A/N : Hey guys, before you start reading this new chapter of 'RWBY : The Hidden World', I have some thing to tell you beforehand :
-First of all, thank you for following and/or favoring my story so far ! I'm happy to see that my work is so appreciated my you, dear readers !
-Secondly, due to personal reasons, I'm taking a break for the time being so I won't publish anything for now. Don't worry though, I AM NOT abandoning this story… I'm merely taking a break !
-Thirdly, Sun and Jaune will have their little Harem but I'm not going to say anything more.
-Fourthly, if you don't like this story, then don't read it !
Now that everything was said, I will leave you alone so you can enjoy this story in peace ! GOOD READING EVERYONE !
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
(Previously:)
Team RWBY as a whole flushed in embarrassment while mumbling apologies. After that, Yang stopped complaining and the rest of the trip went smooth, and later, it was proven that traveling through the mountain was yet another intriguing and amazing experience.
Having seen how big dragons were, Team RWBY, Cinder and Taiyang knew these two has to be really large in size. And yet, those dragons were nothing compared to the enormous black one before them. Again, like in all paintings they saw so far, the Black Dragon was depicted as a shadow...without any visible physical features like the shape of its face, his legs, or anything else.
For another long time, the group walked through this dark tunnel, heading deeper and deeper into the mountain. The deeper they went into the tunnel, the more nervous Team RWBY became along with Cinder and Taiyang. This mountain appeared even more massive from the inside... which probably explained why the King of Dragons had chosen this place as his residence.
Looking around with wide eyes for the source of the voice, Team RWBY, Cinder and Taiyang stared in shock and fear when they saw, on the other side of the precipice, shining in the dark part of the room, two HUGE emerald green eyes. The eyes were vibrant and seemed to pierce into their souls, judging them while glowing in the darkness with a green light.
The instant the eyes fell on them, they couldn't help but shivering in fright, shock and awe. Power seemed to radiate from those enormous pool of green and they all could instantly tell that the owner of those gorgeous and ancient eyes was perhaps the most powerful being they had ever encountered !
As for the size, Weiss, Cinder and Blake (being the sharp ones in the group) did a quick examination and the result both terrified and impressed them : the Dragon was 600 meters long, 250 meters tall, and a wingspan of maybe 1140 meters (a single wing was 570 meters in length) !
Ancalagon the Black clearly deserved his titles, they all thought to themself in admiration for the Dragon King.
"NEWCOMERS, ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF PROPERLY : I AM ANCALAGON THE BLACK, KING OF DRAGONS AND RULER OF THE HIDDEN WORLD !"
Then, his eyes narrowed again with sternness as he added firmly "AND WE NEED TO HAVE A TALK !"
-00/(Present Time)/00-
Once these words were spoken, a long silence followed. The members of Team RWBY, Cinder and Taiyang though, hadn't heard him as they were still in shock at the majesty and impressive size of the Dragon King.
Everyone (except Summer and Salem, of course) wondered how such a powerful and immense being could have remained hidden under their noses (and their feet) for so long without being discovered by the people of Remnant.
But maybe that was a good thing?
The Dragon King exuded an aura of might and power greater than any other. General Ironwood himself, who naturally generated an aura of authority and respect, could not compare to the powerful being who stood before them. Each of them had different/or similar opinion regarding the Dragon King.
-Weiss was amazed by the grace and power emanating from Ancalagon and thought herself lucky to find herself face to face with such a being. His graceful silhouette contrasted with the more imposing and robust forms of Targon or Aurora and his cavernous and resonant voice seemed full of wisdom and authority. Her father, Jacques Schnee, although rich and well placed in Atlas society, was just a common ant compared to the Black Dragon and not just because of his size.
A look at the king was enough to be shown respect and admiration... unlike her father who only owes his respect to money and his position as CEO of the Schnee Dust Company.
-Ruby looked at the Dragon King with wide, amazed eyes. All her life, she had heard stories about dragons and recently, she had encountered real ones! However, no dragon she had seen so far could match the one in front of her and her companions. He was so imposing, so powerful... He gave the impression of being fearless, peerless and blessed with limitless strength and power. For Ruby, Ancalagon was worthy of the respect and deference given to him.
-Yang, like her sister, was in complete admiration of the Dragon King. Although not as muscular and sturdy looking as Targon or Aurora, Ancalagon was indeed a powerful being and worthy of respect. Its size alone would be enough to scare away the bravest of men and the sound of its voice could paralyze anyone who heard it.
For the blonde, Ancalagon the Black was also a source of inspiration: this black dragon defeated powerful enemies and even stood up to beings capable of destroying an entire world. His power, his courage and his generosity are worthy of respect and Yang vowed to follow the example of the Dragon King and to be a better person... while continuing his jokes and puns.
