AN:Over a month huh? Where does the time go?
New World New Problems
"Gurrhhh! I'm gonna beat you this time." Ruby grunted. Her forehead wrinkled in concentration.
"I'd really like to see that." Roze said smugly with his arms crossed.
"I'm so gonna... NO!" Ruby cried as she hit the wall and the round screen displayed the game over. "I was so close this time." the rose reaper cried at another failure of beating her Blade's high score.
Roze shook his head at this. "Ruby... I gained the Perfect Medal in that stage, you can't top that. And besides... I don't think I wanna try that again." The reaper Blade had claimed to have spent a lot of ether, sweat and tears upon getting that perfect score in a one-night session.
"Another loss?" Said a voice behind the two. The reaper Driver and Blade turned around to see an old nopon with a gray hair and moustache. The Nopon in question had an open brown colored working jacket around his round body and brown workpants. He also had a belt with two large pouches and a large wrench on his back. The nopon also had red industrial goggles strapped around his head. This is professor Tatazo, Tora's father.
"Yes." Ruby slumped before glaring at her Blade.
"Don't look at me like that Ruby." Roze said with an amused look, "Aren't video games supposed to be fun?"
"...I swear this thing is rigged." Ruby grumbled as she glared at the contraption that had the video game Tiger! Tiger!.
"How rude! Tatazo and dadapon work hard on it!" Tatazo complained with his tiny hands on his hips. "Ruby insult our hard work!"
And now Ruby felt bad, "Sorry."
"Mehmehemehmeeeehh!" Was then heard from further in the house.
"Tora!" Ruby cried out and dashed through the living area of the small house and into the workshop which was only separated by a curtain. A curtain which was currently open, revealing Tora staring up into the barrel of Kos-Mos' ether cannon. With the android Blade herself giving a strangely calm glare at the inventor.
"Kos-Mos, it's not nice to point weapons at friends." Penny said in slight annoyance, while Poppi tilted her head at the situation.
"Okay... what is it this time?" Roze asked in exasperation. Tora, Poppi and Penny have been discussing about the upgrades for the last two weeks. Sadly, the four couldn't reach a proper agreement. Because half of Tora's or sometimes Penny's ideas were shot down by Kos-Mos. One of the biggest issues was working around Penny's Core, which the blueprints had a warning not to deactivate. As Penny's Blade, Kos-Mos was concerned that something irreversible might happen. But the android Blade only draws her cannon on Tora when one of the ideas is something... scandalous.
"Friend Poppi suggested one of my upgrades to be Super Bikini Armor." Penny said happily.
"A... what?" Ruby questioned with a weirded outlook.
Roze shared a similar look," I know I'm going to regret this, but how does it work?"
"It's a state-of-the-art defensive wear developed by Tora's grampypon." Penny said with a huge smile.
"Really? That sounds cool." Ruby said with a large measure of hope.
"Except this is the prototype for Poppi." Kos-Mos explained as she used her unoccupied hand to reveal the "armor". The thing was actually a tiny bikini. "While the material composing it does provide more protection than logically possible, it degrades."
"Degradres how?" Roze questioned, one eye already twitching.
"Tears would appear on it." Kos-Mos said while glaring down upon a terrified Tora.
And then Ruby gave the inventor a glare of her own. Over the course of the last two weeks here, the youngest of the huntresses was introduced to several fetishes against her will. Among those listed were maid outfits, schoolgirls, and Penny with "enhanced" feminine curves. Though in Tora's defense, that last one was Penny's idea. And every time, Kos-Mos threatened to end Tora if he added such upgrades. "Penny... We've been over this, you need to look combat ready." Ruby said almost pleadingly. Part of her wished that Weiss or Otohime were here for support, but alas those two are not even in Gormott. Weiss was most likely in Mor Ardain on a job from Garfront. And Otohime was most likely helping Ren with a job too.
"What friend Ruby mean? That attire very effective for defense." Tatazo said proudly, "Why, Tatazo even help develop that."
And now all attention was on the older Nopon. Once again, Ruby pictured Tora's grandfather as a creepy old man while resisting the urge to reach for Crescent Rose.
"You helped in making that thing?" Roze asked, not even sure why he was surprised at this point.
"Yes, though the tearing function never finished." Tatazo then said in slight confusion.
"Masterpon complete that function." Poppi then said proudly, "He very passionate about it."
"Poppi!" Tora cried out before freezing at the sound of ether cannon humming.
"My master will not be paraded around like a cheap carnal object." Kos-Mos said icily despite maintaining her neutral expression.
"A what?" Ruby wasn't sure what that meant despite the term sending ice water down her spine.
"You don't wanna know." Roze said almost desperately, knowing the words but not the full context applied in this situation. Fortunately, Ruby decided to take his word for it.
Suddenly a door to the outside opened. "We're back!" Blake called out with a cheer in her voice as she moved down to the living area to see the situation. Nox and Perceval were trailing behind her. The cat faunus' face took a suspicious look at what was going on with Roze and Ruby. The workshop wasn't visible from the front entrance. "...Do I want to know?" Blake asked apprehensively.
"No!" Roze and Ruby said in unison.
