Remnants of Hyrule
Dream of Hope
"Ah, this Heavenly smell..." Kilton said, as he took a deep sniff through his nose as teams RWBY and JNPR stood in front of his shops. "Could it be that you've been mingling with monsters? I must admit I'm a bit jealous." Jaune eyed the man nervously. "To be honest, I was wondering if you could do something for me. Could you explore and defeat the Hinox, Moldugas, and Stone Talus around Hyrule?" Having his hot-air balloon parked in the construction site of the New Castle Town (rebuilding the town from it's ruins) allowed the two teams to visit him and trade excess monster parts without disobeying King Ozpins's orders of staying around the castle.
Teams of Hunters from the districts of Vale, Vaccuo, Atlas, and Haven had arrived and were finding the hidden entrances to the Dark World. Of course, these dangerous missions were worth a lot of rupees for completion. It also revealed more Dark World locations besides the "Cave of No Return".
In place of Death Mountain, there was a "Frozen Death Mountain" with temperatures rivaling the Hebra Mountains. Within the Lost Woods was the "Forest of Darkness". In the desert the Gerudo Tribe called their home was the "Sea of Deception." In the Great Plateau was the "Dark World Lowlands." Lake Hylia was a dried up crater in the Dark World. The Hebra Mountains in the Dark World were a chain of Volcanoes. The Akkala Plains was the "Forest of the Dead", and tropical Faron Region was the "Plains of No Escape", neither of which sounded pleasant.
Even Zora's Domain had a Dark World Counterpart; the "Desert of Doubt". Even the plains around the Highland Stable had a dark mirror; the "Bog of Misery". What was scary was that these were the only ones discovered so far; as not every team of Hunters and Huntresses were able to return. It had been a whole month since Ozpin ordered the Royal Teams RWBY and JNPR to stay close to the castle, and that time had not been wasted. Ruby had somewhat recreated the lost "bullets" from before the Great Calamity. In reality, the closest she could come up with a lack of gunpowder were modified arrows that were bullet-shaped, and only elemental arrows were able to be modified in such a way.
Thus, Crescent Rose, Gambol Shrowd, Ember Celica, Magnhild, Stormflower, and Milo were upgraded. Jaune also had multiple swords added to his belt. There was a Guardian Sword ++ customized to be unbreakable by Ruby, and a Hylian Shield on his back over a customized Royal Guard's Bow, the Bow of Light still safely in his pouch. Also in his pouch was a Mighty Lynel Crusher.
After ending the session with Kilton agreeing to defeat those monsters for his "Study", they headed back into the Castle walls and back into the Arc house where the Rose machines and horses greeted them with Zwei jumping into Ruby's arms. Mipha greeted them with the Cards Against Hyrule set up-eager to finally participate in the "Royal Teams Game Night."
Ruby, as she looked over the cards in her hand, gave an almost sinister smirk-one she often gave when she sneaked extra cookies from the jar before the Great Calamity. She had a blank card and had been reading history books in the Hyrule Castle Library to get more weapon ideas when she saw a name mentioned in a Human-Faunus War, though she didn't read anything about her besides her name. If the right black card came up...she was sure to shock everyone!
As luck would have it, Jaune was the first "Card King" of the game and read off the first black card. "James is a lonely boy, but when he discovers a doorway to another world in his attic, he meets a magical new friend. Blank."
Ruby quickly wrote down the name she saw on a blank card and waited until the others put down their cards. Once all the cards were flipped, there were pained laughs along with "Oh no"s and nervous laughter when everyone noticed the name Anne Frank.
Jaune just pushed the black card to the written name and Ruby scooped it up, much to everyone's shock. "How do you know that name sis?" Yang asked her.
"I just noticed that name when skimming through a history book for weapon ideas. Why?" Ruby asked innocently. That was not the reaction she expected.
"I...I just suggest you read about her in that same book." Jaune said as he held his head in his hands and Blake just let out a loud sigh and rested her head on the table while avoiding all eye contact. Blake had been extremely lucky that Ruby had played that card-as her answer was nowhere near "child friendly".
