Chapter 66: Farewell
"Carried by destiny, bound to obey..."
"C'mon, edge lord!" Eir said, steadying Nexus Shade as tremors besieged the golden city, the roof caving in and crushing the altar with a shrill crash. "We gotta haul ass!"
With a mad sprint that had his shield clanking on his back, the knight led them out the doors of the temple. In sparse numbers, lesser Grimm burst out the sands of Arcadia, their frenzied howls shattering the reverie. The earth was being pried open—by magic or something else, not even he knew. Cracks splintered the old stone. The worn buildings crumbled around them, folding like entire houses made of cards.
Nex hooked Hrunting and Vigilance to his belt. He leapt over a splintered column, leaving dust in the wind. If he had a penny every time he had to escape from a ruin, he would have two pennies. Not a lot. But it was strange that it happened twice.
"Archer!" Weiss said, gasping as she tried to catch up with their kid. "Wait!"
The white-haired duo took to the skies, a rainbow of glyphs forming staircases that arched over the city. Dozens of black birds swooped towards them, cawing. Still, a hail of ice swept through their ranks, clipping the wings of those unlucky enough to get hit. They shrieked as they plummeted to their demise, the sound flattening his extra pair of ears.
Nex tore his eyes away. The two could handle themselves.
He slid Hrunting out of Vigilance, chopping a Grombie in half. His legs mimicked Raven's footwork on pure instinct alone.
Too unrefined, he thought, even as waves of sand buried the monster's lifeless corpse.
He was far from perfecting the technique. But still. He smirked at the prospect of a challenge. Just another goal to add to his growing list.
Ruby raced ahead of him, slashing her way through a garden of Grimm with Qrow and Blake. Every time her scythe spun, a fountain of blood stained her dress. There was no escape. Not when her semblance hastened every single one of her strikes, leaving the injured Qrow to deal with one or two stragglers for every dozen she slew. Still, her aura dimmed the longer she sustained her blitz. A stolen glance at his watch revealed that her aura was already in the yellow, a dangerous threshold to cross.
Nex shook his head, eyes snapping towards the path. He could admire his friend's technique—and critique her recklessness—later. When they were no longer in the danger of being buried alive.
That time loomed closer as they neared the outer walls, a horde of Grimm stampeding through Arcadia's streets. Nex bashed a Beowolf's snout as it lunged at him, breaking bone with a flash of blue. He had no time to secure the kill, unfortunately, as more Beowolves pounced out of the shadows, drool dripping down rows of shark-like teeth.
What he would have given to have fangs as sharp as theirs.
Fuck.
Nex danced around a Beowolf, blasting it in the neck.
What the hell was up with him being so distracted lately?
More cracks rippled through Arcadia, a reminder of their predicament.
Nex gnashed his teeth, dust rising as the city's walls trembled and sank. "Hurry the fuck up!"
He was far too young to be buried alive in some Vacuan fairy tale. Or to be buried alive in general, really.
"We're hurrying!" Ruby said, yanking at Blake and Qrow. "Hold on!"
A storm of roses sucked in a cloud of sand. She rushed towards him, the world turning grey as his semblance slowed her down. Just enough for him to reach out and—
"Ooof!" Nex winced as he clung to her cape, his knees scraping jagged rocks and coarse sand alike. The path seemed to crumble before him, disappearing into motes of—no mistaking it, magic. He shut his gaping mouth, Ruby's cape tickling his nose. "You okay?"
"Yep!" Ruby shouted over the roaring of Beowolves. His extra pair of ears strained to pick up her words. "Don't tear the hood!"
"No problem," Nex muttered. Hoods were precious.
He stifled a grunt as she zigzagged past the Grimm, his knees smashing into a wall. Painfully. His teeth clattered from the impact. Still, it was worth it. Doubtful he could ever run as fast as Ruby. At least, not without loading himself up with dust and—
"Watch out!" Blake cried.
