A calm and still beach rested on the edge of Menagerie's barren and lifeless desert.
The sun was slowly beginning to set, painting the horizon in shades of orange and yellow, the atmosphere slowly becoming more quiet than it already was.
But in the snap of a finger, a group of five humanoid figures landed feet first on the dry sand. Towers of sand scattered into the air with knee-deep indentations forming on the scorching hot surface from the force of their inhuman speed they were utilizing to fly across the surface of the sea.
"Is this the place we're supposed to be in?" Ikki wondered out loud.
"Considering that we're in a desert rather than in some nightmarish landscape, I would say we are on the right track." The blonde haired Cygnus affirmed to the Phoenix.
"It is far less sinister than that place we're just in." Shun added, though there wasn't anything remarkable about the desert biome.
That's when the yawn of the Pegasus Saint brought a more pressing matter to the table: "I don't know about you guys, but I could really use a little bit of sleep."
The reminder of the body's physical and mental exhaustion immediately made the limbs of the Saints feel more heavy and made their heads grow numb.
"Sleep does sound good right now." Hyōga agreed with Seiya's sentiments as he rolled one of his shoulders.
"A Saint sleeping with their Cloths on?" Ikki scoffed in amusement, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I've never heard of that before."
His younger brother couldn't help himself but chuckle. "My brother does bring up an interesting point. It wouldn't be adequate if we all laid down with our Cloths on."
"Then what do you propose, Shun?" Shiryu inquired, his tone curious.
Shun looked at his friends, laying out his plan. "It would be best if we used our Cosmos to pass through this desert. I don't think there isn't anything here for us to build as a shelter."
"That would be for the best." Nodded the Dragon Saint.
"Then let's not waste another second." Was the eager remark of the Pegasus Saint, who was already a couple of steps away from his group.
"Try and contain your excitement, Seiya. We don't know what's waiting for us as soon as we start exploring." Warned the blonde Saint of ice and cold, though an amused smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Seiya looked back at the Cygnus with a smile, sending him a playful wink as wisps of his blue aura erupted from his body. "I'll live."
He then sped off, releasing a powerful shockwave and leaving a thick trail of sandy brown dust as he ran at godly speeds.
Hyōga rolled his eyes as he dashed behind his more rambunctious ally, wisps of his Cosmos erupting from his body as he took off at the same speed of Seiya, releasing another powerful shockwave. "At times I wonder what is it that leads to his survival: spirit, willpower, or an incredibly thick skull?"
The Saints that had been watching with slight amusement unleashed their Cosmos and sprinted after the Pegasus and the Cygnus, their bodies turning into unfathomable blurs as they bolted through the hot surface of the biome at breathtaking velocity.
...
Bushes and low hanging branches rustled by the slow and steady movement of Athena's Saints, doing their best to navigate through the green maze that was the rainforest. Their feet walked over rocks, ingrown tree roots, and dirt pits on a semi clear path of dirt that separated the rainforest and a cliff overlooking the beach.
It was impossible for them to determine the exact time it has been since they have made their arrival to the rainforest biome, which only took them a couple of minutes to reach. But given how the horizon transitioned from a bright blue to a dimmed orange, they assumed that it was getting close to late afternoon.
"It's been a while since I've taken a stroll in a forest. Almost made me forget how relaxing it could be to take a simple walk in a place like this." Seiya admitted out loud to his closest friends, letting his brown eyes drink in the calm air of mother nature's most prized creation.
Ever since they have arrived to this rich stricken environment, the Bronze Saints collectively agreed that it would be preferable if they all slowed their pace to take a long stroll. It wouldn't sit right for them if they plowed into the palm trees or any wildlife with the power of the Cosmos.
"It's a very therapeutic thing you can do, Seiya. I have learned a long time ago that letting your body and mind be embraced by the soothing calmness of our world is the best way to prepare for the battles ahead." Shiryu added in his own wisdom to the Pegasus' sentiments.
"Of course you'd know a thing or two about the outdoors, Shiryu." Ikki smirked, but not mockingly, to the blind Dragon. "Let's not forget that you were trained in the most secluded areas of China."