Ruby then let out a weary sigh before looking to the contraption in the corner. It was a jumble of metal rods and antennas that hummed lowly as it worked with a customized mini reactor. A makeshift relay tower. With that, the Remnans were able to use their Scrolls to communicate between the Titans. Though only between Gormott, Mor Ardain and Uraya. Although at Uraya, the signal was a little shaky. The four CCT towers back on Remnant allowed worldwide communication, while the makeshift one Tora managed to scrape together only allowed between the aforementioned Titans that were relatively close in comparison. Still, it was impressive that the Nopon was able to make something like this at all, thanks to Penny and Kos-Mos explaining the basics of CCT. "...I wonder how Rex and the others are." Ruby wondered as she hadn't heard anything from him since he returned to Fonsett with the Aegis sisters, Wulfric and Azurda.
"I'm sure they're fine." Blake said with a knowing look. She also resisted the urge to imagine what the boy might be up to with the beauties that he calls his Blades. "But get this, I just heard rumors that there are talks about Gormott becoming independent of Mor Ardain." Blake then said with excitement.
"Really? That's great!" Ruby cheered, "But... what will that mean for that base near the docks?"
"Who knows, "Blake shrugged, "But the negotiations will take some time before anything concrete will happen."
"Oh, I gotta call Yang!" Ruby then fished out her Scroll as Blake moved to the cabinets to unload the groceries Nox was carrying. The girl would've carried some herself, but Nox insisted. And there wasn't any for Perceval to carry, but he still moved to help unload them.
Meanwhile, Kos-Mos had finally lowered her cannon as they were once again having a more civil conversation about what kinds of upgrades would be put on Penny and how. Tatazo in the meantime decided to back away with a sneaky look on his face. The older inventor had his own plans to work on.
Roze noticed this, but didn't pay any mind.
"Hey, sis." Ruby then talked to the Scroll happily, "Guess what, Gormott is apparently becoming independent nation again!"
Yang's slightly tired voice was barely audible from the other end.
Ruby's cheer dropped. "Are you okay? You sound off."
Blake's ears perked up as she was about to place some Gormott produce in the cool storage.
"What?!" Ruby then cried out at whatever, Yang replied, "Wh-wh-what do you mean you're having a baby?!"
At this point, every single being in the room, biological or mechanical turned to face Ruby with varying looks of surprise and disbelief. Perceval also spat out his drink he had stopped to take in shock.
In one of Lemour Inn's rooms of Argentum, Yang's cheeks turned red at Ruby's exclamation, "No! I meant I found a baby abandoned!" Yang resisted a scream as the little yellow haired bundle of joy squirmed in her arm that wasn't holding a Scroll to her ear. Dragunov snickered in the background at this Driver's misery. "Just what I said, little girl was abandoned and crying alone, I couldn't just leave her... I don't know, no one in this stupid ship seems to know anything... Yeah, the others are already putting up a request to find the parents, if they even care." Yang's dark ringed eyes hardened at the last part. Then a thought crossed the blonde brawler's mind, "Say... is Tora there? I want to ask him some things... Okay, thanks."
As Yang was talking, Dragunov sat back against the wall and looked at the baby squirming in Yang's arms. Part of him wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible, but another part of him relished in watching his Driver squirming. On the other hand, the longer Yang has to care for this bundle of joy, the harder it is going to part with it. Worst of all, if Yang somehow ends up keeping the little girl, the questions that the little one will no doubt ask when she's older will be very awkward. Worst of all, the baby seemed to already think of Yang as her mama. Maybe it was the hair? Regardless, it was a miracle and a blessing when Yang managed to silence the baby when they found it crying. Some of the people they tried to ask seemed to be in great hurry to get out of the hearing range of the little noise maker. But since then, Yang has been stuck taking care of the little bugger and she was doing a good job, all things considered.
"M-hm..." Yang hummed as she was now listening to whatever answers Tora was giginv. It was a long shot to be honest, but Tora was the most likely to be able to answer these kinds of questions. "Okay, thanks." Yang then cut the call and adjusted her grip on the baby before glaring at Dragunov, "You know, you could help me out a little."
"Why? You seem to have everything under control." Dragunov pointed out with a grin, "Besides, the little bugger nearly screamed my ear off when I so much as came near it."
"I guess that can't be helped with your face." Yang smiled as she stroked the baby's tuft of yellow hair on the top of its head. "But I don't feel comfortable about..."
"Mamapon!" The baby Nopon suddenly said loudly in Yang's arms.
"...I'm not even a Nopon." Yang said, knowing that the little one couldn't understand her yet.
"Mamapon! Mamapon!" The yellow furball repeated, getting fussier.
For some reason, Yang herself was smiling despite being dead tired for having to stay up half of last night when the babypon began crying. How Dragunov was able to sleep through it is beyond her. Her musings were cut off by a tiny rumble coming out of the little one.
"Oh, you're hungry again." Yang commented tiredly, luckily Tora had confirmed that baby Nopon can immediately eat solid food, unlike human babies.
"Shame you don't have any milk to give." Dragunov commented with a smirk. A smirk that was briefly covered by a pillow impacting his face.
"Jerkface." Yang grumbled as she got up and moved to the canteen to get something to eat for babypon and herself.
Unfortunately for Yang, it takes more than a pillow in the face to drop the dragon's smirk. Dragunov then got up and moved to follow her. It's not like he has to, but he still feels like making sure Yang at least keeps the little bugger alive long enough for them to find it a new home. Thoughts of home made Dragunov briefly wonder how Taiyang might react to his daughter having a baby. The dragon let out a small laugh at picturing the older Xiao Long fainting at being a grandfather to a Nopon. Shame that interdimensional communications aren't a thing. And even then, it's lucky that Argentum is currently close enough for Tora's little tower to relay the signal. "Those idiots could hurry up a little." Dragunov then commented on team JNPR who was on their way to Garfront to put up the request for finding the babypon's parents. If they haven't already.
