(Early Authors Note: I'm back, everybody! Back like a heart-attack but less life-threatening! Here at last is volume 2 of the Greentide of Remnant. I'm so happy that all of you like this story, heck, I even got a review just asking for the sequel! Well here it is, the beginning of a new story. But first, reviews from the first volume that I couldn't answer!
To DemonicOrder: Thank you! I'm really glad with how everything turned out. Blake will surely come to a different home than before, Weiss will have her own little adventure in Atlas (which I'm actually thinking of making into a separate story) and yes. RWBY Chibi chapters will be back.
To Merendinoemiliano: Thank you! I found your fanfic, but since I can't read even a lick of Italian I'm afraid I haven't actually read it. Also, do you remember that Archaon x Salem idea you offered? Well I've done some thinking, and after writing out how things are gonna shake out... I think it'll be put in. But if it's alright with you, I'd like to hear some material of yours that you might have in mind. Because really all I can see them having in common in hatred of gods and desire to destroy the world.
To Orel7105: Well, that's a… not really difficult question. See, I have no idea what Azeroth is or where it's from, and I honestly don't feel… let's say 'worthy'... to do a fanfic of Middle-Earth. It's a world that's been very, very near and dear to my heart. And I'm just not sure what I could crossover with it while still keeping the themes and messages in it. Because they're really good.
To SupremeUgly: 'SupremeUgly' huh? You wouldn't happen to know President Ugly, would you? Hehehe… Anyway, I didn't do 40k 'Orkz' because I just really don't like the Warhammer space setting. It just feels like they're trying to mix LOTR and Star Wars to make something cool, and I do not find it cool. Plus I think Fantasy Orcs are more funny.
To Guest: The sequel, eh? Well here it is at last! I hope you enjoy it!
Now let's get it on!)
Somewhere in a blackened land dotted with jutting crystals of jet, pools as black as night bubbled and churned as Grimm of all kinds burst from them and began wandering the waste while Furies, Rotflies and Doomknights soared the skies. Chaos spawn occasionally brawled with the dark beasts, and looking down from a window on all of this was Emerald. But what mostly grabbed her fearstruck face was the land itself.
The sky was a violent mix of blues, reds, greens and purples all vying for mastery while on the ground there were patches of choking wasteland, tall iridescent spires of bright crystal, weird windmills and throbbing blobs of pus and other bodily fluids. On all of this she and Mercury looked on in horror and disgust. They still couldn't understand their being here of all places. Then suddenly Cinder snapped her fingers (but with her right hand) and motioned for the two to come to her side. As they did, a man sitting across the long, bone-white table that many people sat at cleared his throat and said "Very good. You really must keep your… posse… in check better, Cinder." Mercury growled but Emerald held him back, something that caused the man to smirk while another man on the far end of Cinder's side of the table giggled. He was tall and lanky with a long ponytail and a dark purple coat. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement as he eyes everyone. A big man sat across from him, his arms crossed and eyes closed. He had dirty blond hair and green overalls over a white shirt, and his face was hard and stern. The man across from Cinder ignored the laughter and instead looked around at the others present and said "Right? I mean, let's be honest: what good have these three been? They fail to take the Fall Maiden's powers, they fail to take down the CCT tower in Vale not to mention the kingdom itself, and the second chance they get to seize the Maiden's powers… they fail again!" But no-one answered him.
Malagor and Moonclaw were in some type of shamanic trance while Taurox and Slugtongue and Khazrak were looking out the window thoughtlessly. Manfred only looked on in the way a pompous aristocrat can (that being with his nose up and chin out). Thanquol only looked around him warily as Boneripper loomed above, Tretch and Snikch both stood by their bands of followers and eyed everyone (even each other) warily; Valkia, Vilitch, Festus, Azazel and Be'Lakor all scoffed; Astragoth, Zhatan, Drazhoath, Ghorth and Azgorh all seemed busy with their own machinations, and Malekith, Morathi, Malus, Rakarth and Lokhir said nothing. This got on the man's nerves and he said "You know, it's considered rude to ignore a man when he speaks. Clearly your world isn't far advanced in the way of manners…" Then suddenly the door opened and in walked a woman draped in black with skin deathly white. She silently glided across the room before sitting at the head of the table. Then everyone else sat, and the woman smiled as she said "Thank you all for coming. Honestly I'm surprised many of my otherworldly friends agreed to my meeting."
Malekith spoke up, saying "Before anything else, witch, know that I came here only at my mother's behest. I will not be subservient to you or your schemes, I only wish to use them, for they may align with my own goals."
