Time for Some Upgrades on Fashion
It has been about seven months since the five young Hunters-in-training have started their journey to the Mistral Kingdom and it's not easy as they expected, they had to fight some Grimm along the way and find their own source of food in the woods like berries and animals like fishes by a river or killing a deer for meat. But they knew about the hardship of traveling to another kingdom as they were able to travel by boat to get to Anima, the hard part is walking the rest of the way as they want to get to Haven Academy as quickly as they can before the school meet the same fate as Beacon.
Right now, Ruby and the others are taking a break under a big tree and it's also lunch time as Ren is cooking the leftover meat on sticks by the fire Nora made to cook them.
"Are they ready yet? I'm hungry." Nora winced.
"Don't worry, it'll just be a few more minutes." Ren informed.
"Come now, Nora, try to keep your mind distracted while our lunch is getting ready." Kimi suggested.
Nora thought about something to keep her mind off the food for a little while and decided to lay on her back against the grass as she stares at the clouds in the blue sky using her imagination on what they look like to her. Then Ruby and Jaune came back with bottles of water in their hands.
"Hey guys, we got the water!" Ruby announced as she tosses one to Nora and Ren.
"Fresh water from a river?" Kimi guessed as Jaune handed one bottle to her.
"Actually, we found an old well and there was still water at the bottom, so we used a bucket that was left there to get the water and fill up the bottles." Jaune explained.
"I see, then that well must've been part of the town we're about to stop at, guess since they found better source that the well was no longer needed." Kimi stated before drinking her water.
"Well, it was needed by us." Jaune joked making him and Kimi laugh a little.
"I got to say, it's been half a year since we started this journey and we're still alive. So, good job on staying strong everyone." Ruby raised her bottle.
"Oh yeah, nothing is going to stop us from getting to Mistral!" Nora cheered.
"Not to mention fighting some Grimm back there have proven to be good training to get stronger too and killing them since that's our thing." Ruby added.
"Agree, we all must keep our bodies in top shape in order to be ready for whatever danger we may face during the journey as we must also make our Semblance stronger too." Ren said and check the meat, nod that they're ready.
"Yeah, making our Semblance stronger…" Jaune sighed as he looks down sad a little.
"Oh, is my darling Jaune still upset that he still hasn't found his semblance?" Kimi asked as he stroke Jaune's hair a little.
"Is it that obvious?" Jaune asked sarcastically.
"Well, don't let that get you down. I mean I'm sure some Huntsmen or Huntresses had trouble finding their Semblance until later." Ruby said trying to cheer Jaune up.
"And let's not forget about your large pool of aura, bigger than even a few full-fledge Hunters together." Kimi complimented.
"You really think so?" Jaune asked his wife.
"She's right, I've been able to sense the aura of others during my training days with Nora before we came to Beacon and I agree yours is the biggest I've ever felt." Ren concurred as he passes the meats to Jaune and Kimi.
"Yeah, I remember Pyrrha telling me I have a lot of aura after she helped unlocked it." Jaune recalled the day of the initiation and became partner with Pyrrha.
"I'm still surprise that you were able to get into Beacon with a fake transcript, even though I'm pretty sure Ozpin knew about it." Kimi mentioned.
"Sometimes I wonder why Ozpin even let me stay at Beacon if he knew I lied." Jaune said.
"It's because he saw the great Huntsman you can become like how he saw me being a great Huntress." Ruby answered, remembering how she met Ozpin and letting her go to Beacon two years early.
"Man, Ozpin was a great guy, wasn't he?" Nora asked.
Ruby, Jaune, and Kimi became silent for a few seconds as they're thinking the last moment they saw Ozpin: for Ruby it was when her uncle Qrow came to visit Beacon for the Vytal Festival before the Fall of Beacon, for Jaune and Kimi it was when they discovered the secret basement and left as Ozpin stayed behind to fight Cinder.
"To be honest, Ozpin has always felt like a big mystery that there was more to him then he appears." Ruby mentioned.
"Really? I always thought he was weird and dress old too." Nora said.
"I did hear from some of the teachers that Ozpin's has wisdom and experience beyond his years as he became the youngest Headmaster of Beacon." Ren recalled.
"Sometimes I wish he's still around to tell us about what Kimi and I saw at that basement with the woman inside the metal capsule before Cinder killed her." Jaune said curious.
"You know, I've been thinking that if Professor Goodwitch and General Ironwood himself are part of this secret group then it must mean that the other Headmasters at the other academies are a part of it too." Kimi stated.