Speaking of JNPR and Oscar, they did put in the request to find the lost babypon's parents. And now were moving to the docks to take a ship for Argentum again. Despite the Titan of Uraya being now permanently attached to Elysium, not much has changed in terms of what's happening. Of course, there had been talks about expanding but considering the relatively close proximity of the other nations, that had to be negotiated. And that's not even counting the refugees from Indol. Despite the happenings at the World Tree, some Indolines did escape the destruction of their Titan. From what the team has heard, several groups of Indoline refugees have appeared in the nations of Uraya, Leftheria, and even Mor Ardain. Among those Indoline were some of the Gormotti refugees that were on the flying Titan. They finally moved back to Gormott when rumors about their former home becoming independent surfaced.
The team felt various levels of sympathy for the blue skinned people in the camp they passed on their way to the gates of Fonsa Myma. Sure, Amalthus was a monster, but it wasn't right what happened to his people because of the Praetor's own twisted delusions.
"Soo... I wonder how Yang is doing?" Pyrrha tried to shift their focus away from the depressing thoughts.
"She's probably having grand time sleeping with her new pillow." Nora grumbled in annoyance. When she tried to hold the babypon, it started crying the moment the carrot top got near it.
"Nopon are not pillows." Otohime sighed wearily. "Although, I must commend Yang on taking such a daunting task. Caring for an infant is no small feat."
"Yeah, I know." Jaune agreed, earning varying looks of surprise as they climbed up the stairs to the upper levels. "What? my mom always looked tired with my youngest sisters."
"Right." Pyrrha said in mild embarrassment. "Umm... you didn't ever have to...?"
"Oh thank gods no." Jaune said quickly, "I just had to suffer being ganged up on." It was only for an instant, but Joana radiated lust for vengeance for her lord's horrendous upbringing.
When they reached the top, they got surprised by a certain someone.
"Well well, if it isn't Otohime's Driver and his gang of thugs." Said Rhota who crossed his arms smugly and got in front of them. Flanked by four Urayan soldiers.
"How dare you call Milord a thug, you filthy-!" "Down, Joana!" Jaune interrupted with a command that one would use on a dog. Still, Joana stopped her beginning rant and opted to glare at the insolent thing. Jaune ignored this and turned to the arrogant member of Urayan Three, "Is there something we can help you with?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact." Rhota said as he went through his pockets. It took him a moment to find a sealed letter before offering it to Ren. "I was ordered by Voluq to give this to you."
Ren looked at the letter for a moment before accepting it, "What's this about?"
"I'm not at liberty to discuss about it, other than don't let anyone else see it." Rhota said before moving away with the four guards in tow.
"What was all that about?" Pyrrha asked as she eyed the sealed letter Ren was holding.
"I'm not sure." Ren replied as he looked to the others, "We should probably find a private place before looking at this."
The team quickly found themselves at Stefan Inn and asked if they could use one room for a few minutes. They were allowed to, but if they stayed there longer than an hour the innkeeper would have them pay.
With that in mind, Ren and the others entered the room before checking that the room was secure. Or that's what Joana did, because she was the most concerned about spies and was able to do a good sweep of the room to see if there were any possible listening spots. Fortunately, there wasn't so Ren opened the letter and began reading with the others leaning over his shoulder.
"Driver of Otohime, meet me at Raqura Aquagardens after midnight of the day you received this letter. You are allowed to bring your friends if you must." was written on the letter.
"What would Voluq want from us?" Jaune questioned.
"Why do you think it's Voluq who wants to talk to us?" Pyrrha asked.
"Well, you heard Rhota. He said Voluq ordered him to hand this to us." Jaune reasoned.
"A logical conclusion." Otohime agreed before placing a finger on her chin, "Except, why would he need it to be a secret?"
"Maybe he wants to kill us and is luring us to an ambush!" Nora freaked out.
"He shall not succeed!" Joana declared, banging her fist against her breastplate.
"Silence, both of you!" Otohime barked causing everyone to stiffen a little, "I highly doubt that Voluq is after revenge for Nora's... mistake."
"Then why would Voluq want us to meet him so late." Ren then asked his Blade.
"As Pyrrha pointed out, we are not even certain it is Voluq who wants to meet us." Otohime said with a thoughtful look, "After all, if it was him then surely, he could have discussed this with us openly. Yet he has not."
"Maybe the topic is something that can't be talked about in public." Pyrrha guessed, "But if that's the case...then why us?"
"Perhaps it has something to do with myself." Otohime replied with a frown, "After all, the letter was addressed to my Driver. Then again, we were celebrated as heroes of the world mere days after the Titans united with Elysium."
"We should go." Jaune then said, earning everyone's attention.
"Milord?" Joana questioned.
"Otohime is right. We were celebrated as heroes almost as much as Rex was. Maybe Voluq, or whoever wants to see us needs help that they believe heroes like us can give." Jaune theorized, "But just in case, we should be ready for a trap."
"How wise, milord." Joana praised her lord.
Oscar had stayed silent during this conversation because he wasn't sure what he could contribute. "It's fine that you don't have anything to say here." Ozpin said inside Oscar's head.
"But... I just feel like I'm not doing anything." Oscar whispered.
"I believe all that needs to be said has already been said, but still as Jaune said, keep your eyes open." Ozpin said reassuringly.
