. "You can expend all ammo to burn Grimm to a crisp as a flamethrower, and it has enough recoil for a running boost as well. I also added a battery and alternator that charges when the chambers rotate, meanin' she can draw on extra thunder for her Semblance."
That...was actually quite thoughtful. Now that she could also generate electricity rather than just conduct it, Nora's lethality doubled at the expense of having to charge their scrolls in the wild.
"As for Lie's pistols, I modified the sickle blades with sturdy steel cables, meanin' he can fire them like grappling hooks," Fugo said. "Simple, yet deadly. So whaddya think?"
"Oh, trust me. I think they're gonna love it," Jaune replied with a slight grin.
"Then you'll love the main attractions."
Oscar's eyes widened when Fugo returned the Shield of the Broken Moon, now a slightly larger heater shield with its gunmetal colour scheme replaced by a striking contrast of black and gold. The rim was thicker, banded in dark gold steel with sharp, lightning-like ornamentations across the main face. Most importantly, his crest seemed glossier than before, which the smith explained when two thin plates of hard-light dust shot out from the sides.
"I reforged your shield with some leftover Eldin Ore, meanin' it's lighter, stronger and more heat resistant. This hard-light dust feature also makes the shield aerodynamic enough to glide with."
"Heh...guess I don't have to worry about fall damage as much anymore."
"Now, for the finale," the smith continued, handing over a sheathed Crocea Mors that Jaune drew in a clear shing. It was several inches longer with a thinner blade and a line of small, golden diamonds down the centre, each contoured in red steel. So was the grip, which was crisscrossed with light gold trim, and the crossguard mirrored the Master Sword's but was smaller, thinner, upside down and burnished with platinum. In the centre was a gem bearing an engraved Triforce while the other side held his crescent arcs.
Reminds me of a blade the Hero of Time once wielded, Link observed. And so Crocea Mors becomes Gilded Mors.
Jaune smiled as he tested the blade and lent it to an equally enthralled Oscar. "Seems that Gold Dust came in handy. It's beautiful, it's well balanced, it's...perfect. Thank you, Fugo. Truly."
The Skygor smith waved when they made for the exit, though not before slipping Jaune a final package behind Oscar's back. Outside, they were more or less spared from the Underground's lunchtime rush hour as the smithy was perched on the second level, with the rings of clanging hammers fading against laughter, hearty conversation and the scent of fresh roast meat.
Nearby, Oscar gazed over it all while raising Gilded Mors high. Once, a long time ago, he stood in the same place dreaming of becoming a hero like the Arcs preceding him.
"It's been a year since the Fall, and thinking of earlier times feels like ancient history."
Link hummed. While you are only twenty, more happened in the past two years from enrolment than most have ever gone through.
"You said the Hero of Time was ten when he pulled the Master Sword, and the others were as old as I was in Beacon when they finished their quests. To think Heroes younger than I had to deal with this alone..."
Discounting the Hero of the Wild, who awakened a hundred years after being submerged in stasis, you are also one of the luckiest as you started in a combat school.
Jaune sighed. In a world that was no longer medieval, he and his friends remained modern-day knights, icons of courage that could inspire hope and pull others from the darkness. Only this time they had guns...and canes. Seeing Oscar approach reminded him of the two immortals' words - not because he thought himself a worthy example, but for the sake of those who believed in him, Jaune resolved to be one.
"Thanks. I, uh, you can have it back now. It's your sword, after all."
Jaune sheathed Gilded Mors and they began walking down the path. "What'd you think?"
"It's kinda heavy," Oscar admitted. "It'd be pretty cool to have a sword like this. Not saying I want your sword or anything, it's just that...ah, well...you know..."
His grin was subtle, yet kind as Oscar fidgeted. Foot in mouth? Yeah, he knew exactly how that felt.
"Weiss did too, on the receiving end. The thought makes me cringe..."
"Considering it's been passed down through generations of Arcs, I bet they felt the same thing."
