Before you ask, this version will be based off the game with the Dark World I completed; Four Swords Adventures, but the sword won't lose it's power, similar to it in the Minish Cap.
Remnants of Hyrule
The Dark World, Cave of No Return
As soon as their break was over, teams RWBY and JNPR were once again scouring Hyrule in search of the illusive Vaati, taking down any monster in their path. As they did so, they found out that red monsters- the weakest variation of Bokoblins and Moblins- were nearly extinct. The only time they saw red Bokoblins or Moblins, were with other monsters- and they were the fewest in number among the group.
"Come in teams. Anything new?" Doctor Oobleck's voice echoed from Weiss's scroll.
"Nothing. Just monsters." Weiss answered as Jaune sheathed his Master Sword and Ruby sheathed the Four Sword; her copies merging back into her. Constantly splitting her Aura was actually making it grow slightly; as now her estimated Aura level was now 16 out of 20...allowing her Aura reserves to split evenly into four among her copies.
"Well...the ranch ruins have been restored into the Lon Lon Ranch." Jaune added with a small smile. A young redheaded girl name Malon had, with her father Talon, purchased the restored ranch and made it into a successful business. They had horses they were taming and breeding, Hylian Retrievers, dangerous Cuccos, Donkeys, Highland Sheep, and Hateno Cows. As the only other "ranch" they had seen was in Hateno Village; and only dealt in cows, Retrievers, and sheep, they could cater to areas farther away from Hateno and were closer to Hyrule Castle.
"Well, my research has found a possibility of where Vaati is hiding!" Doctor Oobleck said, which made everyone huddle over Weiss's scroll. "According to old legends, Calamity Ganon was once sealed away with the Triforce in the Sacred Realm the Triforce originated. However, Ganon twisted it and everything in it until it became the Dark World; a dark mirror of Hyrule."
"A Dark Mirror of Hyrule?!" Jaune asked in shock as others reeled back; Weiss nearly dropping the Sheikah Scroll.
"In a way. Some things are the same...but things are different as well." Oobleck said, "Volcanic areas become arctic. Deserts become swamps...things like that. But...the only way to get into the Dark World is to either find the lost Dark Mirror, or a Moon Pearl."
"We have never heard of either of those things." Ruby said, patting the Four Sword as it shivered...something that didn't escape Oobleck's notice. They had arrived at Romani Plains between the rebuilding Hyrule Castle Town and the Applean Forest.
"It was said that the Four Sword can detect entry points to the Dark World." He said, "While it is likely that the Dark Mirror is destroyed, Moon Pearls were said to form naturally...but could only be found in times heroes were needed." With that, the call cut off as Ruby stood where the Four Sword was shivering the most; shaking in excitement as others wandered nearby in hopes to find a "Moon Pearl".
Yang and Pyrrha went together, giving the two Gerudo Descendants a chance to talk together.
"So, why were you chanting not till marriage about having some lovin' with our lover boy?" Yang asked Pyrrha.
"I am...afraid..." Pyrrha said, shifting her weight as she wrapped her hands across her hips.
"I know the fact he can outlast...me is intimidating, but he's really compassionate and affectionate!" Yang said, blushing with a wink to the now blushing Pyrrha.
"No... I am afraid if I start... I won't stop until I know I have his child... And knowing Jaune, he would give up his future at Beacon to raise him or her while we follow OUR dreams!" Yang's face morphed into a look of understanding.
Pyrrha had been put on a pedestal for most of her life. Seeing Jaune NOT know about her fame (which was something amazing, as word had spread to Main Hyrule and even Beggars had hoped to use her fame to turn their lives around) was something that endeared the blonde hero to the redheaded Gerudo. Learning about their heritage, and that Gerudo RARELY gave birth to males (in legends, possibly only one male every hundred years) reinforced the Gerudo's need to find suitable Voe and start a family.
Jaune was a...unique Voe- and not just about his situation of being engaged to four Vai. This was a Voe who knew how to cook, loved spending time with kids, didn't care about people's race, and didn't put down any shortcomings of others, in fact he was more likely to put down HIS mistakes. What Pyrrha feared was something he would be likely to do, as Jaune valued others more than himself if the multiple times he took blows aimed at others were any indications.