"So... are we going to wait for midnight?" Electra then piped up, "It's afternoon right now."
Jaune took out his Scroll, "Guess we'll each have to occupy ourselves with something, but first I need to call Yang and tell her we put the request in."
Pyrrha looked a little down at the mention of their friend. "I hope she's still fine."
"Milady, Yang seemed to actually know what she was doing so I believe the babypon will be just fine until her parents are found." Joana said reassuringly.
"That's not what I'm worried about." Pyrrha said, remembering how Dragunov seemed to find amusement in his Driver's predicament. The Fall Champion shook her head, for there was no point in worrying.
The gang found things to do until it was close to midnight. Now, they were walking down the steps to the aquagardens. Once they arrived, they were surprised at who was waiting for them there. Queen Raqura herself, alongside Voluq, Mathra and their Blades.
"Your highness." Otohime said first, "This is a surprise."
"As it should be." Raqura replied curtly, "After all, what we are about to discuss must stay between us."
"Sooo.. What did you want to talk to us about?" Ren asked, while eyeing Voluq. The older Urayan was staring at Nora who looked uncomfortable.
"Now, I have heard about your exploits with Garfront Mercenaries in the past two weeks. And because of your proven skills, and your rather unique position which allows you to move freely, I have a request for you." Raqura explained.
"So your highness is asking us for a job?" Jaune asked, "Why didn't you send it to the Garfront if you knew we were working with them?"
"I intended to, but then I heard about you being in Fonsa Myma so I decided it would be better to send the request to you directly." Raqura replied.
"So, what is the job?" Pyrrha then asked, before looking worried, "I hope it's nothing... shady."
"Your highness, if I may." Voluq interjected. The Queen nodded to the veteran Driver in approval. "The job itself is nothing 'shady', as you put it, but the current political climate makes it impossible to do an official investigation."
"So, what is the job?" Oscar asked, now getting curious.
Raqura took over the explanation, "In Uraya, there are six noble lines said to descend directly from the nation's founders. My own family, the House of Selosia is counted among these six. Each of the six lines has a treasure called a Jeweled Signet, a precious ring passed down for generations. When the six Jeweled Signets are brought together, they form a single seal - the national symbol of Uraya. But recently we received word that one of the six Jeweled Signets has been stolen, its whereabouts unknown."
"Is there any information on the culprit themselves?" Otohime asked with tiniest of scowls.
"As a matter of fact, yes. We do know that the Signet was stolen by a Gormotti mercenary known as Gavyth. I would like you to retrieve the Jeweled Signet from this man." Raqura said.
"I don't understand why you can't just recover it yourselves." Nora said bluntly.
At that moment Ozpin was allowed control, "Miss Valkyrie, the missing item is the very symbol of this nation's sovereignity. If such information was made public, who knows what kind of unrest it would cause."
"It is exactly as the boy has said," Raqura affirmed, slightly surprised at the insight from a boy so young who didn't look to be of noble line.
"Jaune, I would like to help." Ren said firmly, surprising the rest of the team.
"Then we'll help." Jaune said with a grin before looking to the others, "What about you guys?"
"I would love to help." Pyrrha affirmed.
"Yeah!" Nora agreed alongside Electra.
"I want to help too," Oscar also said.
"Then I shall- huh?" Joana said before suddenly turning around to the stairs that led outside, "Who are you?!"
That question caused everyone to look to the stairs at the new arrival. It was a tall slim woman wearing what looked like a white military uniform with tall white shoulder pads. Although instead of pants she had a mid-thigh-length skirt and thigh high white boots with blue high heels. The shoulderpads had what looked like huge black-sclerae red eyes that were staring ahead. She had a white katana at her side which had blue glowing blades along the sheath, which identified it as a Chroma Katana. The woman's angular face had what looked like a permanent frown. She had surprisingly thick eyebrows above her fierce blue eyes. Her very long dark blue hair trailed behind her as she put her hand on her Chroma Katana's hilt. But everyone took note of the Core Crystal above the woman's sizeable bust. It looked like half of a scissor.
"Die!" The woman shouted as she dashed towards team JNPR who instantly took a combat stance. But to their surprise, the woman jumped over them and continued straight for Raqura. "For the glory of Mor Ardain!" the woman shouted as she drew her Chroma Katana's slim blue blade to cut off the queen's head.
But the assailant was intercepted by Voluq drawing his own Common Chroma Katana partially out of the sheath and blocking the attack. The attacker then backed away when Mathra threw her Bitball at the assailant. But the attacker was then suddenly smacked away from everyone by Nora who had Electra's hammer.
"Who the hell are you?!" Voluq demanded as he fully drew the weapon out of its sheath, while he and Mathra stood in front of their queen protectively. Team JNPR and Oscar also got close so they could better stop this attacker from getting to the queen.
"Tch! I failed, but mark my words, Mor Ardain will rule this new world!" The woman screamed before running towards the exit.
"You're not going anywhere!" Pyrrha replied as she leapt right in front of the exit and prepared to intercept the attacker.
The attacking Blade stopped in her tracks and pointed her Chroma Katana at Pyrrha, while pointing the bladed sheath to the rest JNPR and Oscar who were now closing in. Voluq and Mathra remained with Raqura in case the attacker tried to go after her again.
The attacker shifted her gaze between the team and Pyrrha, weighing her options.
"You better surrender." Nora said with a savage grin, "Or else we'll break your legs."
"Yeah!" Electra agreed loudly.
"Then come and get me, if you can." The woman said arrogantly.