-Blake, for her part, couldn't look away from the colossal creature in front of her. She was just as admiring as the rest of Team RWBY and for once, everyone could see it on her face. Thanks to her feline side, Blake could say bluntly that Ancalagon the Black was a powerful being capable of destroying them all with disconcerting ease. However, her instinct was not to run as fast as possible... but to act with respect towards this black-scaled colossus.
This was understandable since the sight of the Dragon King alone was enough to terrify the most valiant of fighters. However, despite his imposing size and the tales of his prowess, Ancalagon showed no arrogance...or even disdain for others. His voice, although resonant and deep, was full of wisdom, kindness and patience. For Blake, the Dragon King was the true embodiment of a ruler.
-Taiyang was in the grip of total paralysis caused by the shock. He had often imagined what the Dragon King looked like... and now that he was standing in front of him, he was unable to formulate a word. Of course, he should have expected it, given all the stories he heard about Ancalagon, but that made no difference to the spectacle of this colossal being with emerald eyes.
The Dragon King was much more impressive than he thought and he couldn't help but admire this powerful and majestic being. Taiyang, with just one glance at the Black Dragon, could tell that no one on Remnant was capable of defeating him... even if the kingdoms united against him.
-Cinder, for her part, was stunned by the imposing and regal presence of Ancalagon. His size, the power that emanated from him and his voice were worthy of respect and consideration. The young woman was in awe of such another. In another life, she would surely have done everything possible to become as powerful as the Dragon King, but that is not the case. Of course, she wants to be the strongest but she didn't want to fall into a dark path and lose what she had most precious: the love of her family.
As she stood in the shadow of the mighty Ancalagon, Cinder couldn't help but be in awe. Ancalagon the Black was not just a Dragon: he was a titan of the skies, a being of great power and a heart of gold.
He was a lord worthy of being respected and admired.
Summer, Salem and Fawkes, who were standing nearby, looked at their companions with amusement and understanding. The two women remembered their first meeting with the Dragon King and they understood their wonder better than anyone.
However, deciding it was time to focus back on topic, Salem cleared her throat before looking up at the mighty Ancalagon.
"Indeed, we do, my Lord..." the former Queen of Grimm replied to the Black Dragon with respect while Summer nodded in agreement.
Salem's voice shook Team RWBY, Cinder and Taiyang from their stupor and instantly, they all blushed in embarrassment as they bowed before the imposing figure of Ancalagon The Black. Summer snickered in amusement before focusing back on the King.
"Your Majesty, what do you wish to discuss ?" the silver eyed huntress asked him with curiosity even if there was a knowing look in her eyes.
"I WANTED TO MEET YOUR FAMILY FOR ONCE… TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD NOT CREATE TROUBLE IN THE HIDDEN WORLD… AND TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD NOT TELL ANYONE OF THIS WORLD !" Ancalagon answered in a stern tone that sent shivers down everyone's spine.
Then his emerald green eyes landed on the group in question and they stiffened under his gaze, clearly intimidated by his might.
"YOU MIGHT BE LADY SALEM AND LADY SUMMER'S FAMILY… WELL, MOST OF YOU ARE… BUT IT ISN'T ENOUGH TO ALLOW YOU WANDER AROUND THE HIDDEN WORLD !"
Team RWBY, Cinder and Taiyang became nervous at those words. The young ones were especially the most nervous while their elders could understand Ancalagon's position. He was simply protecting his kingdom and his subjects… they couldn't fault him for that.
"How can we prove ourselves to you, your Majesty ?" Blake asked the black dragon with a bow.
The Cat Faunus, just like her teammates, stiffened in slight fear when Ancalagon's gleaming green eyes landed on her but quickly calmed down when she saw no anger nor any hostile attempt in them, simply calmness.
" YOU MUST ALL SWEAR A MAGICAL OATH !"
"A magical oath, my liege ?" Weiss asked the Black Dragon with a confused expression on her face while her companions (minus Salem and Summer) glanced at one another, equally confused.
"AN UNBREAKABLE VOW TO BE PRECISE… IT IS SIMPLE, REALLY : YOU ALL HAVE TO MAKE OATHS TO ME AND THOSE OATHS WILL BE BOUND TO YOUR SOULS..." Ancalagon explained to them in a calm tone.
Team RWBY, Cinder and Taiyang all stiffened at the last part of the sentence and shot nervous glances at one another. Taiyang gathered all his strength to look up at the mighty Dragon King before asking
"And what happen if we break our oath ?"
"YOU DIE… SIMPLE AS THAT..." was the King's nonchalant answer.
They all paled at those words but none of them tried anything to object as the last thing they wanted was to anger the mighty being before them. None of them were very eager to make this oath… actually scratch that, doing it isn't the problem, the threat of death is.
"What would happen if we don't make those oaths ?" Yang asked the Dragon King in a nervous tone.
