Gamer4 in. In the recent hiatus, I have come into guardianship over two more cats and one very noisy doggo. Might put em up as my profile pic at some point, we'll see. Especially little Kiseki, who will be turning three months old soon. I could gush, but we have an episode to get to. See you all in the end-notes.
Episode XXIX
Chronicles of the Crescent Blade
Satorl the Phosphorescent Land
Tom was the quickest to react- before anyone could so much as blink, he had a gun out and trained on Salem, staring her down with cold eyes only matched by those she returned.
Vanessa, however, had eyes only for Lana. "Lanaaaaa..." she growled as she slowly rose to her feet.
Lana gulped, glancing around with a sheepish smile. "Did I... goof?"
"You said you were bringing two of Arc's sisters, and ended up bringing the lady of darkness instead!"
"In short, yeah, you goofed," Tom agreed, his aim not wavering.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Tommy, I promise next time I bring some-"
"There isn't going to be a next time," Vanessa interrupted, sounding deadly calm as she rose to her feet. "Lana... come here."
"No- you're gonna hit me!"
"I'm not going to punch you. Get over here."
"No!" Lana was backing off.
"I'm not going to punch you," Vanessa reiterated- the others noticed the length of wood she was hiding behind her back. "Lana, La- Lana, I'm not going to punch you, just- just-"
Lana tore out of the room, Vanessa in hot pursuit.
Jack glanced around at everyone who was left, his hands on his hips. "Well... they'll be out for a bit."
"Greetings... Salem," Ozpin slowly took a drink from his mug.
"...Ozpin," she slowly greeted back.
"Why haven't you shot her yet?!" Ironwood burst out.
"Can't believe I'm agreeing with Tin Man, but here we are," Qrow put his flask down, directing his glare straight at the black-robed woman. "Let's hear some gunfire, kid!"
"...Wouldn't do any good," Tom reluctantly admitted, though he didn't drop his aim. "Not for finishing things, at least."
"Then there's only one thing to do!" Jack clapped his hands together. "Oh, Nyx!"
"Nyx?!" Whitley's jaw dropped. "You are not about to tell me you have the goddess of the night-"
A black cat, not unlike the one currently pinning Raven to her seat, except all black, appeared and began purring and nuzzling her way around Jack.
"...Ah."
"Nyx, this woman said she wants to take Kiseki!" Jack told her. The previously friendly cat suddenly turned vicious, her fur standing on end and her tail bushing out as she leapt at Salem and pinned her to yet another seat that Jack provided.
"...Do you just have a cat for every one of us?" Ghira asked.
"Nah, Nyx is our last ace in the hole- sure hope Vanessa manages to stop Lana from bringing in any more guests," Jack admitted.
"Um, excuse me?" Saphron interjected. "I was just wondering if..."
"Yeah, could you all tell us what the hell is going on?" Coco agreed, lowering her glasses as she crossed the room to Velvet.
"Alright, let me catch you up this time," Tom decided, returning his gun to his holster while still keeping one eye trained on Salem- though she'd been oddly quiet so far. "So, here's the deal..."
XXXX
"-and that's about the long and short of it," he concluded.
Jack was keeping a close eye on all the viewers throughout Tom's speech- he noticed Salem in particular reacting strongly to Tom's description of the multiverse- though it was likely only someone like him, who was specifically looking for it, would have noticed. When Tom's speech concluded, she crossed her arms and went back to a stony silence.
"Okay, I think I get what you're saying," Saphron nodded as she took a seat next to Jaune, opposite of Pyrrha- Ren and Nora obligingly allowed her room. "But... about Adrian-"
"Terra won't even know you were gone," Jack promised.
"A chance to see Jauney-boy with Velvet here?" Coco chuckled. "Consider me aboard."
"Well, that's a little awkward," Jack scratched at the back of his head. "Because next on the schedule is the one where Jaune's dead."