As the game went on-with Mipha narrowly winning thanks to what she called "beginner's luck", they just sat in the chairs and talked about various things. The Possibilities of what Beacon held, new monsters and Grimm, plans for the future, training, and Hyrule rumors. Late that night, they all changed into their night clothes as Jaune wrote out a list.
"Golden monsters discovered in the Dark World: Gold Bokoblin, Gold Moblin, Gold Lizalfos"...
Jaune paused and held the quill in the inkwell, nervous to write the last name, before he sighed and wrote "Gold Lynel".
Pyrrha, Mipha, Ruby, and Yang had pretty much fallen asleep when their heads hit the pillow, and they opened their eyes to see an even larger version of the Arc household, with their engagement rings looking even more extravagant; the rings themselves now bearing tiny sapphires around the golden band. A large photograph was hanging on the wall next to the pictures of the "Champions" from before the Great Calamity. There was Jaune in his white Hylian Tunic and trousers, no hood to be seen standing with four beautiful women-two on each side. Yang and Pyrrha were directly on either side, wearing an outfit similar to Rhonson on her wedding day, Mipha wore a white sash and hood, and Ruby's outfit was completely white save for the red roses she held.
This was their wedding picture, and by the background, it was held in Tarrey Town. Exiting the bedroom after having to pry their eyes away from the beautiful picture, they saw Jaune cooking with a bunch of different children running around with little foam toy weapons, each shouting about being a knight or-to be more precise-a hunter/ress knight.
Ruby's mouth spoke before she could even think. "Taiyang Rose-Arc, Zelda Rose-Arc. Aren't you going to greet your mommy?" As soon as she said that, two little blurs landed on her legs as an older Zwei laid down and closed his eyes; thankful that his family's pups stopped chasing him. The boy was in a little black Hylian Tunic with white Hylian Trousers. His silver eyes peered from his messy dark black hair with a few blonde streaks matching where she had red streaks. He was obviously a human, while his sister was a Hylian, as could tell by her pointed ears. Her long blonde hair fell smoothly behind her head with a few messy strands from playtime. She wore a blue Hylian Tunic with black Hylian Trousers. Taiyang held a foam scythe while Zelda held a foam rapier. Wide smiles from the young kids made her grin grow as she saw the little gaps in their teeth where baby teeth had fallen out.
"Mommy, did you see us?" Taiyang eagerly said, "We're going to be hunter and huntress knights just like you and daddy!" Zelda finished that statement with awkward karate simulations that Ruby once did when young.
Yang choked up at the sight of her sister, reminding her so much of Summer Rose. "Mommy? What's wrong?" A little voice asked her, and she looked down to see two blonde children- a Hylian boy and a Gerudo girl. The boy was the one who asked her, and his face showed nothing but concern. His hair was messy like his father's, and his father's blue eyes gazed back at her with a foam bat in his hands. Still, Yang could see her nose and cheeks on the young boy wearing a blue Hylian Tunic with white Hylian Trousers, a foam sword and shield strapped to his waist. The girl had a slightly darker tan than her pale brother with her father's blue eyes widened in worry as she fussed with the ponytail she held her hair in. Her outfit was a little more modest than most Gerudo; with a yellow Hylian Tunic and purple Gerudo Vai pants. Around her head was Sapphire Circlet and she held a foam Gerudo Scimitar.
"Nothing's wrong, Link Xiao-Long Arc, Lily Xiao-Long Arc..." Yang said as she wiped her eyes, "I'm just...happy." Both her kids smiled at her and her heart did flips. Lily...she couldn't bear to name her daughter after her idol-Summer Rose-so she went with a flower name to both honor her other "mother/aunt" and grandma.
Mipha held a little red-scaled Zora girl with a golden sash and bright blue eyes looking a lot like her father's while she held a foam trident. A toothy grin was on her face as she held onto her mother and she was giggling like she knew something secret. "Rutella Arc, what has you so giggly?"
"Unca Sidon coming today!" Rutella cheered as she squirmed when Mipha started tickling her.
