The Arc Clan
A RWBY Fic by AndrewJTalon
DISCLAIMER: This is a fan based work of prose. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and ViZ. Please support the official release.
The Arc Clan: Epona
More horse-based shenanigans for the Arc Family! In this case, a family "pet", Epona, from Legend of Zelda.
Jaune was trying to study in the library. The history of Grimm could be interesting in places, but having to keep up with Oobleck was exhausting.
It was nice that Weiss was willing to tutor him in the subject, since she was the top student in the class.
"Pay attention, idiot! That wasn't how General Frigis lost!"
In theory. Jaune nodded, and corrected his notes. Weiss glared at them and huffed.
"I suppose your penmanship is neat if nothing else."
"Thanks Weiss," Jaune sighed. He did still admire her, really. Her strength, her spirit, her intelligence. He also knew she was just tough because it was how she was.
It didn't make it any less difficult. Then again, he was an idiot.
"Okay," Jaune said, "Frigis did make good use of radio coordination in the Great War and..."
He stared out the window. Weiss nodded.
"Yes, and...? Jaune?"
Weiss looked out the window.
"What are you-ACK!"
A horse stared back at them. A chestnut brown mare with a white mane. Jaune grinned.
"Epona!"
"Wha-Jaune-You know that horse?!" Weiss demanded, scooting backwards.
Jaune nodded.
"Yeah! She's my family horse!" He waved. "Hey girl! What brings you here?"
Epona stared. Jaune sighed.
"No, I can't come out to play."
Epona stared harder.
"No! I mean it! Go home!"
Epona backed away and trotted off. Jaune sighed.
"Sorry, she's a little possessive."
"She... She understood you?" Weiss asked as she stared at Jaune in disbelief.
Jaune nodded.
"Yup! She's also a little-"
Epona burst through the front doors of the library, causing loud bangs with the doors she flung open. She galloped up to Jaune, and reached out with her mouth. She took hold of the scuff of Jaune's neck with her teeth, and flipped him up onto her back.
"GAH! Epona, you-!"
Epona turned, flared her Aura, and blurred as she galloped back out the doors.
"WAIT! WAITWAITWAIT SLOW DOOOOOWN...!"
Weiss stared after them, many papers drifting through the air in the wake of the horse. She blushed.
That horse... Was so cute...!
Dinner at Beacon cafeteria was a bit awkward that evening. Jaune had returned in a haggard state with Epona. The horse had carried him up all the stairs to the dorms and set him down, giving his teammates an expectant look to help him out. Only when he had gotten a shower, new clothes, and food in him had he been able to speak.
"What happened?!" Weiss demanded. "Your horse just straight up abducted you!"
"Heh, and I thought Jaune would be saddle sore," Yang cracked. Jaune managed a little laugh at that.
"Thanks Yang... It's not as bad as it looks." He gulped down some water, helped by Pyrrha, before he continued.
"She just thought I needed to go reclaim a few things. Including..."
Nora beamed and hefted up a large sword.
"THIS THING!" Nora announced.
"A sword?" Ruby asked. "Looks pre-Great War! A claymore maybe!"
"Apparently one of my ancestors used it, and it was in a lost temple in the Emerald Valley, along with some armor," Jaune sighed, "And Epona decided I had to go and get it right now."
"And you did! Nice!" Ruby said, taking the blade and admiring the craftsmanship, "Wow! I don't even think you'd need to reforge it! It's been infused with so much Aura!"
"So hey, now you have another sword," Yang grinned, "Two points are better than one! Eh? Ehhh?"
"I get it," Jaune sighed, as everyone else groaned. "Seriously though, this is why Mom was so upset with Dad over Aura unlocking her."
"You... Your dad aura unlocked a horse?" Weiss asked in utter disbelief.
"What? Our dad did the same with our dog," Ruby said with a beam. Yang nodded along. Weiss gaped at them in horror.
"You mean to tell me your families gave a non-sapient lifeform AURA POWERS?! Isn't that incredibly dangerous?!"
"But you love Zwei!" Ruby protested. Weiss blushed.
"B-Be that as it may, it's still very dangerous! Jaune got abducted by his horse! Blake, back me up here?"
Silence. They looked around. Blake was nowhere to be seen. Ruby groaned.
"Oh no... Please don't tell me she went off after the White Fang again...!"
The doors to the cafeteria were thrown open. Epona galloped in, neighing urgently. Jaune gaped.
"Wha-What do you mean Blake's in trouble?!"
"You can understand her?!" Weiss demanded.
"Sure!" Nora said cheerfully, "She said Blakey's in a bind at a warehouse!"
"I wasn't talking to-!"
"Don't," Ren advised gently, shaking his head. "It will not help."
"Right," Jaune said, standing up, "Okay, let's go-BWAH!"