Oscar hesitated before piping up. "Oh. You, um, come from a family of huntsmen?"
"My father, my mother, most of my seven sisters -"
"Seven!?"
"Heh. I get that a lot," Jaune chuckled. "And yeah, there's been warriors in my family as far back as we can trace it. My great-great-grandfather even gained a name for himself in the Great War."
"That's so cool," Oscar whispered in a tone between admiration and...jealousy? "Everyone's a hero, then. Just like...you."
A frown broke through. "If you saw how weak I was, I'd be the last person you'd expect to be one."
They paused by the cliffside. "The Triforce didn't grant me power and skills when I was born. I paid a price for them," Jaune continued. "I snuck away despite my parents' wishes and joined Beacon's open Initiation. As the weakest of our year, I spent every day studying and training my sore muscles so I could catch up to my team without bringing them down. All while being their leader."
"That's..."
"A lot? Sure, back then it was, and in the same vein, I would've died if I faced the Flare Dancer. You had none of that and you're still standing."
Oscar's gaze was skeptical, even as Jaune faced him. He scratched the back of his head. "Look...you, uh, remind me of myself from those times. You're stronger and more resilient than you give yourself credit for, even without Ozpin's control."
"I'm nothing without him."
"I'd be decomposing in a Valean forest if it weren't for my partner." Courage hummed. "There's no shame in leaning on others to get stronger. Our strength comes from pushing ourselves and our friends forward after everything's been thrown at us. Yes, Ozpin helped, but you came out on top against a monster way above your pay grade, and that's after surviving bandits, dragons, Maidens and fallen Heroes. You also evolved your Semblance in the process. Not bad for a Valean farmboy."
"You...really think so?"
"I know so. The fault lies with me for ignoring it until now," Jaune replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Me and Ozpin don't see eye-to-eye on many things, and it's unfair of me to act like you two are the same. Trust me. I know that feeling more than anyone else out there."
The farmboy looked away, clearly wanting to protest and finding himself unable to. "All I want is to help before Ozpin takes over. And, uh...Pyrrha was her name, right? Look, I know I can never replace her -"
Courage flared as Jaune knelt and stared Oscar in the eyes with enough conviction to make him flinch. "Don't. She would've been proud to see how you're doing, and I won't dishonour her memory when I once stood in your shoes. What I do promise is that we'll find a way to end Ozpin's curse, and if there's one thing she knew...an Arc never goes back on his word."
Oscar shuddered. "I want to believe that. No. I will believe that," he decided, meeting his gaze once more.
"It will only get harder from here. Are you sure?"
"If the Hero believes, that's enough for me."
Jaune nodded. "Then I have something that might help you."
Oscar's eyes widened when he unwrapped Fugo's final package to reveal a cane retracted like Ozpin's, though the handle was dark red and twisted in a gnarled fashion like a tree branch. The head was a smooth, black steel orb that emitted crackling red light along with grooves in the handle.
"Since Ozpin's cane is the Long Memory, I decided to call this one the Eternal Memory - an elemental rod crafted from the last of our Eldin Ore. While it can only use fire right now, it can be upgraded with each element we find. Think you can watch my back with this? It has other features as well that we can train with on the way to Vacuo as well."
He got no response since Oscar looked like he just won a million lien. The shock morphed into barely contained excitement when Jaune gave it over for him to test how it felt. "I'll take that as a yes."
"I...I promise I won't let you down. I'll do my best."
"Good. That's all that I ask from the people on my team."
The sincereness behind Oscar's smile drew a subtle one from Jaune, and somehow, he had a feeling Ozpin approved as well. For all their shared and opposing interests, they could still appreciate moments of unity.
For a boy thrust into circumstances greater than he could've ever imagined, sometimes all it took was knowing those who came before were rooting for his success.
(==|======-
That, in turn, gave him the strength to face the dawn of a new day.