"THEN I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ERASE YOUR MEMORY OF THIS WORLD AND HAVE FAWKES TAKING YOU BACK TO YOURS !" Ancalagon retorted in a stern and firm tone as he narrowed his eyes at them.
"Wait a minute ! You can do that ?!" Cinder blurted out in shock and her companions all stared at the Dragon King with wide eyes of disbelief, fear and awe.
"Well, I did tell you he had to look through my memory before to sent me and Salem home..." Summer remarked from her place, shrugging as if it wasn't a big deal.
Team RWBY, Cinder and Taiyang looked back and forth between the Huntress and the King with disbelief and shock.
"Isn't that a violation of privacy ?" Ruby wondered out loud what everyone was thinking inside.
"IT IS, YOUNG ONE… BUT I'M READY TO DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT MY SUBJECTS… NO MATTER THE COST..." Ancalagon said to the leader of Team RWBY in a calm but firm tone.
Amazement once again filled the hearts of the group as they stared at the Dragon King with stars in their eyes. Even the stoic ones like Cinder, Weiss and Blake were unable to hid their awe from their faces. But then, they focused back on present and their faces returned back to their nervous states.
"Its okay everyone ! Its not a really big deal ! As long as you respect your oaths, then nothing will happen !" Summer said in an attempt to calm them a bit with her bright smile.
"We swore the oath too a while back and as you can see, we are still alive..." Salem added with a shrug and a smile.
Team RWBY, Cinder and Taiyang still looked hesitant but they weren't as nervous as before. They glanced at one another for a moment before looking back at the Dragon King.
"We will do it..." Ruby said for the entire team and all four girls nodded their heads in agreement.
"We will too..." Cinder and Taiyang said at the same time with serious expression on their faces.
The Dragon King looked pleased by those words and nodded his head in approval
"VERY WELL, THEN STEP FORWARD..."
They did just that, no wanting to disobey the mighty Dragon before them.
Ancalagon then turned his head toward Salem and Summer before saying "YOU BOTH KNOW THE EXACT WORDS… I HUMBLY ASK YOU TO HELP THEM..."
"Yes, your Majesty..." the two women said with a bow before looking at their companions.
"Alright everyone ! Here are the words you must say for your oath : 'Me, your name, swear on my life and soul that I will protect the secret of the Hidden World and try any everything in my power to protect it from harm ! May Lady Magic hear my words ! SO MOTE IT BE !'… Easy isn't it ?" Summer said to them with a bright smile while Salem rolled her eyes at her friend's antics.
Team RWBY, Cinder and Taiyang stared at one another for a moment before shrugging and looking back at the Dragon King. Their nervous expressions was still there… but there was also determination written on their faces. With a hand on their chest, where their hearts were, they started reciting the words.
"Me, Ruby Rose, swear on my life and soul that I will protect the secret of the Hidden World and try any everything in my power to protect it from harm ! May Lady Magic hear my words !..."
"Me, Yang Xiao Long, swear on my life and soul that I will protect the secret of the Hidden World and try any everything in my power to protect it from harm ! May Lady Magic hear my words !..."
"Me, Weiss Schnee, swear on my life and soul that I will protect the secret of the Hidden World and try any everything in my power to protect it from harm ! May Lady Magic hear my words !..."
"Me, Blake Belladonna, swear on my life and soul that I will protect the secret of the Hidden World and try any everything in my power to protect it from harm ! May Lady Magic hear my words !..."
"Me, Cinder Fall, swear on my life and soul that I will protect the secret of the Hidden World and try any everything in my power to protect it from harm ! May Lady Magic hear my words !..."
"Me, Taiyang Xiao Long, swear on my life and soul that I will protect the secret of the Hidden World and try any everything in my power to protect it from harm ! May Lady Magic hear my words !…"
"… SO MOTE IT BE !" They all said at the same time.
"SO MOTE IT BE… " Ancalagon echoed the last words with a nod and a serious but happy expression on his face.
Instantly, they all felt a surge of energy surrounding their bodies and soon pain filled their hands, the ones they had pressed to their chest during the oath. Summer and Salem wanted to rush to them and comfort them but they knew the pain was necessary.
Once the pain subsided, Team RWBY, Cinder and Taiyang were panting heavily, but when their eyes fell on their sore hands... their eyes widened: on the back of their hands, there was what looked like a runic drawing of a black dragon forming a circle.
"THE OATH IS MADE… YOU ARE ALL BOUND TO IT NOW… RESPECT YOUR WORDS OR YOU WILL DIE IN A PAINFUL WAY..." Ancalagon told them in a stern tone as he looked at them with narrowed eyes.
They all nodded in understanding, while glancing nervously at the runic drawing on their hands.
What did they got themselves into ?
(To be continue…)