Epona grabbed Jaune with her teeth and tossed him on her back. She then seized the claymore from Ruby, and tossed it back at him. Jaune yelped and caught it.
"Okay okay, but maybe we should get my armorrrrrr?!
Epona turned and dashed off at high speed, Jaune hanging on for dear life. Ruby stood up.
"Come on! After them!"
"AHEM," Professor Goodwitch glared. Ruby coughed.
"Oh no! A horse has abducted my friend! We should go after him and-!"
"Detention. NOW," Glynda ordered.
"But Professor-!"
Goodwitch shook her head.
"No excuses! Detention NOW!"
"But we didn't even do anything!" Weiss protested. "Arc's Horse did it!"
"Just call this a pre-emptive measure."
Nora scoffed.
"Ha! Jauney's gonna cause you so much paperwork and headaches with Epona that you won't even need to give us detention! So why bother?"
Goodwitch scowled.
"So I can at least maintain the illusion that this is a school and not a madhouse!"
Silence. Yang shrugged.
"That's a little like closing the barn door after the horse is out, right Prof?"
More silence.
"Double detention, Miss Xiao-Long."
"OH COME ON!"
Okay, so Blake had gotten in over her head. That had happened a lot lately. It may have had something to do with her lack of sleep and obsessive tendencies... Who could tell?
Maybe her, when she'd gotten some sleep. And wasn't tied up by some White Fang goons. The lead, a fat Faunus named Snick, laughed as he stood over her in the warehouse she'd been snooping in.
A cat caught by a rat, how humiliating, Blake groused, Kind of glad Yang's not here. The jokes she would make...
"Well well... We've got Adam's main squeeze," he sneered down at her, "What do you think he'll pay us to get you back in one piece?"
He held up a knife and licked his lips.
"What do you think he'd pay if we took a few for our own?"
Blake glared defiantly, already trying to cut her bonds with a hidden knife... When the warehouse doors burst inward. A horse whinnied and all the White Fang goons turned to look. Blake gaped in astonishment.
What the...?
A mounted knight? In full white and gold armor atop a horse? He even had a banner flying behind him, with a familiar gold sigil on the blue fabric.
Is that... Jaune's symbol...?!
"Who the hell are you-?!" Slick shouted, just before an Aura-infused spear slammed into his chest and sent him flying into the far wall. The rest of the goons opened fire with guns as the horse and rider charged.
Most horses were sensible enough to not charge into gunfire, people, or pointy sticks. This horse projected an Aura field around herself and the shots just bounced off. The knight struck the rest of the goons down, with sword strikes and shield bashes. It was over in a matter of seconds.
The horse trotted up to her, and bowed her chestnut head. While Blake was not a huge fan of horses, she had to admit, she admired this one's noble bearing.
The knight who stepped down could have come right from the pages of Romance of the Kingdom Knights. It was a more Valean take on Ninjas of Love, a bit more formal in places but just as down and dirty.
(Though Blake didn't have the same love of armor and weapons being described, she was perfectly fine with how the author wrote all the bits involving the armor coming off.)
The knight kneeled behind her, and undid her bindings.
"You all right?" He asked.
Even though the helmet, she recognized the voice.
"Jaune?!" She gasped.
"Yeah," Jaune said, flipping up his visor to smile, "Sorry about the wait. Epona insisted I get my full armor for this. I can see why."
"Epona?" Blake glanced at the horse, who whinnied in answer. Jaune scowled.
"Why exactly did I need to get into full gear?"
Epona nickered. Jaune blinked.
"Eh? What do you mean, a knight needs to be properly dressed to rescue a princess? Blake's not a princess!"
Blake flushed, and scowled at the horse. A horse who was looking rather smug. Jaune sighed.
"Anyway, we should get going," Jaune smiled, stood up with Blake, and held out a hand.
"So, shall we go home? She's faster than the Bullhead. Or at least, she'll ask a lot fewer questions."
"Wait, she made it all the way here from Beacon?" Blake asked in astonishment. Epona preened, as Jaune laughed and patted his horse on the side in appreciation.
"Yup. Wanna see?"
Blake flushed, and nodded.
"I... Yes."
"Great! Need any help mounting her?" Jaune asked.
Blake blushed hard.
"N-No! No, um... I'm good."
"Well don't worry," Jaune said, as he helped her up anyway. He got up behind her and sat down in the saddle. He put an arm around her waist. She held on tightly. Just to keep safe, of course.
"I'll be right behind you the whole time. I won't let you fall," Jaune said kindly.
Blake's blush became worse. She scowled at the very smug-looking horse.
"I don't know how you figured that out, but this is just... Way too obvious and cliched to work," Blake muttered. Epona whinnied, and Jaune blinked.
"Eh? What do you mean 'You know you love clichés?"
"NOTHING!" Blake shrieked.
It's not just organic family members. Pets count too! Such as Epona from Legend of Zelda. And a knight does need a loyal steed.