"Fine by me," Saphron narrowed her eyes. "Show me the face of the bitch who dared lay hand on my brother."
"We're on our way," Jack nodded.
The world picked up immediately where it had left off, the team of Ruby, Yang, Ironwood, Qrow, Tai, Blake and Ilia all standing at the edge of the cliff where they'd just fought Metal Face.
Ironwood grinned as he took them in. "As I live and breathe- Taiyang Xiao Long!"
"Long time no see, Gramps," Tai grinned as the two of them grabbed each other's hands.
"Huh, I don't remember ever meeting this guy before now," Tai considered.
"Well... they do both seem to be in high positions in their respective colonies," Ozpin pointed out.
"Thought for sure you'd have kicked the bucket by now," Tai teased.
"Heh, put a sock in it," Ironwood retorted with his own grin.
"Taiyang... which makes you Qrow?" Blake's eyes widened as she realized exactly who she was speaking to. "The heroes who won the day at Sword Valley a year ago?"
"That's us," Tai agreed. He looked Blake up and down. "No idea what a pretty lady like you is doing hanging around with these jokers."
"Let's keep things in our age range, shall we, Mr. Xiao Long?"
Tai gulped when he felt the dark aura rolling off of Ghira Belladonna. "I promise you, I'm staying in my lane in our world."
"Pretty sure Blake's an adult here, too," Sun analyzed.
"I don't think that's the problem, Sun," Neptune shook his head.
"Retaking the colony," Blake shrugged off-handedly. "I suppose I should thank you for helping us out."
"Eh, not sure we did much of anything," Qrow scratched at his chin.
"Nope," Tai agreed. "Save your thanks for that telelelelethia."
"Oh, sorry, sat on the remote," Jack apologized. "Continue."
"Save your thanks for that telethia."
"A... telethia?" Ruby asked, tilting her head.
"Legend describes 'em as sacred beasts that protect the sleeping Bionis," Tai explained. "Huh, they don't usually come down this far. Never heard of it happening, leastways."
"Telethia... heard of 'em, but I don't think I've ever seen one," Qrow stroked his scruff.
"I seem to recall that my other was in control of the one that saved them," Penny recalled.
"Yes... that makes me remarkably curious," Winter agreed.
Qrow turned towards his nieces. "Well, time to decide what we're going to do from here."
"Is that even a question?" Yang laughed, somewhat sardonically. "We're going after that metal-faced bitch!"
"The one that... hurt Jaune, I presume?" Saphron asked, her eyes slits of fury.
"Man, even his sister didn't get as mad as Ruby did," Nora blinked in surprise.
"Really?" Tai asked, clearly caught off guard himself.
"Oh, yeah, she flew completely off the handle!" Nora agreed.
"She... even kind of scares me at times," Ruby admitted.
"Well, in that case, we've got our next stop- Galahad Fortress, in the hilt of Sword Valley," Qrow reasoned. "That's where they launched their last attack- that's where they'll be preparing this new war."
"A sword so large that its crossguard doubles as a fortress?" Whitley's eyes widened. "The scale of these titans truly is... immeasurable."
"Sword Valley... where we made our stand a year ago," Ironwood considered. "Yes, it's quite a key tactical position. If they've finished reconstructing it, that would explain why they're attacking now."
Yang eagerly smashed her fists together. "Sounds like a plan- kick down the door to their fortress, and kick some metal ass!"
"Not yet," Ruby interjected.
"What do you mean, 'not yet?!'" Yang demanded, outraged. "What could be more important than-" She paused when she saw her sister's expression. "Wait... you saw another one, didn't you?"
Ruby nodded.
Tai cleared his throat. "Saw what? What are you two talking about?"
"A vision?" Qrow asked- his nieces nodded. "So it wasn't just a one-off. Tai, ever since the runt grabbed Crescent Rose, she's been seeing flashes of the future."
"Huh... sounds damn useful," Tai mused.