Pyrrha watched all this with a sad smile, before she smiled in pure joy feeling two little tugs on her Gerudo Vai pants. She gazed down to see a blonde human girl and redheaded human boy. The boy held a little foam spear tightly in his hand and he wore white Gerudo Voe pants and a bronze Hylian Tunic with a Sapphire Circlet similar to Lily around his messy red hair and his father's blue eyes. The girl had her eyes and her father's blonde hair, pulled into a ponytail like Lily, and also had a Sapphire Circlet and a tan similar to Lily-signaling their Gerudo heritage. She had blue Gerudo Vai pants and a white Hylian Tunic.
"Perseus Arc...Helena Arc...What were you doing?" Pyrrha asked in a sweet tone.
"We training mommy!" Perseus answered happily as he had a gap where one of his front baby teeth had fallen out, making him look cuter. "We training to go to Beacon like Mommy and Daddy!"
"Oh?" Pyrrha asked, basking in the grip of her children, "and why is that?"
"Because we are Arcs! We prsmised we wouldn't be helpless, standoffish pwincesses and pwinces." Helena answered, "We help people!"
"But first the only thing you need to help is your stomachs by eating breakfast." Jaune said as he put food on plates.
"But we're not hungwy!" Link said, before his stomach growled and he blushed. The other children giggled at him before their stomachs growled as well.
"Better go wash up, you can continue 'training' later." Jaune said, the tone he said training was completely overlooked by the children as they rushed to bathrooms, but the mothers knew otherwise. Right now, their training was basically play. The look in Jaune's eyes...was the look of a proud father who wanted the best for his kids, yet shelter them the best he could until they could "spread their wings" so to speak. A picture of RWBY and JNPR graduating from a gray castle-like structure, as evident from the degrees in their hands, was on the wall of the living room.
Jaune took his time setting down plates of Energizing Omelets with glasses of milk, at the table, before sitting down and staring lovingly at each of them. He opened his mouth...
And then Nora slammed the door open and yelled "IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP!" and their eyes shot open to reveal the room as it was before they "woke up" the first time, with Jaune laying fast asleep on a couch near the bed. The four women glared at Nora, Yang's eyes turning an angry red.
"Nora...you better run..." Mipha said through gritted teeth..."BECAUSE YOU INTERRUPTED THE BEST DREAM EVER!" Nora, gulped and ran out of the room, the four Arc Fiances trailing behind her with various tools grabbed in their anger.
"Owie." Nora quietly said as Lie Ren put bandages over cuts and bruises on her. Pyrrha, Mipha, Ruby, and Yang looked more cheerful than when they were first awakened, but Yang still had red eyes signaling her anger-activated Semblance. Pyrrha stopped and froze at the table in front of her, imagining little Perseus and Helena sitting their with childish grins. Meanwhile, Yang's gaze went to her engagement ring and a thoughtful expression went across her face.
"Link Xiao-Long Arc..." She whispered, some of her giddiness returning at the sound of that name. She could imagine that little boy staring up at her with a wonder-filled expression as she told stories as he was drifting to sleep. Mipha was sighing as she repeatedly whispered the name "Rutella" and Ruby had accidentally written Zelda Rose-Arc on her sheet and had ripped that name off her weapon design list.
Currently, she was trying to recreate an unbreakable Knight's Broadsword, Zora Swords, Feathered Edges, Gerudo Scimitars, and Giant Boomerangs, yet she kept writing down the names of the children in her dreams. Finally, she just sighed and pushed aside her work and gazed at the others.
"So...same dream?" She asked.
"Was it about having kids after being married to Hero?" Yang asked, making Mipha, Pyrrha, and Ruby nod. Right then, Jaune walked down with his gear already on and started cooking absentmindedly. Looking over his ingredients in the storage space in the room-enchanted to preserve and store objects in relatively small spaces like their pouches-he sighed and got to work making Energizing Honeyed Apples for their breakfast.
"Wait. Why that for breakfast? I know we have more food than that, I just checked yesterday!" Pyrrha said, and Jaune shuffled nervously.
"What are you planning Hero?" Yang said, narrowing her now lilac eyes on him.