Nex craned his neck, peeking past Ruby's boots. A pair of Taijitu slithered out of the sands. They hissed and coiled into a rope. A giant, bone-plated rope that fenced their ticket outside, the gilded gates creaking in the sandstorm. The tell-tale shimmer of magic crept towards the gates. No turning back now, the path behind them already a gaping, subterranean void.
Luckily, Ruby got the idea. She pressed onward. His skin crawled as her semblance washed over them like a summer breeze.
They barrelled through the Taijitu, the world coloured with hues of crimson and black. For a moment, it almost seemed like they entered a different world. A world of anatomy, the insides of the Grimm jumping straight out of a picturesque book.
"Yep," Nex said as they emerged on the other side, leaping over new cracks on the old earth. "You're right. It's fucking awesome."
"I know," Ruby said, giggling as he patted himself off.
"It's a nice trick." Blake aimed Gambol Shroud at the Taijitu.
Though, there was probably no point in doing it. The entire city and everything in it was being reduced to rubble, buried in the sands of time with every second that passed. Disappearing before their eyes. When it finally sank, every Grimm inside would be entombed once more. Forgotten. Until the next calamity came and unearthed Arcadia, with a gust of fate and destiny.
Swathes of white fire battered the last of the Taijitu, its twin heads letting out bloodcurdling shrieks. A section of its serpentine form glowed a molten orange, fading into black mist, hollowed by the flame.
Inky, Leli, and Eir strolled through the gap. Unharmed. Not a speck of injury on any of them. Or maybe Inky used her magic to heal whatever wounds they sustained in their escape.
Nex glanced at the sky, the tell-tale tinkle of Weiss' glyphs ringing in his ears. He heaved a sigh, wiping the sweat off his brow. The two of them landed just a few metres away. Safe and sound.
"You made it," Weiss said, panting.
Nex shrugged, staring at the smooth, unblemished skin on Archer's face, her right eye sitting in its socket as if Cinder's attack never hit her at all. Without her mask, she resembled Weiss—infinitely.
She could have passed for her mom if not for the fangs, the extra pair of ears, the narrow, wolfish eyes, and the ridiculously long mane. Her messy locks really were in dire need of a brush. And that was coming from him, the guy with a bird's nest on his head.
"You alright?" Nex smiled. "You looked kinda... dead."
Weiss rolled her eyes and grumbled something about him already ignoring her in favour of their daughter.
"Hmph!" Archer raised her chin, smirking. "Fret not, father! 'Twas but a flesh wound!"
"Aye," Inky said as she strapped her staff to her back. "It be impressive watching her rise again, eh? Like a phoenix, eh?"
Archer's chest puffed up. "Indeed! 'Twould be naught but the phoenix of the fairest of course!"
From her spot behind Inky, Leli giggled, flashing Archer a gentle smile.
Eir groaned and cupped his face. "Like, don't feed the werewolf," he muttered.
Arcadia sunk into the bowels of Vacuo, and the desert lay silent once more. Vigilance was gone with no trace of her soldiers. Czipueth, crumpled, black smoke wafting off the remains of its fading corpse. The rivers of black blood that spewed Grimm had long since dried out. Just another memory sucked into the Vacuan wasteland, joining its cradle of bones. Was it... really over? Already, the memories were beginning to slip away, his semblance a flaming forge at the back of his skull. Crashing. Pulsing with flashes of white-hot fire. Working to preserve memories that no doubt he was never meant to have, the world and its magic—the root—mending the damage that had been done.
"So that's it then," Weiss said.
Her words brimmed with finality. The past few hours—the past few days—had turned their lives upside-down. But now, it was time to go back. Beacon was waiting. Though they still had three weeks left before classes officially resumed. Their mission had ended rather ahead of schedule—too quickly, in fact.
"Aye," Inky said, cackling as she stared at the setting sun. "You be living your lives well now, eh, dearest apprentices of mine?"
"We won't forget what you taught us," Weiss said. She dipped her chin, peering at Inky. "Thank you."
"Yep," Nex said, leaning on his left leg. It ached a little less than the right. "Does your world have a name?"
"Aye, she be known by many names," Inky said. "But no matter. Names be pretty and useless, eh, Nexus Shade?"