The smile of the dark-haired Saint turned more fond and soft. "The air of this forest is a little bit more foreign than what I'm accustomed to. Nonetheless, I'm grateful for the peace it is bringing me."
"There's something that I am appreciative of; not to mention that there aren't any monsters to watch out for, or a gloomy sky to look up to." Hyōga added in, his eyes softening as his lips threatened to curve into a smile.
"Then let's hope that we can stay here for a while longer. We desperately need a break after the journey we just went through." Shun expressed his sanguine sentiments to his brothers in arms.
The Dragon Saint slowed his steps until he stopped his movement completely. He sat quiet and still, turning his head to his left, aiming his stoic lips at the dark depths of the woods.
"Shiryu? What's wrong?" Shun asked in concern. He and the rest of the Saints have halted their steps to focus on the subtle yet concerning change of the Dragon's demeanor.
"There is something running directly at us."
In a flash, the Bronze Saints snapped their gazes and postures at the incoming threat. Their faces didn't show the slightest hint that they were alarmed, showing that they had free control over their movement, and had their most potent emotions placed to the side.
As they stood there on the dirt path, sitting as still as statues in a museum, their ears caught the sound of twigs snapping.
Whatever it was sounded quite desperate to reach them as each snap after the other occurred just a second after.
But the Saints had their assumptions proven wrong as what leaped from the shadows of the woods wasn't an enemy, but a duo of young boys looking worse for wear. The duo was not aware that they were in the presence of a group of men older than them as they were far too preoccupied regaining their breath, notifying the young Saints that they had been pushing the limits of their small bodies.
"A pair of kids...?" Came the surprised words of the Pegasus, his voice breaking the deafening silence that was in the air.
The small duo snapped their heads up, their eyes widening in alarm and their ears twitching frantically as they hadn't taken immediate notice of the imposing men that had been staring down at them with blackened gazes. To say they were frightened would be an understatement as the eldest of the two immediately proceeded to pull out a and point a piece of wood shaped into the blade of a knife, putting his body in front of the youngest child to provide some semblance of protection.
"Woah woah woah! Calm down, we're not gonna hurt you!" Exclaimed the Pegasus Saint as an immediate response, his hands raised to convince the children that they weren't in any danger.
But his attempt to appear harmless did not yield the desired results as the eldest child did not let his guard down. "I don't believe you! O-our momma told us to not listen to humans!" He shouted to the men donning shiny armor in an attempt to sound courageous while holding a shaky grip on his 'weapon'. The other child he was protecting took a timid peek over his shoulder, his innocent and button sized eyes covered in a glossy layer.
Knowing that Seiya lacked the experience to bring assurance and ease to the children, Shun took one step forward, drawing the attention of the other Saints.
"What are you doing, Shun?" Asked the Cygnus, a quizzical look was faintly shown on his sharp and cold features. However, he did not receive a direct response from the emerald haired Saint.
The youngest of the Bronze Saints planted one of his knees on the ground and gently set down his beautifully ornate chains on the dirt; he had a very kind and genuine air gleaming in his emerald green eyes.
"Hi, my name is Shun. What's yours?" He started by politely introducing himself, one of his gloved hands placed over his heart.
The children born with dog ears were hesitant to answer, but when they took one lengthy glance into the eyes and smile of the emerald haired man, a strong yet somehow familiar sense of homely warmth filled their young souls.
The arms of the oldest child became less shaky and tense. "I-I'm Fen, and this is my little brother Pes." He introduced himself and his younger sibling, moving a little to the side so Shun could get a better look at him before shielding him away again.
"Fen and Pes... tell me, what are you two wandering in a dangerous place like this?" The Andromeda Saint wondered out loud, his emerald green pools showing genuine concern.
Fen swallowed a large lump that had appeared in his throat, tear drops forming in the corners of his eyes as he did his best to recount what he and his brother had gone through. "M-me and Pes were getting candy with our momma when the monsters attacked. We got separated and-and we didn't know what to do!"