In other words, Gerudo Vai would have fought to the death over him if they didn't know he was...off the market. He was a strong warrior Voe with a heart of gold. Having been put on this "untouchable" pedestal made it hard for Pyrrha to interact with others; yet Jaune did it effortlessly. Even before the Great Calamity, Pyrrha had been trying to work up the nerves to ask him to be her boyfriend. Yang and Ruby, even though both were quite...smitten with him for the same reasons, had stood back and stayed out of Pyrrha's way. It had been bad enough she had the Zora Princess also vying for his affection.
Then the Great Calamity struck.
Jaune had been with the Champions, Link, and Zelda at the Spring of Wisdom while they had been preparing at Rito Village. (J)NPR and RWBY had lead Rito warriors from Rito Village into Hyrule Field...just as the Guardians turned against them. While they did take down a good number, when it was 7 Hunters-in-Training and 73 Rito Warriors against Hundreds (if not thousands) of Guardian Skywatchers and Stalkers...even the most skilled Hunters and Warriors would be overwhelmed. The Guardian's true weakness was their eyes, and they were armored with thick stone. Even with a warrior dealing with one on their own, the others would gather up until they were dealing with four or more Guardians per person.
With the average experienced Hunter or warrior having about a "20 heart" Aura meter, Guardians could drain that in three or four beams. It was only luck on their part that there were Sheikah that escaped Hyrule Castle and carried them to the Shrine of Resurrection before the fatal blow was dealt.
Yang sat down in reflective thought as Pyrrha rummaged through some rocks. When they had awakened in the Shrine of Resurrection with Jaune and the Champions, they had amnesia...yet, she still felt...stirrings when looking at Jaune. Something within her was telling her to not let him escape from her grip.
When they got the pictures restored on their scrolls in Hateno by Purrah, she reveled in her memories...and had a realization.
They had come so close to dying without doing anything about their feelings. Mipha would dance around the topic, as would Pyrrha, while she and Ruby tried smothering their feelings. Yet, to hear Jaune say he still couldn't remember was heartbreaking. The frustration in his eyes; nearly crying, the slumped shoulders...it was a moment of weakness he had rarely shown on their journey.
She wouldn't sit aside any longer. While on their way back to Kakariko, Yang had stayed near the back and urged Pyrrha, Mipha, and Ruby to stay back with her as Jaune "Took point" with a sword and shield drawn. There, they talked about their feelings for the blonde hero. It was there they decided to not let their feelings go to waste. They had been shown how fragile their life could be, and how quickly it could be snatched away.
It was there they decided to share him, as unusual as it was. They also made a vow to not let any other Vai sink their claws into him and snatch him away from them. That last vow proved needed once Jaune became the "Champion of the Master Sword", one of the "Heroes of Hyrule".
Most people would date a Voe or Vai to determine if they were compatible and that their feelings were sincere, and use flirting to gain their attention. Yang, however, was different. She would proudly admit that she was attracted to guys...but she could flirt so easily because she felt nothing for them...but then after getting to know Jaune, she learned a truth about herself.
When she fell for a guy, she fell HARD!
"I think I found something!" They heard Blake shout, and they gave up their search to gather around Ruby, with Blake showing off a glowing blue orb that was the size of a large Hearty Raddish. Then, without warning, the orb shattered; revealing a blue glowing mark similar to the teleport mark at Jaune's home. Then, there was a distortion of the air and a bright flash that blinded them for a moment as the air suddenly became heavy.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves in an area that looked like the Romani Plains...in the most basic layout. The sky was in a perpetual sunset with dark clouds scattered on the sky. The grass was a yellow color as it was in a state of dying, with the few shrubs having purple leaves. Any tree in the area was dead and bare of any leaves. An oppressive presence reminiscent of Ganon's Malice laced the air. There, in front of them, wielding a Dragonbone Boko Bat, was something they didn't imagine seeing.
A Gold Bokoblin.