"Yes-yes!" shouted Tretch. "Same for us-us! Speak-squeak what you must and let's get this over-done with!"
The woman merely nodded her head calmly and said "Of course, but… there are a few latecomers. I'd like to wait for them-"
Just at that moment, a massive figure peered through the windows. It wielded a massive hammer crackling with electricity and wore black armor. Then, entering the room, came Archaon, Sigvald, Wulfrik, Throgg, Azhag, Arkhan, the wraith of Nagash, Zaouli, Hup'Kala, Hurlrok, and Perv and Luthra. "We are here… Salem, was it?" said Archaon. The woman nodded and replied "Yes. I am Salem. A pleasure. Now, down to business. I seek the complete over-turning of Remnant; a change, revolution… that sort of thing. It may sound uninspired, but I can promise to each of you here a realm to call your own… revenge to take against a certain foe, or just plain destruction." She then faced all the newcomers. "So, what will it be? Care to join in on the… 'fun'?"
The Chaos servants all looked to Archaon for an answer while Malekith slowly nodded, and Thanquol cackled inwardly about some scheme as he said "Deal-deal!" Manfred laughed as he said "A merry band of followers we'll be, eh? Hmph. I expect a great kingdom and not some backwater patch of marsh, Salem." Nagash said "Nagash does not serve! He rules! But… if you are hunting for what I think you are, I might get a body again. Fine." Azhag grumbled before saying "Bah! Ya stoopid crown, dis is wot ya said to go to?"
"Silence, beast!" whispered Nagash. "Did you not hear what I just said? I do not serve! She will prove useful in finding our… relics of old. Now shush!" Azhag rolled his eyes and nodded his head to Salem.
Still everyone waited for Archaon's answer. At the last he said "...Very well. We will not follow you, but we can cooperate. Perhaps this is a part of my destiny…"
"Heh heh… yeah. Like how getting ball-punched was?" snickered Luthra before immediately getting his face slammed into the wall (leaving a rather noticeable dent).
Salem smiled and said "Excellent. Now that we are all on the same page… Arthur." At this the mustached man straightened and said "Yes, ma'am?"
"Your accusations against Cinder are entirely… justified." (At this Arthur let out a breath he didn't know he held.) "Twice she has failed to take the Fall Maiden's powers, she has lost the kingdom of Vale to Greenskins, and the CCT tower still stands. Indeed, Cinder, you have disappointed me so. I honestly don't know why I bothered to restore your limbs. Perhaps there is still a use for you. Maybe. But besides that, we must face the facts: Vale is lost to us, and its Relic also. Both the Spring and Fall Maidens, Raven and Amber respectively, are also out of our reach. Which means that our only options are to find Summer and Winter. Options that I refuse to take. I know enough about Raven to know that it is around this time she meets with the other bandit leaders of Anima. Which means she's vulnerable. But that Ruby girl… she's also heading to Mistral, yes? Hmm… Tyrion."
At his name the ponytail man perked up, replying "Yes? Yes, my lady?"
"I have a task for you. Find Ruby, and bring her to me. I want to have a little… chat. And take Thanquol with you. Arthur. You and Zaouli go to Haven Academy and ensure our helper stays focused. Hazel, return to the White Fang. Ensure Sienna Khan remains cooperative, and find Adam. I expected him here along with the others. Cinder, take the Trifecta and ensure Raven Branwen will open Haven's vault for us. Azhag, you and your undead associates will continue to batter Vacuo's defenses until it falls. You will then scour the kingdom for the Summer Maiden and notify me immediately. Slugtongue, take Taurox and Moonclaw and go to Menagerie. I don't want those Lizardmen to interfere in any way. Wulfrik, have your men prowl the seas and ensure no one sails anywhere without my say-so. The rest of you go to Solitas and Sanus and keep pressure on Ironwood and Grimgor and their kingdoms, or do what you will. We are at war with two threats and must split our forces as best we can."
With that the meeting seemed to be over, and as everyone left the room only Archaon remained. "I believe I said that was all." Salem replied sternly, to which the Everchosen replied "I am the End made flesh, you do not command me. You also have not told them all about the Relics. Nor why you want them." Salem turned around, her eyes fairly wide, and said "How did you-" before Archaon pointed at the glowing eye on his helm. "The Eye of Sheerian. With it I see more than lesser men. If it is the destruction of worlds you seek, then indeed this is a part of my destiny. I will aid you, if you will aid the End Times." Archaon held out his hand. Salem looked at it, then at him.
"Deal. Just…" she tried to hold in a snicker (to which Archaon growled). "leave the Greenskins to me, okay?" She took his hand in hers, and a true alliance was born.