"Don't mind if I do." Nora grinned before charging the woman. Nora went for a good Nora Smash on the attacker's head.
"Nora, stop!" Jaune cried out as he noticed that the woman smirked.
"Bakuzan: Gakou Kouryuu!" In an instant the woman brought the sheath and the katana together and sliced at Nora's abdomen before the hammerer could bring the hammer down. Thanks to her Aura, Nora wasn't sliced, but she was launched back.
"Nora!" Ren shouted in concern.
"What a pathetic excuse for a Driver." The woman said, now earning the enraged Ren's attention.
"Zen Barrage!" Ren fired immediately.
"Ren, no!" Otohime cried out as she realized their positioning.
The woman back-flipped high above Pyrrha who was directly behind, which forced the champion to use Thiarko to block Ren's shots. At the same time, the woman landed behind Pyrrha and launched a kick at the champion's back, forcing her to stumble as the last projectile was blocked. Then the woman ran up the stairs.
"Dammit, she played us!" Jaune shouted in furstration as he moved to check on Pyrrha.
"Jaune, I'm okay, we need to capture her!" Pyrrha quickly said and the two ran upstairs after the woman with Oscar behind them. Ren had moved to check on Nora.
"Ren, I'm fine." Nora said with a pout as she easily got back up.
"Nora, you just took a-" "Ren, if Nora says she is fine, then she is fine." Otohime interjected. Then she looked to the stairs, "We need to catch that Blade."
"I doubt you can." Voluq said, relaxing ever so slightly, "She was pretty slippery."
"But how did she know to come here?" Mathra then asked, "She was clearly after her highness. What's more, she was from Mor Ardain. We have to make them pay for this treachery!"
"Wait, we do not know if that Blade was truly with Mor Ardain." Otohime quickly interjected, "The Empire is recovering from the Artifice attacks the same as the other nations. It would not make sense for them to try something that would cause a war."
"Do you honestly think you know-""Mathra!" Raqura chided, causing the younger Urayan woman to stiffen, "The Emperor nearly gave his life to save my own. I highly doubt this was ordered by him. Even so, if there is even the smallest chances that someone in Mor Ardain is acting against his orders, his majesty should know about it. Assuming that the Blade was even telling the truth of her allegiance."
"You think it's someone who wants to pit Mor Ardain and Uraya against each other, your highness?" Voluq inquired.
"Indeed. Though the question remains, who would plan this, and what would it gain them?" Raqura looked thoughtful.
"Besides, this attack was very poorly planned if that Blade thought she could take on all of us at once." Soten then opened his mouth.
"Either she was arrogant, or it didn't matter if she succeeded." Voluq then looked troubled at the pieces that were gathering, "But if the latter is the case... then were they truly hoping to instigate another war?"
"Regardless, we must return to the palace and tighten all security." Raqura said firmly.
"Your highness, if I may," Ren spoke up, "My team and I can go to Mor Ardain and ask about that Blade who attacked, maybe they know something about a Rare Blade like that."
"But what about tracking down that Gavyth guy?" Electra piped up.
"We could ask Garfront to track him down, we may not even have to tell them why." Ren then gave a small smile to the queen.
"Then it is settled." Raqura said with a pleased look, "Although, speaking of your friends, what is taking them so long?"
Raqura had barely finished the inquiry when Jaune and the rest returned down.
"We lost her." Jaune said with an apologetic look.
"How?" Mathra asked, now having calmed down.
"We don't know, we just got to the top slightly after her and she was gone." Pyrrha said.
"I even took to the skies and couldn't see her anywhere." Herald added in.
"As I thought, she was slippery." Voluq lamented.
"Do we know anything about that Rare Blade?" Jaune quickly asked, "If we could figure out who the Driver might be, then maybe we could track them down?"
At that moment, Soten seemed to perk up. The brute Blade quickly tapped his Driver's shoulder, "Weren't there reports about a Blade matching the attacker in Mor Ardain's ranks?"
"What? Which ones?" Voluq immediately asked.
"From about three years ago." Soten clarified.
"Three years ago... white uniformed female Blade... Ah! Yes, there was a Blade like that among Ardainian ranks, but the Driver was killed by Core Crystal Hunters." Voluq managed to piece together.
"Core Crystal Hunters." Nora repeated, pulling Electra slightly to herself idly.
"But weren't they wiped out and all the Cores were returned to the nations they were taken from?" Pyrrha then asked.
"Yes, but we don't know if all the Cores they had were retrieved. After all, those criminals also were known to sometimes sell them to the highest bidder." Mathra also added, now thinking herself.
"We should probably ask Mòrag about it. She might know more." Jaune said with a frown, "Is there anything else we know?"
Voluq shrugged at this, "Only that the Driver was called Azure Vermillion."
"Wait, Azure?!" Was the universal reaction from the team, including Pyrrha.
"You know of him?" Mathra asked, wondering why the team reacted like that.
"...Was he a colonel in Ardainian military?" Oscar asked.
"Yes. How did you know?" Voluq then questioned.
"We met his brothers." Otohime said with a deep frown. "We may need to have a chat with them too."