This was not mentioned on their Hyrule Compendium-probably because it was only found in this realm. If they had to guess, had Ozpin become any weaker struggling to contain Calamity Ganon, this is what the Silver Bokoblins would have become. Yang's Ember Celica deployed in to "battle mode" as she charged forward, leaping over the horizontal swing and throwing a punch as her Gauntlets became coated in flames. As her right fist made contact, with a quiet "Shunk" sound, a Fire arrow launched from the gauntlet and exploded on the monster's rock-hard skin. It dropped it's weapon and rapidly patted itself while squealing as it worked on putting out the flames. She jumped back just as Jaune stepped forward; piercing it's torso with the Master Sword in a flash of light. Smoke drifted from the wound as Jaune pulled the sword out, but it squealed in defiance and picked up the dropped bat, Jaune flipping over it's strikes and vanishing with only four rapid burst of light showing his strikes as it fell onto it's back. As Jaune slid back in front of Yang, Master Sword held ready, they watched as it stood up again, only for Nora to smash it to the ground with a sickening crack using Magnhild as the ground under the monster cracked upon impact.
Still, it stood up and Ruby finally took it down as she sliced off it's head with Crescent Rose, the beast leaving behind guts, horn, teeth, and gems from it's smoke that Jaune collected.
"This has to be the Dark World." Jaune said, eying the blue, glowing circle similar to the one that appeared after the orb broke. "These Gold monsters then have to be mutations on the Silver ones in Hyrule. They drop the same things upon being killed, but are more durable-possibly are even stronger than Silver ones."
"Oh no..." Weiss said as she staggered, "That means there are gold LYNELS!" A tense silence befell the two teams as that thought sunk in. Silver Lynels had the strongest weapons of the many Lynel species; had rock hard skin capable of absorbing multiple strikes from powerful weapons before the beast even showed signs of being hurt, had the strongest strikes among the Lynel species, and were very quick.
The possibility that there were GOLD ones in this Dark World even stronger then that was very terrifying. Ruby was quietly muttering under her breath as her hands drifted between Crescent Rose and the Four Sword. Pyrrha was fidgeting with Milo and her Radiant Shield and reciting formations and attack strategies that others around her could easily hear. Yang's fists clenched as flames danced around Ember Celica and Blakes cat ears twitched at every sound as her eyes darted around her surroundings.
Nora's grin grew massive at the thought of breaking it's legs, and Ren froze in place with eyes wide in terror as the pink stripe in his hair lit up (having replaced his Hylian Hood with the Snowquill Headdress) as his Negative Emotions Hiding Semblance became active. If something like a Gold Lynel could exist...
Could the Grimm that slayed his home still be around...and possibly have a member of its species here?
Nora's grin faltered seeing Ren's expression and she threw her arms around Ren and started gently kissing his face until his focus was drawn to her eyes.
"Relax." Jaune said in a calm, yet commanding tone, "We aren't alone. We have each other. No one is facing one of those-when we see one-alone!" At that command, RWBY and (J)NPR brought their focus back to the moment. "We have a portal back to Hyrule in the spot that the orb broke." Yet, where a grassy hill once was, there was a rocky structure with two statues that looked like Vaati. The ground shook as a rocky opening formed. They entered and found themselves in utter darkness. Ren dropped some wood and lit it using a Serpentine Spear struck against some flint as they lit torches off the fire and gazed at the strange location before their Sheikah Scrolls pinged.
Though no map was downloaded (with no towers visible from outside the cave), a name was added to the blank area.
Dark World: Cave of No Return.
Such an ominous name made shivers go down their spine until they noticed that there were lanterns sitting nearby, and they carefully opened them; and used the torches to light the lanterns and hang them off their belts when they closed them. This would allow a small area of the pitch-black cave to be lit up even if they had to put out their torches to fight with their weapons. Ruby used her torch to light two unlit flame pits near an indentation on the wall, and the wall sprung upwards and revealed an opening. Moving through the doorway, Pyrrha lit the next two flame pits, but nothing happened. Weiss squealed in fear as she saw a blue rat monster scurry past her feet as she jumped onto a rock before collecting herself and quickly dispatching it by freezing it before throwing it against a wall, where it burst into smoke.
"You saw nothing!" She hissed.
Upon reaching the middle of the room, they saw a chest surrounded by a ring of fire, and no visible way to put it out. Myrnaster's ice did nothing against the continuous stream of flames. Then, Yang leaned against a rock and it slid. Seeing three other rocks, Jaune, Ruby, and Pyrrha pushed the others, and the flames went out. Blake touched the blackened ground hesitantly, before opening the chest and finding a key; which she held as they moved to the Eastern most side of the room and slid it into a keyhole in the door. The key snapped apart and the door slid upwards.
