Chapter 83
Liam
Glancing back at the closed portal, Liam had a brief moment of regret before shaking it off and pursuing his aunt.
"Wait, please." Liam rushed forward and tapped Raven's arm.
"We're going to someone who can help." Raven explained. "At least with your memory. Afterwards, we're going to have a long talk about your recklessness! I don't even know where to begin!" She was clearly exasperated.
Liam's head fell, although he was unsure why he was being berated.
Entering a tent, Raven took off her helmet as she stood to the side of the flap.
"Jas." Raven got the attention of a bat faunus. Her black hair was tied back in a loose ponytail as she sat on the floor in a meditation pose.
"Hello, Raven." Jas said as she swiftly rose to her feet and turned to face the woman. "How may I be of assistance?"
Raven grabbed Liam's arm and pulled him forward.
"He has amnesia." Raven explained. "Think you can do something about it?"
Jas gestured to the bed beside her.
"Of course."
Liam glanced at the tent flap before Raven caught his gaze.
"Lay down."
Doing as told, Liam laid on the bed. Once he had, Jas placed two fingers on both sides of his temple.
"Close your eyes." She told him.
Liam did as told, entering a land of darkness.
Jas suddenly looked up to the roof of her tent. Opening her eyes, they had completed fogged over as she stepped into the shattered mind of Liam. Before her was a tangled ball of string. Each string was a memory from Liam's life.
"Okay." Jas said before reaching forward and effortlessly untangling the first thread. Then another. And another. In just a few short minutes, Jas had untangled the mess that was Liam's memories. Once done, she fled his mind.
From Raven's perspective, the entire process lasted only a few seconds before Liam sprung upright.
Chrome
"What took your arm again?" Chrome asked Yang as they trekked to the tree.
"A talking raccoon riding on a purple wagon filled with trash."
There was a heavy silence.
"Right."
"As crazy as it sounds, something about this is familiar." Ruby stated softly.
"The Ever After…" Chrome heard Blake say softly.
"The Ever After?" Chrome repeated. "You mean from that childhood book mom used to read? That place is make believe."
Suddenly, a tiny mouse popped up from Ruby's hood.
"It's not make-believe, it's where I live!" The mouse stated.
Chrome blinked at the tiny talking mouse.
"As if things could get weirder." Chrome said beneath his breath.
"Can you tell us all about it? Have you ever heard the name Alyx?"
"An "Alyx"? Is that a purpose?" The mouse asked.
"In the story, Alyx fell from the sky and met with the Hunter Mice, got trapped in vines, fought a Jabberwalker and got her knife stolen by... A talking raccoon." Blake recounted the events of the story.
Chrome groaned and crossed his arms.
"Yeah. And then she beat the Red King at a board game, met the Curious Cat, the Rusted Knight, and finally got out through…"
Yang and Blake turned to look at the giant tree.
"The tree."
"So what?" Chrome asked as he gestured to the distance. "We go to the tree and find some magic portal after getting Yang's arm? Wherever it is."
"I'll bet the Jinxy Peddler has it." The mouse spoke up.
The mouse yelped and ducked behind Ruby as Chrome looked at it.
"The Jinxy Peddler?" Chrome repeated.
"That's the only talking raccoon I know." The mouse answered with a shrug.
Chrome let out a sigh.
"Do you know where he might be?" Blake asked.
"Of course!" The mouse scurryied up to Ruby's head. "I'll lead the way right to-"
The mouse suddenly passed out, snoring on top of Ruby's head as Team RWBY, and Chrome, continue trekking through the jungle.
Some time later
"So, the town is just ahead, right?"
Ruby poked the mouse to wake them up. It ignored her attempts and kept sleeping.
"I've been thinking. If we're going to this town, we need to be careful." Blake stated suddenly. "Alyx didn't know their customs and ended up starting a war among the townsfolk. Trouble followed her everywhere she went."
"Well, yeah. But she was kind of a mean person, right? She lied and cheated her way through most of the book." Yang added.
"So?" Chrome asked. "Never struck me as a big deal. Gotta do what you have to to achieve your goals."
After a moment, Blake spoke.