He could feel the fingers of his younger brother tightening around the fabric of his shirt, his face pressing into his back as his limbs trembled.
Shun and his friends felt their hearts ache for these young children. Though there was something far more important that needed to be addressed, and that was the 'monsters' they were mentioning.
"I'm very sorry that you had to go through that, but you said that you and your mother were attacked by these 'monsters'?" Fen replied with a weak 'yeah'.
"By any chance, did these monsters have red eyes, black bodies, and white masks on their heads?" Hyōga added in, receiving another nod from the little boy.
Shun and Hyōga turned away from the children and shared an unreadable look at their closest allies. And even though their fronts were unreadable, they could all read the sentiment that ran through their minds.
Breaking eye contact, Seiya stepped away from the group, kneeling right next to Shun. "Perhaps we can help."
"Y-you can?" A spark of hope shimmered in the tear stricken eyes of the frightened children.
"Yes, we can." Hyōga affirmed with a softened gaze as he too kneeled next to his brothers in arms.
Hope exploded in the eyes of the children. "You-you'll really save our mom? For us?"
Shiryu kneeled next to his fellow Saints. "Yes, we will. Just tell us where your home is and we'll protect it with our lives."
Ikki stepped forward and kneeled next to his baby brother. "You can trust us."
Fen and Pes looked at each other with wide eyes and hope burning in their souls. Not even in their wildest dreams did they expect to hear a group of humans dressed in metal armor say that they would go and save their home. It was as if their bedtime stories had come to life in front of their very eyes.
"O-okay! It's this way!" Fen, having found his resolve to save his family thanks to the selfless humans, shouted before he and his little brother sprinted back to where they came from.
"Don't worry, we'll be right behind you!" Was the assuring response of the Pegasus. The night has called for them to fulfill their duty as the heroic Saints of Athena.
They hoped that they would be able to make it on time before the damage became severe. But if that wasn't possible, then they would do everything in their power to save what was left.
…
Blood curdling screams of despair filled the air as sharp claws and bloodied fangs ravaged the safe haven of the Faunus.
The houses that have withstood the most formidable storms throughout Menagerie's history were smashed into unrecognizable debris.
Stalls promoting the most exquisite foods were left as nothing more but splattered mush amongst the carnage.
Lacerated Corpses and severed limbs littered the stone path, drenching the hard ground with blood and spreading the stench of death into the atmosphere.
All of the Faunus that were still breathing did what they could to escape, or fight back against the Grimm. But the latter seemed much more likely. The majority had little to no combat experience to kill and eliminate the weakest of the Grimm; running away was a far better option than standing their ground.
A Faunus woman with deer antlers chose the latter as she ran to escape from the cross hairs of the slaughter, her bruised arms clutching her baby boy with a desperate grip. The little one cried and wailed, his body thrashing violently against his mother's protective grasp.
Not daring to slow down, she took a glance over her shoulder to see if any Grimm were on her tail. To her misfortune, a single Beowolf stopped devouring the corpse of an older lizard Faunus to chase after her and her son.
She cried in fear, facing away from the creature that held no remorse or fear for the deaths of the innocent.
Even though she had the potential to outrun the wolf-like beast, her mind was blinded with fear, both for herself and her infant son's life, preventing her from seeing a cadaver that was laid in the middle of the path. So when her feet crashed against the fallen body, she and her son fell to the ground.
She turned to see the Beowolf running at her, its crimson stained jaw open and ready to tear the flesh of another salacious meal.
The deer Faunus, knowing full well that fleeing was no longer an option, wrapped her son in a cocoon, praying to the gods above that her body would be enough to spare her son's life from the pain and torture she would soon be subjected to.
"This is it… this is how I die…" She placed her little boy close to her heart as tears ran down her face.
"Diamond Dust!!!"
Her eyes snapped open, her pupils expanding as she saw the Beowolf get blasted away by a concentrated blizzard of ice. The dark body of the Grimm was frozen solid from head to toe, immobilized and defeated in just under a second!
Reality took a second to sink in before she instinctively turned to see who saved her and her son from death's grasp.