Jaune inhaled the crisp, early morning air, perceiving the faint scent of salt that was otherwise stiff when there was no wind on the island to follow it. The sun had not yet risen, but an orange wave marked the eastern horizon and cast a brightening gradient across the eastern sky. Light rose before them, the shattered moon waned behind them, and distant clouds were tinged a dull red-orange.
"How does it go again...? Ah. Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning."
"Never took ya for a poet, little guy."
The ground rumbled softly as the hulking Skygor chieftain joined him by the ledge. "So what then? Ya gonna sail off into the great unknown or follow yer own advice?"
"A little foreboding won't heed us off when we eat evil for breakfast. Full steam ahead."
Daruk chuckled. "I like the sound of that. Have everything ya need for the trip across the pond?"
Ambient voices answered for him, and they looked below to see the others mingling with their bags before a pier, its tip serving as the docking point for a sizeable dust-powered ship. Water wheels on either side of the rear, a rusty anchor hanging off the bow and hull's fading white paint suggested a great deal of time at sea under a captain that knew the ocean like the back of his hand.
Ship and sailors? Check.
Supplies for the journey? Check.
All present and accounted for?
Jaune spotted Yang, Blake, and Qrow sharing some hot coffee while Weiss drilled Oscar in basic fencing footwork, the latter no doubt eager to level up. Off to the side, Ruby was deep in conversation with Roman and Neo, and judging by her expression, it wasn't exactly a happy one.
Ren and Nora acted as if they didn't exist.
"To answer your question...yes."
Daruk hummed as he tracked Jaune's gaze to his teammates. The former meditated cross-legged at the end of the pier, and she was busy tossing stones into the water. Ember watched curiously from her shoulder while occasionally trying to swipe rocks from her hand. "Hmm. Everything's here, but not everything's...there, eh?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've seen your buddies argue about the dragon and your attempts to patch things up, little guy," Daruk expanded. "Kinda have to be blind not to."
"Yeah. Not exactly our finest moment."
"Did ya assume everything's gonna be right as rain when you became their leader?"
Jaune hummed. "I just wish I could've done more. It sucks being helpless when it's your responsibility to fix things, even when they said it's not something I have to deal with. I don't know. Maybe I'm worried they'll let their guards down... and drift apart."
"Good! Means you care about yer pals," Daruk replied. "And if there's one thing I learned, a hands-off approach can work better when they want a bit of distance. Being a leader means trusting your buddies to take the plunge since they know you'll catch them if they reach out."
He turned away with a sigh. "Sounds like you got experience."
Daruk guffawed loud enough that Blake eyed them curiously before leaning on the railing with a gentler grin. "Oh, plenty! I got a whole tribe to look after! That, and ya also remind me of my old team leader from way back when. Man had drive, pushed himself as hard as you do. Sometimes to a fault."
"Really?"
"Hmm. Now that I mention it, you kinda look like him too. Scraggly blond kid who wielded a sword and never gave up," Daruk replied, gazing wistfully at the ocean. "One of the greatest huntsmen I ever knew."
Knowing that made Jaune feel warm inside. "How's he doing now?"
"He was killed defending the girl he loved against a powerful monster."
The warmth disappeared as suddenly as it came. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, those were the days, and I'm just glad to see a little of his spirit still kickin' in others. You'll be fine, little guy. Especially with the power of the Skygor Tribe at your command."
Daruk beat him to the punch when he drew a pair of silver-plated fingerless gauntlets engraved with a deep red ruby atop the back. He held it for a few seconds until the shock wore off and Jaune accepted them. "I, uh, ain't exactly one for formal shindigs, but my uncle passed these down before he became Headmaster, and now I'm giving 'em to you as thanks for saving my people. In fact, you even inspired one of my more...uh, easily frightened grandkids to take after you, and is on his way to apply for Haven as we speak."
"I..."
"Anywho, these Silver Gauntlets were said to have been forged by our ancestors, and wearing them enhances your strength to match theirs. Since my fightin' days are over, I can think of no other man worthy to wield it than the one I now call our tribe's Sworn Brother."