It was now early morning in Lemour Inn, and Yang was woken up by wailing. "Not again," the blonde brawler whined as she reluctantly got up from the comfy bed and moved to the basket with a few blankets in it that acted as a makeshift crib for babypon. Yang picked up the wailing baby and started rocking her back and forth gently while shushing lightly. As the babypon's cries turned into soft sobs, Yang glared at Dragunov who was blissfully leaning against the wall opposite of the bed sleeping through the whole ordeal yet again. The sleeping dragon Blade even snored lightly as if taunting Yang's inability to sleep through a baby's scream. Yang was interrupted by low rumbling coming from the yellow furball which made the blonde sigh wearily. Guess it was time to feed the baby again. Yang moved towards the small bag she had bought earlier in the day and placed it on the table facing the wall next to the door that also had a chair in front of it. She quickly placed babypon on the table before reaching for the bag and took out a loaf of bread she had bought just for this occasion. "Here you go little girl." Yang said as she broke pieces of the bread and brought them near the baby who then practically inhaled the treats. Yang looked on as the girlypon devoured the pieces and started fussing for more, which the blonde babysitter was happy to oblige.
"I really hope we find your parents soon, because I don't think I can take another night like this." Yang said with a tired smile. Indeed, the dark rings under her eyes were even more noticeable after just two nights of this. "Is this what dad went through with me?" Yang couldn't help wondering. Or better yet, Summer with Ruby. Yang couldn't remember the time Ruby was a baby herself, but she did remember when the silver eyed girl was a toddler. Always trying to follow her around, calling her Ya-Ya. And then there was Summer who was the only mom she knew about, until Yang found out about Raven. And despite not being blood-related to her, the woman treated Yang like she was her own daughter. Then there was Raven, the woman who gave birth to Yang, but then decided to abandon both her and Taiyang for a bandit's life. Yang scowled at the thought, she just couldn't understand why Raven wouldn't stay. Then again, who would even want to understand. Besides, if Raven had stayed, there would be no Ruby. Yang chuckled at finding that little silver lining, her childhood could have been better with Summer still in it, but it could have been worse still.
A sudden snort made Yang jump a little as she had unconciously kept feeding the babypon. Yang gave a tired glare to Dragunov who was still snoozing away without a care in the world. "...I think it's time to wake you up." Yang smirked as she entertained a thought of punching the lazy Blade in the face. Except she remembered how well that worked out last time. The memory made her breast tingle a little. "What do you think, babypon? Should we wake up the lazybones that I call Draggie?" Yang asked playfully.
"Mamapon!" the babypon replied happily before waddling towards Yang and pushed its round body against the arms that were resting on the table.
"I'll take that as a yes." Yang snickered as she patted babypon on the head. Yang was so tempted to give the baby Nopon a name, but Otohime insisted on not to. The water Blade's reasoning being that this wasn't their child and giving a name would only make the eventual parting harder on them. But right now, Yang had evil plans to put in place.
Some time later, Dragunov was woken up by water splashing on him, "Gah! I'm drowning!" the dragon screamed in a surprisingly high pitch while flailing around as if he was underwater. Dragunov stopped as he realized where he was. He was still in the room he and Yang shared, but he was wet now. And when he looked in front of him, the dragon saw why. Yang was standing in front of him beyond the reach of his fists, a recently emptied bucket in hand and an evil smile adorning her face. "Yang... you better have a damn good reason for waking me up like that." Dragunov growled loudly despite his strength being sapped from being soaked.
"I just feel like you've slept long enough." Yang said cockily as she lowered the bucket and put her hands on her hips.
"What?" Dragunov said.
"I said I feel like you've slept long enough." Yang repeated, still being cocky.
"What?!" Dragunov called out louder.
Yang's eyes turned red at hearing that before yelling, "I said, I feel like you've slept long enough!"
The dragon still looked like he didn't understand, but then he seemed to remember something and reached for his ears. And then pulled out a pair of earplugs. "You were saying?". Yang's angry face morphed into a shocked one as she now realized how Dragunov was able to sleep through babypon's cries.
"...Since when did you have those?" Yang demanded.
"Since after we found babypon." Dragunov replied without missing a beat, spotting the said round ball of joy clapping its wings together on Yang's bed. Dragunov then shifted his gaze back to Yang who looked highly annoyed. "What? Just because you lose sleep doesn't mean I-Hey!" Dragunov had to use an arm to block the metal bucket thrown at his head. "You wanna fight?!" Dragunov tried to get up, but his muscles couldn't lift his weight right now.
"You...are...the...worst!" Yang yelled before picking up babypon and stomping out. The little one didn't seem to understand that Yang was angry, since it was still giggling.
Dragunov growled as he couldn't do anything but let himself dry, "You just wait until I recover, then your ass is on fire." Dragunov wasn't sure if he was being figurative or literal... Maybe both.
Fortunately for Yang, Dragunov managed to calm down enough not to light her butt on fire when he found her at the canteen. But when he did approach and sat on the floor instead of subjecting the poor chairs to his weight, Yang gave him a look. "You're not gonna burn me?"
"Don't tempt me." Dragunov warned playfully before turning to babypon that was on the table, spinning around with its round body. "What's she doing right now?"
"She just started doing that on her own." Yang replied, smiling fondly at the little Nopon before letting out a drawn-out sigh. "Am I good?"
"What?" Dragunov asked, not sure what his Driver was talking about.
"I mean... how would you feel if I became a mom." Yang then asked Dragunov.
"What?!" the dragon was more alarmed. This was the second time Yang had asked this, the first time being last night before going to sleep. Back then Yang played it off as her being delirious from being tired.
"Never mind, just forget it." Yang said quickly.
"Oh no. We are talking," Dragunov said as he stood to his full height.
"Look, it's nothing." Yang said as she picked up babypon and got off the chair to move away. She didn't get far, before Dragunov grabbed her by the back of her jacket and unceremoniously deposited her back to her chair.