The next room held a maze of blocks to push around until they found the key to the next locked "door". Once inside, Ruby nearly fell into a pitfall trap that opened under her feet, but Jaune rushed over and grabbed her, pulling her back up. They carefully tested each area of ground by picking up stones and throwing them until they saw all the traps activated, and lit the remaining fire pits until two doors opened. Each of them moved the the one at the top of that room, and saw a ghost of an old man.
"If only someone could have crossed that chasm or I had a bow..." That ghost said, slumped against the wall as Ren fired Stormflower into a switch, activating it as a section of land appeared to bridge the chasm and two traveler's bows appeared with two chests of rupees. Seeing that the bows were useless to Ren and Jaune (who had the most amount of bows), they stood back and let Weiss and Yang pick up the bows as Blake and Ruby picked up the red rupees. Seeing that the door out of that room needed the key, they headed back to the other open door in the previous room.
There was a room filled with numerous ceramic pots and fire pits were launching fireballs at them with ghostly wails. Yang's eyes turned red as one nearly burnt part of her hair as her hair started glowing. Jaune quickly covered Ruby's eyes as those fire pits quickly made it to Yang's equivalent of "Pyrrha's list". The sound of smashing ceramic and rocks filled the area until nothing except rubble was left and Yang gazed proudly at the key held in her hands, giving a thankful nod to Jaune for covering Ruby's eyes to prevent the young Grimm Reaper from seeing Yang's rampage and possibly being traumatized.
"That Arc family will be full of nutcases!" Weiss whispered to Blake, only to freeze as she saw Yang give her a glare and activate Ember Celica as a warning. When they entered the last room, Ren took out a Royal Bow and fired arrows across from fire pits; lighting the ones behind them. This lit up the room; revealing a massive number of Kesee and a spike pit in the middle filled with poison and bones. Thankfully, as the others dealt with the Kesee, Ren activated the switch and fired; making a land bridge appear after the switch activated. They went through a maze of tunnels that circled around until they got out at the other side of the room and Yang, with her immense strength, pulled a chain lever to open the door. Upon entering, there was what looked like a shadow of Ruby as the monster jumped around and changed her skirt color to purple. When this happened, anyone attacks from anyone other than Purple Ruby just phased through "Shadow Ruby". Ruby drew her Four Sword and Purple charged, the two combatants clashing their swords together in a sound of steel. Then, purple Ruby ducked as Shadow Ruby swung and Purple stabbed Shadow, and kept wailing on the monster until it vanished into smoke. When that happened, a rocky structure crumbled as a door opened and Ruby sheathed the Four Sword, reverting into one person again.
Upon entering the room, they found an opening to the outside Dark World, where a blue circular symbol was sitting. JNPR and RWBY stepped onto it and vanished into a burst of light.
They reappeared in the Crenel Hills across the Hylia River. "We're farther Northeast than we started." Yang realized, "Vaati can travel quickly by using the Dark World!"
"Which is why we need to head home and warn King Ozpin and tell him about Doctor Oobleck's breakthrough." Jaune said, "If something happens to us and we get trapped in the Dark World...there will be no one to stop Vaati. The others need this information." Summoning the Master Cycles, they took off back into the castle, stopping to report at the Gate Guards in full Soldier's Armor. Upon entering the castle, they nearly bumped into Professor Glynda Goodwitch...only to see a ring on her finger that wasn't their before as she almost looked...giddy.
"I take it you're here to see King Ozpin?" She said, as the two teams nodded. In the past, Hyrule was mainly a Monarchy; with the Queen having most of the power. The King would only take over when tragedy occurred and the Queen died if the Princess was too young to take over ruling the land. However, no King had truly been annoyed by that fact; as all of the ones whose wife died (after a Zelda was born) grieved the loss of their wives and worked hard to ensure their land was safe for when their daughters took over.
RWBY and JNPR didn't doubt Ozpin's choice of Queen. While she was feared among Beacon Students, she was also known for being a fair teacher willing to help students improve when they asked for help-even if very strict. Yet, she would also listen to Ozpin's words-even if their views didn't match perfectly.