"You sound a bit like Adam."
"What?"
"Nothing, sorry." Blake apologized. "But either way, we need to tread lightly."
The mouse almost fell as they quickly scurry back on top of Ruby's head. It stretched it's arms before getting its bearings.
"The town is just up ahead. The Jinxy Peddler always stops by our village before he goes to town."
"Do they steal stuff from you guys too?" Yang asked the mouse.
"Steal? Never." The mouse answered. "They just take the things we're not looking at. Fair is fair."
The mouse then went back to sleep.
"Sounds like a legitimate business person." Chrome said sarcastically. "How did they manage to steal your arm anyway?"
"I was knocked out from the fall." Yang began. "When I came to, that sneaky raccoon already grabbed my arm and ran off before I could stop them."
"So they caught you unarmed?" Chrome asked with a slight chuckle. "Sorry."
Yang gave Chrome a playful shove.
Seeing them, Blake couldn't help but notice.
"Hm."
"What?" Ruby asked.
"Nothing." Blake shrugged it off.
"Don't worry. We'll find a way outta here and we'll go back home." Ruby said.
Blake suddenly stops walking, Ruby also stops walking and looks at her while Chrome and Yang continue walking ahead of the other two.
"Blake?"
"It's... it's nothing." Blake said. "Come on."
Liam
Breathing heavily, Liam stared at himself in the mirror, looking over his new appearance.
"What happened to you?" Raven asked. The question caused Liam's heart rate to sky rocket.
"Enough." Liam gripped the sink, threatening to shatter it. "Enough was done to me! I'm a freak!"
Raven placed a hand on Liam's shoulder, only for him to immediately shake it off.
"I'm… what am I now?!" Liam punched the mirror, hating the view of his reflection.
"You're still my nephew." Raven told him. Her eyes suddenly teared up, only for her to immediately wipe them away. "And I'm sorry I never went after you."
"It's not your fault, Raven." Liam told her as he took deep breaths to calm himself. Staring at his broken reflection, Liam glared into his corrupted silver eye. "I knew what I was getting into when I went after Cinder alone."
One of the few times in her life, Raven was unsure how to help.
"Thank you, for helping where you could."
Chrome
The group arrived at a rickety bridge.
"So, this is the entrance to the other... "acre" you called it?" Blake asked the mouse.
It yawned as it wake up..
"Yep! All we do is cross the bridge and we'll be... well, wherever over there is."
"You don't know?" Yang asked.
"Nope! Never been this far from home."
"Oh, uh, maybe you should go back?" Ruby asked.
The mouse smiled. "I wouldn't have any idea how to go back. Maybe I'll live by this bridge."
Upon hearing this, the group, minus Chrome, all have various shocked expressions for taking the mouse away from it's home.
"I'll handle this." Chrome said, stepping up.
Using his semblance, Chrome stabilized the bridge for them to cross.
"Would you like to come with us?" Blake asked the mouse.
The small house the mouse was building collapsed.
"Yeah, that's probably for the best."
A while later
Upon entering the town, The group looked around at the different townsfolk, all of them resembling various toys. They pass by a pamhplet saying, "BY ROYAL DECREE OF HIS HIGHNESS: THE PREEMINENT BIRTHDAY PARTY OF HIS MOST ROYAL IS HEREBY ANNOUNCED!" The same pamphlet is placed on parts of the street. The group continued walking by various vendors and stalls in the marketplace.
"Just... act like you belong everybody." Blake said.
"And you will belong." Chrome muttered under his breath.
"I've always wanted to be long, but I'm still just small." The mouse commented.
Yang smirked a bit at the mouse's comment.
In the center of town, the group could see the townsfolk gather around the purple wagon. The name "JINXY" could be seen on it in big white letters.
"There it is! So what's the strategy? Just start roughin' him up or what?" Yang asked, eagerly.
Blake took notice of some toy soldiers watching the crowd, likely to keep order.
"In the book, Alyx had to barter with Jinxy for her dagger." Blake said.
"Yeeeaah, I think I'd rather hit him." Yang replied.
The wagon is shown opening up with purple smoke. Jinxy was soon seen walking out onto the stage waving to the crowd.