"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what that was about." Dragunov said firmly as he used one hand to press Yang against the chair.
"You wouldn't get it." Yang protested as she tried to get back up, but it was her against Dragunov's strength and weight.
"Try me." The challenging tone irritated Yang as she was ready to punch him to get rid of him. But she also wasn't in the mental state to be as stubborn as she could normally be due to lack of sleep. So instead, she looked her Blade straight in the eye.
"Promise me you won't laugh."
"I promise I won't make fun of you." Was Dragunov's counteroffer.
The two held each other's gaze for a while before Yang let out a weary sigh, "Good enough... I just... I'm just wondering if I ever had kids of my own, could I be a good mom? Or would I be just as bad or worse than Raven?"
Dragunov chuckled at this, earning a warning glare from his Driver. "Sorry, it's just that I expected worse." That comment earned a curious look. "Okay, for you to be as bad as Raven, you would have to abandon your kid and not want anything to do with them. But to be worse, you would have to keep the kid and just be abusive." Dragunov explained in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Abusive?" Yang said with an appalled look.
"Telling how worthless they are, beating them for the smallest things and belittle them at every turn." Dragunov explained as if Yang asked what it meant.
"Like hell, I can do that!" Yang yelled, before covering her mouth. Both for using foul language in front of babypon and because some people who were at the canteen stared at them for a moment. But they quickly shrugged it off and continued what they were doing.
"Exactly." Dragunov then continued, "Although, if I'm being honest, I have a hard time picturing you like... that." Dragunov then pointed at something beyond them.
Yang turned to see and saw that it was a human woman in a dress carrying an infant. Most likely the woman's, and she seemed to be smiling. The cogs in Yang's brain turned as she tried to decipher what Dragunov meant. The woman seemed to be in her mid to late twenties by Yang's estimate and judging by her neat, yet simple, dress was probably some kind of housewife or other kind of home maker. And then it her. "Not like that you idiot! I meant like Summer!" Yang said with an offended look.
"Oh? What was she like?" Dragunov asked, now looking interested. Of course, he knew about the woman who raised Yang for a time, but he never asked for details.
"She was like a super mom. Baker of cookies and slayer of monsters." Yang said with small measure of pride.
Dragunov chuckled at the description, "Now that I can see." Then he had a more serious look, "Also, I stand behind my words, only one good thing has ever come out of Raven, quite literally." Then he smiled in amusement.
Yang stifled a small laugh. "Thanks, that means more than you can ever imagine."
The two then had a comfortable silence between each other. Until Dragunov decided to break it, "Say, did you actually plan to have kids one day?"
"Hm? I haven't really given it too much thought, but I think I'll let it boil for another...ten years or so."
"Phew." Dragunov let out.
"Phew?" Yang said, looking highly suspicious of her Blade.
"Nothing." Dragunov turned his head away, which was a red flag for Yang.
"Why did you turn your head away?"
"Why can't I look around?" Dragunov said as he looked everywhere except at Yang.
"Dude, did you think I was getting a baby fever or something?" the highly offended blonde demanded.
Dragunov finally faced his Driver with a look that said he was caught, "I like to call it baby rabies."
"...Unbelievable." Yang said more tired than annoyed, "I don't want my figure ruined just yet." But then she looked more thoughtful, "Although it would be nice if I could outgrow Dahlia."
Dragunov quirked an eyebrow at this, "You're gonna need more than a pregnancy to do that. Besides, having larger breasts comes with a variety of problems for humans. Back pains, sagging if not properly supported, and in your case, might get in the way of punching."
"...Why would you know this stuff?" Yang asked, now feeling suspicious again.
"Why do you ask?" Dragunov looked like he didn't understand what Yang's problem was.
"Nevermind." Yang dismissed it. Maybe she was overthinking it a little. Her thoughts were interrupted by something grabbing her breasts. Yang looked down in alarm, only to see that it was babypon's wings that were trying to pull the Nopon they were attached to higher from her lap. With poor success, judging by how the little one wasn't getting above them. Yang shook her head before pulling babypon off her and up on the table. Then she leaned against it herself with a small grin. "You know, it's not nice to do that."
"Mamapon." babypon said happily as she pushed her round body against Yang's arm that was now leaning against the table.
"No, Yang." Yang tried again to correct the impressionable baby. "Can you say Yang? Yaang."
"Mamapon! Mamapon!" Babypon said as if arguing. Something that Yang was getting convinced was happening. But then babypon left Yang's arm and moved towards Dragunov on the table. Dragunov placed his arm on the table to block babypon from falling off the relatively low table which was still pretty high for an infant. Babypon then tried to climb onto the arm but couldn't get on top of it. So instead, it just stared at Dragunov.
"What?" Dragunov asked, despite knowing that the baby probably didn't even understand him yet.
Babypon's beady eyes seemed to grow in size as it looked at the fire Blade with slight wonder. "Dadapon?"
Dragunov's face went blank at what came out of babypon while Yang's jaw went slack.
A small ship had just docked on the lower docks of Argentum. The bridge had barely been lowered when a red flurry of petals exited it and moved towards the interior of the ship, past the bewildered people.
"What the heck was that?!" shouted a dock worker right before getting a mouthful of petals.
"Some new monster?!" Someone panicked as the flurry of petals went through the large opening that led inside the large trade ship itself where you could then hear people shouting in surprise or fright.