"It'd be nice to get ahead of fashion trends," Coco considered.
"What happened to being the trend-setter?" Velvet giggled.
"Eh, that's true. Why see the future, when you can make it instead?"
"Uncle Qrow said something similar in this world- 'with Crescent Rose, the future is ours for the taking!'" Ruby beamed.
"Would that we could all see such ideals," Salem scoffed silently to herself.
"So, what'd you see?" Yang asked eagerly.
"I was somewhere... high up. The top of a huge tower. There was a voice- it greeted me, and Crescent Rose changed shape. Metal Face appeared, and with one swing, her armor gave way!"
"Oooh, now you're talking!" Yang grinned.
Ruby looked to Tai. "Right now, Crescent Rose can't hurt those faced mechon, but if we make this vision come true..."
Tai raised a hand to his chin. "Handy, all right. About that tower, though... there are plenty of those across Bionis. Any more details?"
Ruby thought for a second. "A horn... yes, there was a horn! A giant horn!"
"I guess you could say they're feeling-"
"Oh my gods, Yang, shut up!" Weiss cried.
Fortunately, the other Yang didn't interrupt as Ruby snapped her fingers. "Bionis's horn! The tower is on Bionis's head!"
"Well, that narrows it down alright!" Tai nodded. "It's gotta be Prison Island."
"Alcatraz?" Kali perked up. "Are we going to see Sean Connery?"
"I don't believe they're talking about the Rock, dear," Ghira chuckled.
"Er, what are they talking about?" Sun wondered.
"Probably old people stuff," Nora shrugged.
"I've never heard of such a place," Blake spoke up.
"Never been myself," Tai shrugged. "But I've seen it- a dark tower at the top of Bionis. According to the stories, it was built by the high entia."
"The high entia? You mean the bird people, like Yang in Chariots of Fire?" Velvet picked up.
"Bird people?" Coco asked.
"Yes, they have wings coming from their heads."
"Hmm, I could make some nice outfits with that motif..."
"The high entia?" Ruby looked more surprised than the viewers. "I thought they were a myth!"
"Most homs do," Tai acknowledged. "An ancient race, responsible for ruins across Bionis, now hiding away at the top? Sounds like crazy talk- but they're as real as you or me."
"You've met them?" Qrow asked- even he seemed caught off guard.
"Sure have," Tai agreed.
"That's my old man, just full of surprises!" Yang cheered.
"I prefer the term 'well-travelled,'" Tai stroked his chin, doing a very poor job of hiding her pleasure. "All for your future- day and night, charting the uncharted lands, all for your future- the life of a wandering old fool."
"Oh, don't pretend like you don't enjoy it," Qrow smirked, giving him a slug on the shoulder.
"Ah, nobody asked you," Tai groaned.
"I swear you exist just to be my personal buzzkill," Tai agreed with his other.
"God knows someone's gotta hold you back from impregnating the entire female species," Qrow rolled his eyes.
Qrow turned to Ruby. "Well, let's hear the word of the scythe-bearer. It's not like this chase is our only option- there are plenty of places we can hole up and hide in secret."
"That's strange, I never took you for a coward," Adam sneered.
"Nah, all the coward genes got snapped up by my sister," Qrow shook his head, earning a middle finger from the sister in question.
"My guess is, he's ensuring this is actually what she wants by laying out all possible options," Ozpin agreed. "He wants to make sure they're not railroading themselves, so to speak."
But Ruby stood firm. "No. These faced mechon made it clear- there's nowhere we can go they won't follow. There's no running from them- we have to stand and fight."
Qrow grinned. "I'd clap for ya, if I had an extra hand. Well, if that's how ya feel, then it's my job to come along and protect you."
Ruby blinked in surprise. "You're... gonna come with us?"
"Well, unless you don't want me to," Qrow shrugged.
"ARE YOU KIDDING?!" both nieces burst out immediately.