That title...
Jaune equipped them, grabbed the steel railing and crushed it beneath his grip like putty. "A-are you sure? This is precious to you, your tribe and -"
"- now I'm gifting it to ya! Go beat some monsters for me, and when everything's done, get your friends to swing by and we can relax by goin' a few rounds in the ring. Then we'll feast, we'll party and we'll fight some more!"
Daruk roared with laughter and they shook hands with a grip that could've crushed diamonds. A new voice, however, had them turning to see a pair of approaching familiar figures - one polite and the other looking like he smelled something rancid.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the boy who thought himself a hero."
"Revali..." Teba warned. For Jaune, it was like a switch was flicked.
"Oh, right. I'm sorry, but the last time I checked, that boy saved a certain huntsman from a killer fire monster," Jaune quipped, meeting Revali halfway. "And he passed out drooling on said boy's shoulder."
"Excuse me!? I do not drool!"
"Never said you do, only that a certain huntsman did." He rubbed his chin in thought. "Unless you're saying it was you all along and thus indirectly admitting that you lost to me. I mean, the boy. I'm sorry, who was the first one to pass out again?"
Revali's glare could roast a large ham for dinner, and it turned up to eleven when Jaune followed Neo's handbook and kept his expression innocent. "You are making this needlessly difficult."
Teba gave him a look.
"Alright, fine! Goodness gracious," Revali snapped with an expression so put-upon that it reminded Jaune of a stubborn teenager being told off. Judging by his shit-eating grin, Daruk no doubt thought the same thing. "I...may have underestimated you at first, and while it pains me to admit that you possess some skill -"
"Hey, thanks a lot. I appreciate it."
"- mine is no doubt greater and I would have won if you didn't run off into that cave. And so I challenge you to a rematch!"
Jaune stared flatly at Revali's finger when he pointed at him dramatically, though it fell when Teba cleared his throat. "Ahem. The next time we meet, of course. You proved yourself worthy of fighting an ace archer and aviator, and so you'll be perfect training against the perils that befall our home."
"Perils?"
"We are returning to our hometown in northern Vacuo to answer a request for assistance. Something about sky monsters keeping our people grounded," Teba interjected. "Maybe we'll meet again since we're going in the same direction, in which case, feel free to go at each other's throats. Just don't beat up my partner too badly that he can't continue fighting."
Revali stepped up. "Oh, no need to worry when I'm the better huntsman. No distractions, no interference, just two warriors going all out in a world too small for the both of them."
Jaune met his gaze head-on. While the arrogance remained, the malice that once poisoned his words was replaced by a different sort of fervour - one that wasn't unnerving, but exciting. It was a promise that wouldn't go unfulfilled, for he knew deep down this wasn't the last he'd seen of the avian huntsman. Revali, he'd admit, was pretty good.
And so was he.
No words were exchanged, only subtle nods of respect as Jaune followed the path down to the docks. Roman and Neo watched him walk by from the wall of a nearby fishing hut, though the third piece of the set pulled him aside before he could join the others.
"Hey, uh, you got a minute?"
"For you, Crater Face? Never," Jaune grinned, though it faltered somewhat when her own was half-hearted. "Sorry. You alright?"
"Yeah, it's just that, well...Roman pulled through," Ruby replied as she drew the wave-themed cylinder and popped the lid open. "Said it took him a good part of the day since the lock was all sorts of weird."
"How so?"
"The ancient, mysterious and scary kind of weird."
Jaune's next question was answered when she dumped the lone content onto his palms, and the moment he felt it, the warmth within his very soul weakened ever so slightly. He couldn't explain it, though the hairs on the back of his neck assured him it was real.
I do not like this, Jaune. This scroll that you hold is tainted with evil magic.