Nex chuckled. Artificer. Nexus Shade. She had a point. Both were names. But none of the two truly defined him. Only his being did. And right now, that being was dedicated to the rumble of his stomach, the ache having been ignored for too long.
"We'll miss you," Ruby said, tugging Blake towards her by the elbow. "Blake too."
"Yeah, right," Blake said, a brittle smile on her lips as she winked at Eir. "Have fun reading."
Eir laughed—nervously. He propped a hand under his chin, stroking his lumberjack's beard. "Like, what reading? I ain't got any books on me, Little Miss Cat Girl. No siree."
"Sure," Blake said, smirking.
Archer tittered and poked the back of Eir's pants, eliciting a yelp from the knight. "Found it," she murmured as her finger made a dull thud.
"So, uh..." Qrow said. "What'cha gonna do now?"
"We be returning to our worlds, eh?" Inky said. "Methinks I'm terrible at goodbyes, so Leli shall be saying it for me, eh?"
"Farewell," Leli said. She offered them all a graceful smile before she turned to Inky with a skip to her steps. "However will we explain this mess, ma chérie?"
"Eh, we be figuring it out as we go," Inky said, their voices turning faint as they strolled north across the basin of sand—towards the kingdom of Vacuo. "Now then, amatus. On to our vacation. According to me bestie's super-secret brochure, there be this super-secret waterfall in..."
They climbed another dune, and Inky went down on all fours, presenting her rear to Leli.
A guttural howl ripped through the desert as Inky burst into light, massive wings ribbed with jagged, ebonivory scales spreading far from her back. She shimmered like pearls under the sun—Inky, a dragon whose breadth eclipsed the sky, instead of a woman with a lanky frame. Twisting her slender neck, she flashed them a wink and a grin, her eyes fiery emeralds and her teeth ranks of glimmering swords.
Huh.
Nex blinked, the others drinking in the sight with gasps and wide eyes—except for Archer and Eir.
So, Inky could turn into a dragon, huh? Or maybe she was a dragon. Either way, it would not surprise him at all, considering how eccentric the mage—and their mentor, no matter how short it might have been—seemed to be.
Leli vaulted onto Inky's back, and they flew away, the desert clouds concealing their shadow high in the skies.
"Ah, yes, the good ol' draco express," Eir said, sighing. He scratched the back of his head. "Now I'm, like, wondering when our lift's gonna be here."
"Hurry not, beloved," Archer said, grinning. "'Twas aught a long time since we had a moment to ourselves, is it not?"
"Yeah, like, you're right," Eir said. "I really wanna take a break before—"
A black portal swirled in front of the pair.
"Oh, come on!" Eir said, stomping on a rock. The poor thing shattered into crumbs. "It's like you timed that on purpose, edgy."
One Ruby Rose tumbled out of the portal, her gothic coat—complete with crimson frills and a striped white tie—fluttering in the parched breeze.
"Huh," the other Ruby said, her silver eyes glowing a faint blue. "Wasn't expecting you'd be here, noob lord."
Their Ruby—the one beside him—gasped. "You're—you're me!"
Their Ruby ran circles around the other Ruby, prodding her flowing, spiky, red-tinged hair and the gigantic cannon on her back. She looked older. Weary, her legs tensing as all eyes darted towards her. There was no helping his mind as the face of Summer Rose ghosted over hers.
"It also turns into an axe!" Ruby said, running her hands over the older Ruby's weapon. "And a scythe! Oh! And a sword! And it's also a katana! A flaming katana!"
"Like, you don't know the half of it," Eir said, smiling wryly. "Geek."
"Shut up, newb," the older Ruby said, snatching her weapon back from their Ruby. "Really was a pain in the ass finding you."
Before Eir had a chance to respond, their Ruby piped in with a burst of her semblance.
"How'd you make it?!" their Ruby said. "It's super, duper cool!"
She pulled out the Crescent Rose she took from the future, waving it in the older Ruby's face.
"Is this yours?!" their Ruby said. "Can I have it? Pretty please?"