If something happened to Ozpin, Glynda was a good choice to take over duties...since she knew him the best. Glynda's strict personality would also put fear into the Yiga Clan as she was also a very skilled Huntress. Upon reaching the door to Ozpin's room, they were ushered inside as Glynda sat down to Ozpin's right.
"When exploring earlier, Doctor Oobleck told us about a legend of the Dark World and the Moon Pearls that form to open the passageway to it." Blake said in a no-nonsense tone of voice that made Glynda Goodwitch proud of her. "These legends are true."
"You're Serious?!" Professor Goodwitch said in shock.
"We went into it, and emerged farther Northwest of our location." Jaune said, "This raises some concerns. Not only is the Dark World a hiding location for Vaati, but he could travel across Hyrule unnoticed through it."
"This does raise concerns." King Ozpin said as he took a sip from his mug, "Is there anything else you'd like to add about this?"
"While we didn't find Vaati..." Ruby said, "We found a Gold Bokoblin, even stronger than a Silver Bokoblin...it's possible that the Dark World mutated a Silver one, as it dropped the same items...and...Vaati formed a monster..."
Ruby took her eyes away from Ozpin as she gazed at the floor in shame. "It formed a monster we call Shadow Ruby."
"You have nothing to be afraid of, miss Rose." Ozpin said, "Calamity Ganon once tried something similar. Was there anything unique to it?"
"Vaati may be smarter than we first thought. While Shadow Ruby isn't as combat skilled as the real Ruby is, it can change it's skirt color to one of the four colors of the hoods Ruby has when she draws the Four Sword. Then, Shadow Ruby can only be hurt by the Ruby wearing that color hood." Yang said as she and Jaune hugged Ruby.
"Adaptation..." Ozpin said.
"Excuse me, your highness?" Jaune asked.
"According to Legend, Vaati has been defeated by the Four Sword multiple times before." Ozpin said, "With it's power fully realized; it can't do anything to adapt to its weakness with it being sealed into dormancy many times before. However, it can form a monster with the power to slightly adapt to it's weakness; or at least enough to only have one of the four bodies damage it. That also may be the most it can adapt, being made from a monster weak to the Four Sword. As for how it can phase through your attacks...it shouldn't be able to resist the Master Sword...unless... it quickly jumps between the Light and Dark Worlds and leaves and afterimage in order to mimic Ruby's Semblance."
"I see. Give us the word and we'll head right out." Ruby and Jaune said at once.
"No." King Ozpin said, much to their shock.
Jaune's mouth opened and shut repeatedly, but no sounds emerged.
"Let me explain. This is no slight on your abilities." King Ozpin said to ease any of their doubts, "You all have already done more than enough for Hyrule with journeying alone to deal with the Calamity Ganon. However, Hunters now have access to to Main Hyrule. While it is your destiny to destroy Vaati, since only the Four Sword and Master Sword can hurt him, it doesn't mean you have to do it alone. Are you understanding what I'm trying to say?"
"Not really." Nora cheerfully admitted in a split second while balancing a pen on her nose.
"Let the experienced Hunters find the Moon Pearls and entryways to the Dark World within Hyrule." Ozpin said, "Once those are uncovered, you can scour the Dark World for Vaati's whereabouts. Our Hunters will also be warned to draw back if they see anything matching Shadow Ruby or Vaati, which will allow you to Fast Travel to the closest Shrine and head there directly."
"I get it!" Jaune said, "What you're doing is basically the same as scouting out holes in the enemies defenses before sending the better equipped main strike force into enemy territory through those holes."
"Indeed I am." King Ozpin said, "So relax, enjoy the remaining youth you have left before you dedicate yourself to fighting monsters and defending families...and be sure to prepare and study ahead for Beacon."
Upon reaching their houses, Weiss went into her own house, Blake went into hers (but opened her hallway doors; as did Weiss), while Ren and Nora went into theirs. Jaune, Ruby, and Pyrrha went into Jaune's being openly surprised as Mipha greeted them as Zwei spun excitedly in a circle while chasing his stubby tail. Steel Rose was busy cleaning the floor while Sky Rose hovered around Mipha's head humming a cheerful tune.
This...as a tear rolled down Jaune's cheek, he knew that this was what he always wanted to return home to.
Sorry for the short chapter today. My cat is at the vet's for an ear infection, and I'm worried for him.