"Tell me about it," he mentally muttered when he unfurled it to reveal...a map. Specifically, a chart old, musty and fragile enough that it could wither away at the slightest breeze. Most of the ink had faded but enough remained to make out images of moons, various islands and the outline of a galleon in the centre. The more he stared at it, the more it felt like the ambient light surrounding it dimmed.
And the text...
"Jaune? Any ideas on what this is?"
"Link, any ideas on what it says?" he echoed, feeling the dread inch its way in.
...the language is an ancient Hylian dialect, dating to the Era of Winds or possibly from when the timeline was one. It speaks of an old ship cursed to wander the seas for eternity -
"Alright, guys and gals, are you ready to go hunting for treasure!?"
The sudden voice cut through Link's worry, Ruby's apprehension and the early morning tranquillity, and Jaune turned to find a shadow that stood majestically atop the ship's blue-roofed bridge. With hands on hips against the backdrop of the dawn, the man who Blake and Yang described to be their new captain looked every bit the swashbuckling sailor. When it was clear no one would answer, Jaune tucked the chart away and cleared his throat. "We're not hunting for treasure. We just want to go across to Vacuo."
"And the route to western Sanus takes us past where I need to go. Need I remind you about my offer's conditions?"
Jaune stepped onto the pier, upon which Linebeck leapt onto the deck in an overly dramatic fashion. His expression, while imperious, glowed with opportunity. "You must be the squirt who'll protect us as we search for the treasure."
"Um, maybe? We're all huntsmen. We'll protect each other."
"Hmph. Such brave words! I mean, not as brave as me, but not too shabby. So your name's Jaune Arc, huh? That's a weird name..."
"You mean short, sweet and rolls off the tongue - ah, screw it. I'm tired," Jaune sighed. "The leader of Team JNPR, at your service. Ruby over there leads Team RWBY."
The captain looked like he just learned that he was heir to a billion lien. "Two teams of huntsmen? Music to my ears! Landlubbers or not, I'm glad to have you all onboard. With your combat skills and my prowess at sea, the second-most dangerous ocean on Remnant will become our playground!" He grinned widely. "And I will finally get my hands on that godsforsaken treasure ship..."
Jaune felt that same dread again when Linebeck gestured to the S.S. Linebeck like an usher. He turned instead to meet the others' gazes. "I know we talked about this last night, but this is the last chance to finish any business on land before we set sail. It's a two, maybe three week trip to Vacuo. Or is everyone ready to go?"
"Ready, aye ready!" Ruby replied with a salute, walking forward with Qrow in tow. Weiss stayed quiet, though Blake and Yang stepped up in unison.
"Team JNPR?"
Despite the bags under his eyes, Oscar looked eager as ever. Ren joined him without acknowledging Nora, who stood by Yang while petting Ember as he howled from her shoulder.
Jaune led the way onto the ship and below decks, settling in amongst a rather cluttered interior while Linebeck prepared the vessel for departure. Before long, he found himself standing at the bow when the chimney resounded with a single, deafening horn blast, and the S.S. Linebeck began churning into the harbour. Daruk, Revali and Teba watched from the ledge, and doors to several rebuilt buildings opened to reveal various Skygors coming out to see them off.
The others soon joinied him on deck, and Weiss was the last to reply with a single, determined nod before waving to the people on shore. Despite being little more than blurry figures, he could still make out Neo waving while Roman tipped his hat.
This time, Jaune followed suit until the ship swung around to face the harbour's exit. Seagulls soared overhead when the sea breeze began blowing at their back, and the first rays of the sun peeked from world's end to shine light across the ocean beyond. More monsters, discoveries, painful moments and decisive victories no doubt lay on the other side of those red skies.
Yet Jaune could only smile when they left the island behind to sail on stranger tides.
- AN -
...and that's another chapter. Welcome back to A Descendant of Legends!