"Welcome, one and all!"
"What the fuck?" Chrome asked.
"Doesn't he seem a lot older than I remember from the book..."
"I am Jinxy, and these... are the finest treasures of the acre!"
Jinxy taps the shelf behind him with his walking stick, a yellow scepter appears first, then a pink rabbit statue, and a green marionette-like doll shows up last. The crowd cheers while the group looks on perceptively.
"I… don't see my arm." Yang said.
"All of Jinxy's treasures... are just other items in disguise, so that people think they're buying something extremely valuable." Blake reminded Yang.
"Okay... so, which one is Yang's arm?" Chrome asked, clearly fed up.
"What does your heart tell you? That's how Alyx knew." Blake explained.
"Jesus-" Chrome rubbed his forehead.
"I mean..." Yang looked at the scepter. "That one looks roughly arm-sized... ish."
Blake sighs before noticing Ruby staring at something.
"Ruby?"
"There's... something about that one." Ruby said, staring at the doll.
Jinxy spins around the stage, showing off the pink rabbit statue in his hand.
"First item!" the crowd oohed and aahed at the item. "The diamond-studded rabbit! You!"Jinxy suddenly pointed to a townsperson in the crowd. "Jinxy's!"
The townsperson chuckles and joins Jinxy on stage.
"How do we bid?" Chrome asked, exhausted by this fairytale land. "Money?"
"I don't think there's any money in the Ever After. Jinxy just names whatever price he wants." Blake explained.
"What did Jinxy want from Alyx?" Yang asked.
"Her saddest memory... and her happiest." Blake answered.
"Sold! For... a hug."
Jinxy hugs the townsperson, the crowd goes "aww" in response.
"Hugs are very valuable!" The mouse said with a gasp.
"Maybe this won't be so bad after all."
"Second item! A golden scepter! You!"
Jinxy points at both Yang and a Toy Soldier, who both raised their hands and said "Me!" at the same time.
"Huh?!"
"The bidding starts at-"
"No! I was the first one to-" Yang tried to protest.
"…knowing... what it is to feel loved."
Yang gasps upon hearing this.
"A fair price for some, I'd say." Jinxy said.
While Yang ponders the words, the Toy Soldier has help from another Toy Soldier write something down on a parchment paper.
"Knowing what it's like to feel loved! By royal decree."
The Toy Soldier holding the parchment paper shows it with the words printed on it, "BY HIS ROYAL HIGNESS'S DECREE, TO BE PAID IS THE SUM" followed by the written words "WHATEVER JINXY WANTS". The bottom of the parchment has a red heart with a crown above it and some signature.
"Sold!"
"Wait! That's my arm!" Yang shouted.
"Whatever it is, it's royal property now. No price is too high for his majesty's birthday."
Yang huffs in anger and her eyes turn red.
"Last item! The jade marionette!"
"We tried it your way, Chrome?"
Chrome had his arms crossed as Yang turned to him. Upon hearing his request, Chrome sighed before reaching for his weapon.
"You!"
Ruby was suddenly picked out by Jinxy.
"Me!"
"Bidding starts at... Enough hope to fill this jar!" Jinxy said as he brandished a glass jar.
Ruby gasps hearing this, and she hesitantly lowers her hand.
"Hm... You don't have enough, do ya?"
Unbeknownst to Jinxy, the mouse snuck up on stage next to the marionette. Jinxy hears something move next to him, noticing the marionette gone from its place. He then notices the mouse trying to drag it off the stage.
"Why you little...!"
Jinxy lunges forward, and the mouse runs out of the way.
"Leave that alone! You can't touch it until the deal is done!"
Suddenly, the marionette disappears in a puff of purple smoke, and it turns into one of Penny's Maiden-powered swords. Ruby gasps in shock as she recognizes it.
"Huh?"
The Townsperson looks down on the diamond-studded bunny in their hands. The white mouse eating the cheese vegetable magically appears in the diamond-studded bunny's place.
"It's a fake!!"
The townsfolk booed and shouted in outrage at Jinxy. The lead toy soldier holds their chin in suspicion, looking over to their fellow soldier holding the scepter that has now changed back to Yang's prosthetic arm. The soldier screams as they toss the arm away.