"Fine! I wanted to surprise you! I'm planning Anniversary treats and meals! Happy?!" Jaune said.
"Anniversary..." Ruby said with a blush, that picture of the wedding flashing through her mind.
"Of course! It's been four months since our engagement was announced!" Jaune said, and the four looked at him in shock, before their gazes turned loving. "Of course, I can't do this too often, maybe once a year after our marriage...but I can tell you are frustrated about being stuck in a single area while others are working...I wanted to cheer you all up..."
"Best. Fiancee...EVER!" Ruby cheered!
"So...Hero...what do you have planned?" Yang asked as she gave an almost seductive smirk.
"Well, we have for lunch the Gerudo Creamy Heart Soup, the Faron Region's Seafood Paella, and Rito Village's Salmon Meuniere. For dinner we have A recipe Pyrrha seems to love-Prime Poultry Pilaf, Mipha's favorite of Seafood Curry, Yang's favorite of Gourmet Meat and Rice Bowl, and Ruby's favorite of Hasty Seafood Skewer. Dinner will be immediately followed by desserts of apple and pumpkin pies, Princess Zelda's favorite Fruitcake, Carrot Cake, Honeyed Crepes, and Wildberry Crepes. I will also be making Honey Candies." Jaune said, looking over a list of recipes he made.
"I copy Ruby's statement. Best. Fiancee. Ever." Pyrrha said as she collapsed into the couch as he legs gave out from under her due to shock.
"Of course, I also invited the other members of RWBY and JNPR, and will be making specialty dishes for them...I don't want them to feel left out." Jaune said, "I know Ren likes Curry Pilaf, Mushroom Rice Balls, Salt Grilled Crab, and Veggie Rice Balls. Nora likes Prime Meat Stew, Prime Meat Curry, Meaty Rice Balls, and Glazed Meat." Jaune seemed to pace as he looked at the food storage and the lists he had.
"Blake likes Seafood Paella, Seafood Meuniere, Crab Omelet with Rice, and Seafood Rice Balls. Weiss is more...refined in her tastes, preferring Fragrant Mushroom Saute, Salmon Risotto, Salt-Grilled Gourmet Meat, and ending with Honeyed Fruits." Jaune finished, putting up a list of ingredients. "Of course, Nora would probably also want Monster Curry, which is why I picked up the Monster Extract the other day from Kilton."
Jaune patted a cookbook as he finished writing a new recipe into it.
Yang quickly walked over and hugged him, whispered something that made him blush.
"Just...something to look forward to after our marriage...Hero." She said with a wink.
"Did someone mention food?" Nora shouted, before wincing in pain as Ren finished bandaging her up.
"I heard something about Seafood." Blake said, coming through the connecting hallways with a book in her hand. As Jaune served the Energizing Honeyed Apples, Weiss sat down looking over different papers and was muttering to herself; almost eating absentmindedly.
"Weiss? What are you doing?" Ruby asked, making Weiss nearly fall over backwards.
"Oh. Sorry. I was looking over reports from the Hunter Teams about the Dark World. We haven't seen anything of Vaati...and I'm trying to figure out why before Ozpin has us start checking out the known locations tomorrow." Weiss said, pushing the papers aside.
"Don't worry about that! Today is a day to celebrate our successes and lives!" Nora shouted, "Tomorrow we can worry about smashing monsters!"
Ozpin sat in his office in Hyrule Castle with Glynda sitting in a chair next to him. "So they're going out again tomorrow." Glynda said as Ozpin turned and looked out at the sunrise over Hyrule.
"The good news is that Red and Blue Monsters are extinct. This leaves only Hinox, Stalnox, Taluses, and Moldugas besides the Silver and Black Monsters. The bad news is now we have sighted Boarbatusks and Death Stalker Grimm." Ozpin said.
"But you forgot the other piece of good news...or did you overlook it?" Glynda said, making Ozpin eye her curiously, "There are no Grimm Spawning pools in Death Mountain...which means..."
"Extreme heat can destroy the Grimm Spawning pools." Ozpin said, "Finally, after untold years of humans and Hylians facing the Grimm...we have a way to end them and start our final path to peace."