Her mouth dropped when her gaze was met with a human man standing over her, though his eyes were not filled with any hatred or disgust reserved for her.
"Are you alright, miss?" He asked with a bent knee and one of his gloved hands stretched out for her.
"Y-yes, sir!" She reached over and grabbed his hand, her body rising from the blood covered dirt.
"Is there anywhere that's safe for you and your family?" She nodded, the deer Faunus having a difficult time comprehending that a human was showing concern for her safety.
"Then go there and stay until all of these things are eliminated. Do not move until it is safe, do you understand?"
"Y-yes." She replied, the answer being good enough for the Saint of Cygnus.
"Good, now go!"
She obeyed his command and ran off to where it would be safe for her and her child.
A bone chilling howl rang throughout the darkening sky, bringing his attention to the large number of nightmarish creatures that were stalking their way towards him.
Any Faunus that were still conscious with their bodies intact looked at the young human man with sickening concern in their eyes. But they could sense that something was incredibly off here. The man showed no fear in the face of the bloodthirsty adversary. And upon closer inspection, he looked at them with a deep frown and a venomous glare.
"I have destroyed dozens of you before, and I will do it all over again!" He declared as his Cosmos flared across his torso.
…
"Nebula Chain!!!" Shun screamed as in a single swing of his arms, his chains tore through the dark flesh and fur of the monsters that leaped at him.
His boots were firmly planted on the roof of a burning home, giving him an advantage on his enemies' position and a good view of the civilians that took the chance to flee to safety once the surrounding Grimm were slain.
His senses warned him that more enemies were circling behind him, attempting to take him out while he was focused on the ones in front.
"Oh, no you don't!" He turned back and unleashed the wrath of his chains upon the Grimm.
…
"Rozan Shō Ryū Ha!!!" Roared the Dragon Saint as he thrusted his fist forward, sending forth a large burst of his Cosmos that took the form of an entire fleet of serpent like dragons charging into the horde of Grimm.
The mouths of the dragons appeared as if they were tearing apart large mouthfuls of monster flesh, captivating the attention of the Faunus as they could do nothing but stand still and stare in awe at the sheer power and might of the Dragon Saint.
…
"Hōyoku Tenshō!!!" A raging typhoon of fire bursted from the arm of the Phoenix, disintegrating the Grimm that were stupid enough to stand in its path.
"Tch, you animals lack any common sense." Was the insulting remark of the Phoenix Saint as he scowled at the ashes he left behind.
The monstrous roars made Ikki direct his apathetic scowl at the surviving vermin that had the nerve to run at him as if he was something as low as common prey.
Menacing pillars of hellfire erupted behind his back, casting a shadow over his already intimidating scowl. "You want to go to hell that badly? Fine by me."
In the span of a few minutes, the beasts that struck terror into the hearts of the Faunus were obliterated into nothingness by five human men wearing armor seen only in tales of myth and legend.
Everyone had a difficult time comprehending what they just saw. Some couldn't believe that they witnessed the largest Grimm being turned into statues of ice before any could blink, or that an army of dragons ripped off large chunks of Grimm flesh, or that a barrage of sharp chains easily punctured the impenetrable shells of the most resilient Grimm.
So when the people rose from the wreckage, the oldest of the bunch stepped forward and asked them what was on everyone's mind: "Never in all of my life have I seen such bravery and power. Just who in the world are you?"
The Pegasus Saint smiled at the awestruck people, the air he was emitting brimmed with confidence. "You can call us Saints. And it is our mission to help you."
…
Endnotes: Okay, So I made a couple of mistakes while I was reviewing this chapter:
1: I was supposed to land the Bronze Saints in a desert rather than a rainforest.
2: I definitely should have added some action to properly introduce the characters to the RWBY universe.
3: I have not learned my lesson that it was alright for me to take my time with this; rushing things will leave a bitter taste in my mouth and I hate that.
Sorry that I am not making a proper continuity to this fic, but I had to fix my mistakes.
Do not worry, I have made some progress for the next chapter. And I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do with it.
With all that said, I'm gonna take a short break. Take care now.