"Ruby wait up!" And then a Blade wearing red cape made of rose petals exited the ship. Followed by a black haired Gormotti and what they assumed to be her Blades. Then a red caped man with another Blade ran past everyone who was trailed what people assumed to be his Blade.
"Dammit, Ruby!" The man shouted as they lost sight of the whirl of petals. "I get she's worried about Yang, but did she forget that people here aren't exactly used to stuff like that."
And then the gang moved inside Argentum itself. It was still morning, but there were already a lot of people around the numerous shopping stalls on the bottom floor. They might do some shopping later, after making sure that Yang was fine. So for now, they followed the trail of petals that was rapidly disintegrating from the path their source took across the stalls that form the Trading Bazaar. Then up a flight of stairs to what seemed like an indoor park with a large tree in the middle and several benches around it, complete with high windows from which natural light was filtering through. This is the Bower Lounge, a popular hangout or resting spot. The gang then followed the trail of petals through another flight of stairs that led to Rumbletum Canteen, and by extension Lemour Inn where Yang was staying. But to everyone's surprise, there was a large crowd gathered around a particular table. A crowd that the flurry of rose petals they had followed was now trying to push through. Except the said petal storm was now a girl who was trying to push through in vain.
"What's going on?!" Ruby asked one of the bystanders.
The human man turned to the girl before replying, "Some blonde chick is laughing like a maniac while a large Blade has curled up in a ball and isn't moving."
"Huh? Let me through!" Ruby stomped her foot and then started trying to bulldoze her way through the crowd.
"Ruby, stop!" Roze shouted, but the girl managed to push through the crowd and disappear into it. Until she was ejected out of the said crowd as if thrown out.
Ruby was about to try again but was yanked back by her cape by Qrow. "Ruby! Let me handle this." the dusty old crow said as Ruby was trying to push forward. "Ruby." Qrow said more firmly as he yanked hard enough to get pull her back so he could trap the girl into his arms. "Ruby, calm down, will ya." Qrow tried again as Roze moved towards the crowd.
"Out of the way! Drivers and Blades coming through!" Roze shouted into the crowd which was now parting as they looked back and saw who wanted to get through.
"I wanted to do that." Qrow muttered as he let go of Ruby and they all moved past the parting crowd to the center where Yang supposedly was.
"Out of the way. Out of the way. Move it." Roze and Qrow said together as more people moved aside until they reached the opening. And what they saw made them look puzzled.
On the floor was Yang on her back, laughing like she did back in Tantal about the Inferno Cake incident. On top of Yang's mounds was a yellow furred Nopon baby bouncing on them while chanting, "Mamapon! Mamapon!". Finally, not too far from the maniacally laughing blonde was Dragunov. Sitting on the floor, hugging his legs and tail curled at his side. The fire Blade's head was pressed against his knees, hiding his face from everyone.
"Oh no, taking care of a baby has made Yang snap." Ruby said in horror at the sight. The rings under Yang's eyes truly made her look crazy as she still kept laughing, not even acknowledging the presence of friends and family.
"...I really hope that's not it." Qrow said, not wanting to see Yang having to be put in psychiatric care.
Blake looked apprehensive about Yang before looking to the motionless Blade of the blonde brawler. "What's wrong with him?"
"It is not like Dragunov to look so crestfallen." Nox showed on his scroll.
"Mamapon! Mamapon!" babypon kept chanting before getting bored and sliding down the laughing "mamapon" before waddling on her tiny feet to Dragunov. "Dadapon." babypon said as she slapped the dragon's leg with her wing.
"Whuh?!" Ruby let out in shock while the others also did a double take.
"I'm sorry, did I just hear that right?" Qrow asked, looking like he wasn't sure if he should laugh or be highly disturbed.
"Yes you did." Yang manged to say, finally acknowledging everyone's presence before laughing again.
"Dadapon! Dadapon!" babypon said, getting more fussy as she wasn't getting any attention, aside from Dragunov flinching every time that word was said.
And then Ruby pointed at Dragunov and started laughing herself. Roze tried to hold it in, but in the end he too succumbed to the absurdity of this.
"...I need a drink." Qrow muttered, his face gone blank as he was just done. Although he did wince when Kasandra smacked him upside the head with an adorable scowl.
"I just... I just can't." Blake said, not being able to decide if she should laugh or cry. Maybe both. As for her Blades, Perceval merely shook his head while Nox turned away from this sigh with an amused twinkle in his eye. But upon closer inspection, one could also notice that he was shaking a little and if you listened, you could hear croaked hissing coming out of him.
Qrow then looked at the crowd that was now staring at them apprehensively. "Break it up, people! Nothing to see here. Get back to your drinks, food and whatever else you were doing.
It took some more goading, but the crowd was soon dispersing. Even the laughing of the Remnans ceased when babypon started to cry at the lack of attention.
AN: The Remnant crew is still enjoying Alrest while they still can. After all, if they will be sent back to the time they left on Remnant, then why not enjoy some more of the new world. Besides, I like to think that the gang wants to help with whatever they can in the meantime. Although there was also the distraction of Penny and Poppi getting upgraded, with Kos-Mos being the forceful voice of reason for Poppi. Yang got herself a baby to take care of. Some of you might have guessed, but that is based on a Xenoblade 2 fic called Mamapon by brilliant star. Lastly, the attacking Blade, as some of you may have guessed from the description and her attack, she was based off of a certain character from a certain Anime. You can thank swift56 for the idea.
In other words, I'm not done with Alrest.