The older Ruby rolled her eyes, cracking her neck with a strangely metallic pop. "This rusty thing? You don't wanna make it yourself?"
"Ehehe," their Ruby said, flushing. "Kinda. Can I use it as a reference?"
"Sure," the older Ruby said. "Nice seeing you, team leader. Weiss. Blake. Qrow."
Qrow licked his lips, taking a sip of his flask. Weiss and Blake simply gave her nods of acknowledgement.
Nex shrugged, parting his fringe away from his eyes. "Got tired of the short hair, huh?"
Admittedly, it looked good on her. Just like how the bob looked great on Weiss. Who knew that swapping hairstyles actually worked?
"Heh," the older Ruby said. She smirked as she swished her hair back. "Yang's idea. Where's she?"
"Not here," Nex said.
"What's with the abs?" older Ruby said, eyeing his bare stomach.
Nex chuckled. "What's with the tie?"
Older Ruby chuckled. And refused to elaborate, the lines on her face taut like wire.
"See you?" Nex said.
In the future, at least.
"Yep," older Ruby said, averting her gaze. "You two done?"
Eir poked Archer's cheek. "Like, I think Little Miss Schnee-byou has something to say to her parents. The real ones, this time."
Nex raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?" Weiss beamed as she skipped towards Archer. "What is it?"
"I..." Archer swallowed thickly.
"Come on," Eir said, grinning as he held Archer by the balls of her shoulders and spun her on her heels. "Like, it's your chance."
Archer blinked, eyes misting over as she stared at them. "But mayhaps we are lacking of the time, Guardian!"
Older Ruby nodded. "She's right."
"Fuck that noise," Eir said. "We can, like, spare five minutes before the next arc or something."
Whatever an arc was, Eir had a point. It was probably the last they would ever see Archer. At least, before Weiss' stomach swelled a little larger and Jacques sent assassins after him.
"I love you..." Archer mumbled, waddling towards them. "I love you," she said, firmer, the tremors gone from her voice.
Nex stood frozen as Weiss snatched Archer into a bone-crushing hug. The bite of chill crept up his legs, his heart beating faster.
"Getting cold feet?" Blake whispered, her breath on his neck.
Nex shrugged. "Literally." Despite the sand stuck in his boots.
"Let me help," Blake said.
She shoved him forward, her voice laced with a grin.
Nex rolled his eyes. For some reason, his semblance failed to anticipate her move. He spread his arms on reflex. His chest pressed against Archer's back, his hands curling over Weiss' wrists. He basked in the warmth—a warmth that which he had never once known before.
"You know, Archer," Weiss said, "you can stay."
Nex hummed. Of course she could—they could make it work. He raised his palm, rubbing Archer's extra pair of ears. The warm fur quivered at his touch.
"Hmph!" Archer sniffled. "Impossible! For the Guardians have need of this Heroine!"
"I see," Weiss said, chuckling. "Well, you're a grown woman."
That she was—even older than them. They had no place in her life. Not anymore. And, apparently, not since they died in her time.
"You're perfectly capable of making your own decisions," Weiss said, dusting some sand off Archer's shoulders. "Just know that should you wish it, you'll always have a home with us."
If Nexus Shade had to describe the shine in Archer's eyes, it would have been a strange concoction of tears and joy. Home. It was something that everyone yearned for—and he was no exception. If home was where the heart lay, then hers was probably elsewhere.
Nex shot Eir a meaningful look, the knight nodding in response.
"Farewell, mother," Archer said, smiling. "Mom. Dad. Mayhaps our paths will do the crossing again someday."
Nex patted her hair, ruffling it even more. "Go save the universe. Or whatever it is you Guardians do."
"Hmph! But of course!" Archer said, white draped over her eyes like a curtain. "'Twould be a bright day in the Void should the Guardians of the Unknowing fall!"
Probably. If the last few hours were any indication. Was hopping worlds and travelling through time an everyday thing for them? Like something they just did?
Archer pulled away, strolling towards Eir with a grin on her lips. She hooked her hand with his and dragged him towards the portal, their forms shifting into threads of black. The older Ruby leapt after them, the flowing, inky haze hissing quietly as it shut close.