"So, that means we might get some answers from the Headmaster of Haven Academy." Ruby concluded.
"I'm not so sure, if this secret is big or dangerous then it would stand to reason why they won't say anything to us." Jaune said.
"I'm sure we'll know something once we get to Haven, but right now we need to talk about the important stuff." Kimi grinned.
"Umm, something important, like what?" Ruby asked curious.
"Isn't it obvious… getting new clothing style, of course." Kimi revealed confusing the others.
"Come on, we've been traveling for over half the year and we're still wearing the same gear. I think it's high time we upgrade our fashion." Kimi explained and that got the others to think about it.
"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to try on new clothes and my skirt is looking a little ruined." Ruby looked at her skirt seeing the little holes and rip parts from some Grimm claws.
"I do believe some new clothing would be appropriate as we grow older." Ren agreed.
"Yeah, I want skirt that machine guns pop out from underneath and fires everything as I spin around really fast!" Nora excited as she fantasizes her machine gun skirt.
"Uh, I don't think that would be comfortable to wear." Jaune pointed out as he sweatdrops.
"Don't worry, the nearest village is only a day walk from here. Once we get there, you can leave the fashion to me while we see if there's a blacksmith to who can upgrade our weapons." Kimi planned.
"That sounds great!" Ruby nodded.
"Well then, we better get moving." Jaune smiled as he finishes his meat and stand up.
Soon, everyone finished their lunch and put out the fire before continuing on the path toward the town.
"Just be sure, you're not gonna make Ruby and Nora wear something… erotic, are you?" Jaune asked nervous.
"Jaune, my love, I would never force people to wear something that they don't like and feel uncomfortable. I will help them find the right style for who they are." Kimi reassured her husband.
"Okay, I'm good with that though maybe you can add a little "Kimi touch" on my outfit." Jaune said.
"I may have a few ideas in mind." Kimi giggled before she kissed Jaune on the lips to his surprise, but he closes his eyes and return the kiss which lasted for a full minute as their three friends are waiting for them.
"Hey, you guys coming out for some air?" Nora asked.
Kimi and Jaune separate from the kiss with little blushes on their cheeks though Jaune appear to be blushing more than Kimi.
"I swear it's like a honeymoon for them." Nora chuckled.
"Well, they are married which is still weird to me, but I say we should them have their moment whenever they need to since it'll be a long way to Haven." Ruby pointed out.
"I hope Kimi gives me a machine gun skirt!" Nora prayed, still going on about that which made Ren worry.
(Next Day)
The five Hunter trainees are still walking through the path and so far they haven't encounter any Grimm yet though that doesn't mean they aren't letting their guard down, Jaune had an early training with Kimi and everyone had a nice breakfast before they started their long walk again.
"Okay everyone, I believe we should be able to reach the village very soon." Kimi believed.
"Finally, my back can feel the warm comfy mattress again!" Nora cheered.
"Didn't we stayed by that little hotel two weeks ago?" Ren reminded his childhood friend of the place.
"The room serves was terrible, they didn't have any pancakes for breakfast." Nora angered.
"Okay, now let's for find an inn to stay at then we'll do some shopping." Kimi suggested as the others have enter the village.
"Welcome to our village, young travelers." An old man greeted the five and notice their weapons.
"Aw, it would seem you're all Hunters too." The old man claimed.
"That's right, we're the fiercest team you can even meet!" Nora bragged as she brought out her hammer.
"I see, then if it's not too much trouble to ask for help dealing with a Grimm." The old man mentioned.
"Sure, we can help though I think Kimi here wants to get us new outfits and maybe a little upgrade for our weapons first." Ruby said.
"That'll be fine, but I hope you can stop the Grimm soon. Oh, I'm the mayor of this town by the way." The mayor revealed himself.
"Nice to meet you, so where can we find the blacksmith?" Kimi asked.
"His shop is over at the end of the village; you'll see the sign." The mayor pointed at the direction of the blacksmith shop.
"Don't worry, we'll stop that Grimm." Jaune promised before the group walk away.
(Later, Inn)
Jaune is sitting on the bed of the room he and Kimi will be sleeping in as he waits for his team to come back with Kimi to show off their new outfit like a fashion show.
"They're ready!" Kimi called out cheerfully as she enters the room.
"Okay, let see them." Jaune said.
"First off, we have our young fierce Red Reaper, Ruby Rose." Kimi announced and Ruby enter the room with her new outfit.