After several chapters with plenty of action, it felt kinda relieving to write one that's chill, slice-of-life and ends in that same manner. All while hinting heavily at what's to come, taking stock of what they have and gained over the past few chapters. If anything, there's even a scene's worth of things I wanted to include / end on as well, but for the sake of not over-bloating the chapter, some of it got reshuffled onto V-54. Still a little long, but I felt keeping the events that made it to the final draft worth it.
In ending the first sidequest mini-arc, the next chapter begins the next thread of the main plot - and it's good the crew got their time to rest and destress, for what lies ahead will test their bonds and limits. As Jaune mentioned in that old adage, red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky at morning, sailor's warning.
Thanks for reading and riding along thus far, and I hope to see you next time!
- Reviews -
Super heavy weapons guy: Thanks! For the longest time, I actually considered letting them keep the FDM, but one idea led to another and I've got an entirely new plan for it in the future... ;)
Dragon lord Syed 101: I can see how FLME might feel like they're coming out of nowhere, but that's actually the point of their MO - laying low and manipulating things from behind the scenes after their defeat at Haven and striking when the opportunity arises. It was also fun writing the Fake Master Sword as an actual item instead of just an inert decoy like in A Link to the Past, though we'll just have to see how things progress for our Princess candidates...
Absolute Fury: Thank you! It feels so alien as well to research your own story in between writing sessions and figure out where you left off, but at least the extra time allows me to organize things a little more, from a grammatical and storyline perspective. We'll still have to see who the Princess we'll be, though I am already laying the groundwork on how to introduce her down the road. Hopefully I can shed a little more light regarding that in the near future, but for now, the crew will have to deal with a little...treat coming their way next chapter.
Guest: Yea I feel that too. Time flies in between updates, especially when Tears of the Kingdom's right around the corner. But I'm glad to hear it, and here's another one for ya!
PF115: Not in a prophetic way - she had a flashback to Jaune's confession and revelations, and she was merely shocked upon seeing the (Fake) Master Sword wielded by the wrong person when her first impression was a picture on a scroll.
Guest: Thank you! A deeper sideplot that also ends Yang's entwined character arc with Blake, and that pyrrhic victory feeling sets the stage for other characters down the road. Looking back, I agree the second half speeds up a little too fast on RWBY's trip to Golow Village, but if I'm being honest, I pushed some scenes from the second half to this chapter since I felt they could've been done better justice here instead of being left as touch-and-go filler. Keeping Sun and the fruits of his character growth was the hardline, as was including Roman and Neo here; it gets difficult balancing so many characters around the main cast, but I try to squeeze in as much room as possible without dragging down momentum.
Ren and Nora are different, at least, since their paths will stretch into the next main arc. Both have valid points, both can't be blamed for how each other feels...so how do they go from there? At the very least, I also wanted to explore a little in this chapter of how Jaune has mentally grown since Beacon, especially regarding Pyrrha. It'll definitely be a challenge for him and his friends the next time they confront Cinder and Dark Link.
Thanks for reading and sticking around thus far!
Guest: Another confirmed, indeed! Mistral is safe and Team SSSN has been reunited, but the odds continue stacking up against them and they must do all that they can to match and prepare for the next encounter.
gu3st: Not gonna lie, it's pretty interesting to think about potential scenarios of how to integrate with Ember the main plot. Had to make some hard choices, but he's gonna play some major roles in the chapters ahead.
Malgrath: For sure! Ozpin's ancient, charming, wily and manipulative, but it's that flawed mix of moral greyness / means to an end and greater good mentality that makes him rather fun to write.
Axccel: Thank you. While I do admire Sun's cheery and energetic demeanour, I wanted to emphasize how he is capable of slowing down to recognize mistakes and mature when he truly is a good person deep down. Perhaps just a little easily distracted from time to time, lol.
- Stats -
Upload Date: Apr 11 / 2023
*** Edit Apr 15 / 2023: Re-included Mask of Truth and minor grammatical corrections
Chapter Word Count: 9150
Approximate Page Length (Times New Roman, size 12, single-spaced): 23
- Disclaimer -
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.