"The future," Nex said, licking his lips. "It fucking gets to you, huh?"
"Took the words from my mouth," Qrow said as they started trekking east back to Vale, the sun falling on their heads. "So, how does it feel being a dad for a day?"
"Terrible," Nex said. "Not as terrible as you though."
"Heh," Qrow said. "Good thing I didn't shag the Schnee."
"Excuse me?" Weiss said, a little scowl on her face. "Are you trying to imply something?"
Qrow raised his hands, his arms snapping up in surrender. "Hey, easy. I'm just saying that it could have gone the other way around..."
"Hmph." Weiss inched a little closer towards him, his partner's hand slipping into his. The filthy grit between her fingers felt right at home. "Has anyone seen Raven?"
"Not after she stayed to fight that guy," Blake said. "Tyrian. Tyrian Callows."
Qrow grunted. "She's tough. She'll be fine."
Nex shrugged, a black bird flying low at the corner of his eye. "We'll see her again. Raven was still kicking back there."
Where back there meant the future. Did that mean that out of all of them, Raven was the only one who survived long enough to have a head full of grey hair? Depressing. But somehow, it fit the veteran huntress to a tee. Still, there was no point in dwelling on it. The future was the future. Today was the present. Their present. He just had to make sure that they had a future as well. Huh. Maybe that was what Eir had been talking about all along.
"Cinder," Weiss said. "You think she survived?"
When Archer's arrow sheared through her shield, a massive explosion followed, causing the temple—and the witch queen's altar—to collapse. If their luck was any good, then Cinder got buried along with Arcadia. But still, the odds were high that she managed to pull something out of her ass, be it magic or anything else.
"We don't have a body," Nex said. "Best not draw any conclusions yet."
"We'll be ready if she comes back," Ruby said, a sheen of steel dawning on her eyes. For a moment, she looked almost like the Ruby who just left. "Right, team leader?"
"Yep," Nex said, offering his team a smile—hopefully, an encouraging one.
"So!" Weiss grinned as she flicked the sweat off her forehead, her face glowing an angry crimson. "Who's dying to get back to civilisation?"
All of them, probably.
"Ugh." Blake's nose wrinkled. "Don't remind me."
The sun fell, and the rolling, desert hills rose high into the dusky clouds like quivering strokes of ink. They found a cave for the night. The very same one where they spent the eve with friends long gone, off on their own adventures through the winding paths of time.
Archer's voice echoed in the rain, melodies of life tinkling—like bells—where only songs for no one were sung.
Though the road to tomorrow may have been paved with uncertainty, what Nexus Shade found certain was that the future was there, just waiting for them to take it by the horns.
Author's Notes:
Guardian Rose has a lengthy backstory pinned to my storyboard (like the other members of Guardians' eclectic cast, including Guardian Schnee and Guardian Taurus). Her character theme is Red by Leprous, and her Class is Shadow Slayer—a Rogue and Warrior hybrid that's geared towards high mobility and dealing explosive burst damage, limited only by a low mana pool. People who read Guardians should know what Classes the main cast of Artificer already are, courtesy of Eir using Observe on everything.
The stage is set, the actors are in place, and we can proceed to the third and last act of the second book, beginning next chapter. It's about time Nex had another talk with Ozpin. Maybe—just maybe—Weiss will be the one narrating the third act. Because... Nex can't for some reason? Hmmm. Just kidding. We don't leave Nex's POV over here, it's tradition.
In the past month, I also released Fire Emblem: Andromeda over at feuniverse. It's a fully custom fangame whose story ties into the LVC. I spent around a year to make its first release—soundtrack, art assets, writing and all. One of the five protagonists is a post-Awakening Lucina. It has cameos of characters from Artificer, Guardians, and Today I Saw The Whole World. Andromeda is basically meant to be Fire Emblem but Dark Souls (Prepare to Die Edition). 8 chapters are currently playable, with around 3 to 5 hours of fair but brutally challenging gameplay. Feel free to check it out.
Thanks for reading!