Ruby now wears a white high-neck décolletage blouse with brown studded wristbands on the arms. Her outfit retains the use of a black skirt with red tulle underneath, somewhat similar to her original outfit, but her waist cincher has been replaced with an overbust corset with red strip holding it in place. A black belt bordered in red holds the magnetic clip for Crescent Rose and its ammunition. She also has brown straps on her blouse that allow her to wear a small brown backpack. Thigh-high stockings reaching to a few inches below the hem of her skirt, decorated by an image of a long-stemmed rose. Her red-soled black boots contain four straps and buckles apiece. Her cloak has a singular clip on the right shoulder in the shape of her emblem, replacing the cross-shaped clips from her original attire. Both the cloak and the stockings show tears from hardware.
"So, what do you think?" Ruby asked.
"You look amazing!" Jaune complimented as Ruby blush.
"Next up, the Thunder Pancake-loving Girl, Nora Valkyrie!" Kimi shouted and Nora sprint into the room.
Nora has retains her gloves and wears a white top that is similar to her old one, though the heart cut-out on the top has a diagonal cut through it. She also wears a shorter, detached white sleeve on her left arm. Over the shirt, she wears a zippered navy-blue bomber jacket with a damaged print of her emblem visible on the back and pink stripes along the sleeves. The pink bands of the jacket tighten on her upper arms. Her skirt is slightly longer with pleats that create some flair and two wide belt loops at the waist for her matching belt. She wears knee-high pink socks just visible above her calf-length boots, which are white with pink laces and black mid-wedges, soles and tips. She also has pink eyeshadow around the far upper corners of her eyes.
"What do you think, I'm more fierce than before, right?" Nora asked.
"Yeah, this definitely an improvement for you." Jaune nodded.
"Last and certainly not least, our quiet ninja boy, Lie Ren!" Kimi called out and Ren walk into the room.
Ren now wears his hair down, and it is longer, too, as his concept art notes, "almost butt-length". His attire is similar to before in color. He now has a longer, sleeveless tailcoat with black and silver trimming. Under it, he wears a black, sleeveless turtleneck with red, tasseled ropes over the hips, pants that get tighter below the knees and calf-high open-toed sandals. From his middle finger to his biceps run gradient pink-to-black detached sleeves ending in metal armbands.
"I'll admit, I was a little afraid about letting Kimi help me with the new outfit, but it turned out impressive." Ren smiled.
"Yeah, you look cooler than before." Jaune agreed and they fist bump.
"Now I'm sure you guys expecting me and Jaune to be wearing the new outfit, but I'm afraid that will have to wait until the Blacksmith finish upgrading his sword and shield." Kimi informed.
"At least he managed to give my Magnhild, I can't wait to try it out on some Grimm!" Nora smirked.
"Speaking of Grimm, we should go talk to the mayor we met earlier for more info either if the Grimm is with a pack or alone." Ruby suggested.
"Yes, we'll go ask about the Grimm and sleep peaceful tonight then tomorrow we'll go Grimm hunting!" Kimi declared.
"Cool! Now I'm going to myself something to eat." Nora said as she leaves the room.
"And I'm gonna sure she doesn't cause trouble while eating." Ren said as he follows Nora out.
"Ruby, Jaune and I are going out for a walk around the village, you can go meet the mayor to ask him about the Grimm." Kimi suggested.
"Okay." Ruby nodded.
Jaune and Kimi are now seen walking through the pathway of the village seeing the people enjoying their peaceful life outside the kingdom.
"Do you think the world will be like this if all the Grimm were gone forever?" Kimi asked curious.
"I think so, though I don't think I would want my life to be too peaceful." Jaune answered.
"You're right, some excitement would do good once and a while. I hope you it was okay of using "those materials" for the upgrade." Kimi mentioned.
"Don't worry, I'm sure Pyrrha would've wanted us to them for make us stronger." Jaune said.
"Well, until they're finish, you'll have to be the brain for a while." Kimi pointed out.
"I'll do the best I can to help out." Jaune smiled.
"And I'll be there to help you." Kimi leaned her head on Jaune's shoulder as the married couple enjoy a nice scenery of the forest and mountain.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
I'm updating this story in honor of RWBY volume 7 being release which I probably should've done when the first episode was out, but still better late than never.
Now we're getting started on the Volume 4 part as Jaune, Kimi, and the others have arrived at the village and getting the new outfits to go with as they continue toward Haven Academy, but they'll have to deal with a Grimm problem first. I have been thinking of an idea for Kimi's outfit as you'll see in the next chapter.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!