"I'm going for it!"
Chrome looks on as Blake looks to the crowd holding her head between her hands making a nervous noise. Yang and a Toy Soldier do a tug of war for the prosthetic arm, with Yang dodging out of the way of the soldier's sword swing, followed by Yang shooting them away with the gauntlet. Ruby runs towards the stage.
Ruby picks up Penny's sword, sobbing and clutching it tight. Yang then runs past Ruby holding her arm with the others not far behind.
"I got it!"
"Ruby, come on!" Chrome shouted.
Rushing out of the town, the four soon came to a stop amongst the trees.
Once out of breath, Yang turned around, holding her prosthetic up.
"High five?" She asked, wanting to celebrate their escape.
The others groaned and left her hanging.
Liam
"Take me to Vacuo!" Liam followed his aunt into her tent. "I've been patient!"
"You're not leaving again." Raven stated, refusing to use her semblance to take Liam to the others.
"I can fly, Raven." Liam reminded her. "I'm leaving one way or another. Just take me to Vacuo!"
Raven sighed in frustration before throwing the table to the floor.
"I don't want you hurt again!" Raven shouted.
"Comes with the occupation." Liam retorted. "What's it gonna be?"
Raven growled in frustration before violently slashing her blade to open a portal.
"Go!"
Liam didn't hesitate as he approached the portal.
"Thank you."
Stepping through, Liam was immediately pulled into an embrace by Weiss. Once she pulled away, a hand violently slapped across his right cheek.
"You stupid, reckless, irresponsible, thoughtless- rrrraagh!" She growled as her emotions boiled over. "It's been THREE months!" Weiss shouted as she slammed her fists into his chest. "I lost my ENTIRE team! MY CITY! I'M HURTING, TOO, YOU FUCKING PRICK!" She was crying by this point. "You thought to just go and add yourself to the list of people I have to mourn?!" She began rubbing her eyes. "I thought you were dead!"
Liam felt awful as tears stung his eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Weiss."
"Fuck you!" She began sobbing into his chest harder. "You fucking asshole!"
Liam knew he messed up.
"How many close calls with death are you gonna have me worry about?!"
Hearing the commotion, Winter walked into the room from the kitchen.
"What's going on?"
Sitting on the sofa in a stunned silence was Qrow. Beside him was Oscar.
Once everything died down, Ozpin had Liam sit on the sofa.
"Mr. Branwen." Ozpin said, getting the Huntsman's attention. Upon seeing his appearance, Ozpin's eyes widened. "What's happened?"
Liam explained what had happened to him in the time he was in Salem's castle.
"My God." Weiss placed a hand over her mouth after hearing what Liam was put through.
Emerald, Ren and Nora had also wandered in along with Maya.
"You said a parasite?" Emerald asked.
"Yeah." Liam looked at himself.
Emerald's eyes widened.
"She really did it…" Emerald said softly.
"Did what?" Liam asked, staring at Emerald.
Emerald was silent.
"Did what?!" Liam asked again.
Emerald hesitated as everyone looked to her.
"That parasite-" she began. "-I seen Watts use one on someone before. That Hound."
Liam's eyes widened.
"It's what turned him into what he was." Emerald explained. "But that transformation was within hours. You've been missing months."
"Perhaps the parasite has attached itself to you." Ozpin suggested.
"How does that make it any better?" Liam asked. "It's inside me!"
"And yet your mind is still your own." Ozpin retorted. "The Hound seemed to be under control. Perhaps this parasite is more symbiotic."
Weiss stepped to Liam's side.
"That doesn't make it any less of a problem!" Weiss stated. "Who knows what it could do! It needs to be removed!"
"Of course." Ozpin agreed. "Maya."
Maya nodded before stepping up to Liam.
"Let's see what we're dealing with." Maya said, placing her hands a few inches from Liam's chest. Her eyes began to glow as did her hands. "Alright. I- oh."
"What?" Weiss asked.
"I found it, but…"
"But…"
"It's attached to his heart." Maya answered.
End of chapter 83