Days after Salem's meeting, Azhag finds himself summoned to Vale by a direct order from Grimgor. As he flew Skullmuncha over the city towards Beacon, Nagahs said "My, how much has changed…" Indeed, things had changed a lot. Effigies to Gork and Mork were at every crossroads or district belonging to a certain Greenskin group or tribe, piles of poop were burning away at high parts of the city (or just outside the ruined walls), and rickety boats were going in and out of the waterways. Looking ahead, Azhag saw Beacon Academy. The courtyard was a marshaling ground for warriors of all kinds while each tower was adorned with the Greenskin insignia. Wyverns flew in the sky alongside the Grimm Wyvern, now collared and occasionally whimpering. The tallest tower was unadorned save for glyphs and paint, and Azhag could see many other Greenskins waiting. He landed on the air docks and strode forward. He entered the bent and crooked (but still working, surprisingly) elevator, but before it closed four other people were running towards it. Three were humans and one was an Orc. The first human was a man wearing a black vest over a white dress shirt, a red tie, black gloves and black dress pants. He had gray eyes, short black hair, along with a matching beard and mustache. He is also exceptionally tall, standing a full head over a few humans Azhag had seen and the two girls following him. They appeared to be twins, the first being a teenage girl with long black hair with a straight fringe that covers her eyebrows and pale green eyes, highlighted by the use of heavy cyan makeup. She wears an off white, strapless dress that graduates to a cyan towards the skirt, it has a cyan layered feathery tulle that hangs longer than the dress and a small bow in the top center part of the wears a pair of white thigh-high boots with red lace-up detailing. Her blades looked to be fitted to the rear of her boots, seemingly connected to the heels. Twin silver chains run from the back of the boots connecting to a layer armored piece on the fronts of the boots. She wears cyan stockings under her boots with lace-trimmed tops that peek above the boots and garter straps that supposedly connect to her underwear. She sports a pair of white forearm length gloves with cyan lace detailing running from wrist to forearm accompanied by a silver vambrace on her left forearm. She has a white belt around her waist that has twin silver chains on the front alongside a cyan gemstone in the center whilst a pair of cyan feather-like wings extended from the back. Her accessories include a white flower-shaped hairpin above her left ear, a white feather scarf with two short red feathers surrounding a long cyan feather on the left side. She also sports a silver pauldron on her left shoulder. The second was also a teenage girl with short black bob style hair with a straight fringe and pale green eyes, highlighted by heavy red makeup. She wears a red strapless dress that is patterned with newspaper articles with the headings "A New York la pop art di Alborghetti", "Amity Arena", and "New York Fine Art". Her dress has black and dark red lace layered tulle that hangs down more than the dress. She has an off-centered bow belt around her waist and wears a pair of red thigh-high boots with black heels and soles alongside white lace-up detail. Twin silver chains run round from the back of the boots connecting to layer armor plating on the front of her boots. She wears lacy black stockings that peek out over the top of her boots accompanied by black garter straps that supposedly connect to her underwear. She also sports a pair of black fingerless forearm length gloves with red lining around the tips of the fingers. Her gloves sport a newspaper design similar to her dress running from the backs of her hands to her forearms with a light brown frill trim peeking out of the ends. The girl's weapon looks to sit over her gloves. Her accessories include a large long wing-like red feather and two short white feathers above her left ear and a short black fur shrug held by four beaded chains with a white gemstone in the center.
The Orc, however… he was different somehow.
From head to toe, he was decked out in heavy blood-red armor and up close stood two whole heads taller than Azhag. But then Azhag noticed his armor wasn't red from paint, but from blood. Its true color was black, but it was so dyed and covered up by dried blood that it looked red. Even his eyes were red! He also had no weapon on him, but walked as if he were someone to fear and revere.
The four reached the elevator and entered without a word. They looked to be on a mission. They took the elevator ride in silence with the only noise being the calm elevator music. When they reached the top, Gobbla greeted them with leaps and bounds in place before shouting to Skarsnik. "Ah! They're 'ere at last!" the Night Goblin laughed. Grom, Wurrzag, Grimgor, Sporctacus, Bo'ogrish, Ozgrot, Grokka, Bax Deadtoof, Borgut Facebeater and Brak Batwing, Morglum Necksnapper and Oglok, Durkol, Screetch and Git Guzzler, Taugrek the Throttler, Tinitz, Grulsik, Gorbash and Gorbad, Unguth the Vile, Skabend, Skulfink, Tulbuk, Merlot, a giddy red-eyed Amber and the rest. Many had come. But then, Azhag noticed a group he did not think he'd see again. Grumlock, Gazbag, Roman Torchwick and Neopolitan were all there as well. Roman looked at the three humans coming out of the elevator with shock before indignantly and crying "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What're those three doing here?! Me and Neo are more than enough for you guys and your little schemes. Besides, we already have a Grimm scientist and a Maiden!" Grimgor just gave him a look and he fell silent, then he said "The git's right though. 'Oo brought 'em here?"
"I did, Boss!" Wazzog cried as he raised his hand. "I saw 'em runnin' away when we took da city and I says to them ''ere now, wot're you doing? Who are ya?' And the beardy one says to me 'Oh, please oh mighty Orc, don't kill us! We can serve ya, do whatever ya want! I got friends, see! Powerful friends! That sounds good, yeah?' And then I nod my 'ead slowly and say 'hmm, okey-dokey… youze three comin' with me!' So I snatch 'em and here we are!" At this explanation the man cleared his throat and said "W-well, I wasn't doing all of that-"
"Yeah you were." interrupted the girl in red.
"Yeah, you were, like, really groveling to that Greenskin. It was kinda pathetic, really. Man up some, huh?" said the girl in white.
The man just waved them away and said to Grimgor "But in any case he's right. Our services can be of good use to you I'm sure. Name's Junior Xiong. Junior for short. And these two are the Malachite twins. One on the right is Melaine with the white flower-shaped hairpin and white feather scarf. One on the left is Militia with the long wing-like red feather and two short white feathers."
"Didn't ask and don't care. But who's the Orc with ya?" Grimgor gruffly replied. The orc in question smirked and with a slight bow (but turning his head up to still eye everyone) said "Muh name's Ragna. Ragna the Bloody. Remember it, ya gits."
Grimgor humphed but said nothing for a bit before saying "Fine then. You lot are in. Now with all o' you here letz get down to business. I want all four of them Relics. The one here still ain't found, but since we right on top I say we do 'ave it. But the others… we don't. Doctor, that book said Haven Acadumy has the Spring Relic yeah?" Merlot tilted up his glasses and said "Yes. The vault there opens to the Spring Maiden's touch. Just as the one here opens to Fall, Atlas' opens to Winter, and Shade Academy in Vacuo opens to Summer. Of course, which Relic we'll find is anyone's guess."
"Then we know what to do. All of you go back to doin' what you were doing. But I want Azhag and his boney friends and the Road Raiderz in Vacuo. Find the Maiden there and get that Relic! Merlot, you and the other hummies will go to Mistral wit Grumlock, Gazbag and GRYN will go to Haven and get that Relic! Ragna, Wurrzag, you two go to Atlas and get that Relic! Hurry! Git going, the lot o' you!"
Everyone at once hustled out of the tower to do their duties. Merlot grumbled slightly about not going to Atlas to 'show them all', but bore it in relative silence. Amber of course remained by Grimgor's side, and the ones sent to Mistral chatted a little. "How'd you survive?" Junior said to Roman, who replied "Oh, you know, just… luck."
"He means we was blowin' around in the wind on a wimpy umbrella before fallin' into the sea." butted in Grumlock. The twins snickered at this but Roman only scowled. Team GRYN was silent until Gorlasg said "Quit yer gripin' with each otha. If I'm right the first place that Ruby git is gonna go to is Mistral. And I got a score to settle wit her an' her team."
"You're not the only one, Greeny!" Roman said. "I plan on some payback too! Me and Neo!" Junior nodded, saying "She's Blondie's sister, yeah? That could be useful… What say us? Wanna crush a former Beacon Academy team?"
"YEAH!" yelled the whole crew as they began to board the Greenskin airship to Mistral.
(Ending Authors Note: Here it is! The beginning of The Greentide of Remnant Vol 2: Crashing Tide. I decided that the way I'd right this series is by making it a 4-parter. Volume 1 was vol 2 and 3 of RWBY, this one will be 4 and 5, the third will be 6 and 7, and the fourth will be 8 and 9. But I also thought about making stories within the stories. What I mean is, Blake will have her own story in Menagerie, dealing with the Lizardmen and The Red Adam, Weiss will have her own up in Atlas dealing with the Vampire Counts (because who else could survive Atlas' snooty upperclasses), and team CFVY will have theirs down in Vacuo dealing with the Tomb Kings, Road Raiderz, and whoever they fought in the books. I haven't read them yet so that one will have to be the last one. But what do you all think? Do you want side-stories, or just the main thing? I'll await the answers via review, so farewell wherever you all fare until chapter 1 releases! (When, I don't know myself, but it will!)