"We were gonna drag you along even if you didn't want to!" Yang beamed.
"Qrow's coming with? Now things are gettin' good!" Yang concurred with her other.
"I'm just about back to my full strength- aside from the obvious," Qrow tilted his head carelessly at the stump of his right shoulder. "And the Scrooge over there made this nice sword for me- doesn't quite match Crescent Rose for power, but it gets through mechon armor well enough."
"A scrooge, am I?" Tai crossed his arms. "I made that thing out of mechon armor- it's worth its weight in gold, I'll have you know!"
"Yeah, you've 'had me know' that every five minutes or so," Qrow smirked.
"I do enjoy banter between friends," Pyrrha giggled.
"Hmm... if it's Bionis's head you're going to, your next goal will be to cross Satorl Marsh," Ironwood considered. "Around Bionis's waist and up the back through Makna Forest." He glanced at Ilia, who was still pale and shaking from her ordeal. "I believe we can accompany you through the marsh, at least- I believe there is a nopon caravan there that can provide medicine faster than travelling all the way back to the camp."
"Oh, good, he is thinking about her," Blake sighed in relief.
"There sure is," Tai nodded his agreement. "Follow me- I've been down this road more times than I can count."
He turned and began leading them away from Colony 6, up a short hill and along a sheer cliff. As they continued their long march, the rain slowly came to a stop. To their surprise, the sun was still out- though rather close to the horizon. "Are we sure we want to go into a marsh at night?" Yang asked.
"Oh, Satorl Marsh isn't any old marsh," Tai smirked. "At this rate, we'll be there after sunset- don't you worry, you are in for a treat!"
"Because we all know how beautiful swamps aaaaaawhuuuuuuu..." Neo started jeering but fell off as the world cut ahead to the marsh in question.
The sun was down, and the marsh was glowing. The marshland was obvious, but the water shone phosphorescently, globes of ether gathering and rising into the air in a symphony of light.
"Okay, that's a marsh I wouldn't mind being lost in," Sun decided over an awed grin.
"It would almost be worth all the water," Neptune agreed with the greatest praise he could offer.
"I want. To go. To this world," Ruby aptly summed up everyone else's thoughts.
Ruby's other seemed to agree wholeheartedly. "I... I've never seen anything like this!"
"And that's why I keep telling you, you need to get out of the lab every now and again!" Tai grinned. "Now, the fastest way to get to Bionis's head will take us through the outer layer of its body."
"We're going... inside Bionis?" Blake repeated. "I know we have mines, but... deeper than skin?"
"If you wanna get up there any time this month," Tai nodded.
"That's... something they've been saying for a while," Pyrrha recalled. "The titan they're living on... it was actually alive at some point. Could it really be...?"
Ironwood turned towards Blake. "Medic, can you see the nopon camp from here?"
Blake pulled out her rifle and looked through the scope. "Yes... I can see them. Northeast!"
"Follow me, and careful not to disturb the water," Tai advised.
"Don't follow the lights on the water, whatever you do," Qrow put in. "Those are upas. Where there's one, there's twelve, and they swarm."
"Pretty or not, a swamp is a swamp is a swamp," Neo crossed her arms, feeling somewhat vindicated.
Following Blake and Tai's directions, they made their way across the landscape until even the others could see the camp with their naked eyes. Soon enough, they were among the tents, and the nopon who'd erected them, all dressed in excavation gear.
"Ah, hom-hom friends!" one of the nopon grinned when he noticed their approach. "Not see many hom-homs out this far these days."
"Wait, those are the nopon you were talking about?!" Saphron gasped.
"We've been through this rigamarole before," Weiss sighed.
"Hmm... I wouldn't mind the chance to make some outfits for them," Coco drummed her fingers thoughtfully.
Matching her finger-drumming was Salem. She didn't say anything, but Ozpin in particular was keeping more than one eye on her, and he noticed it very quickly. Not the reaction I'd have expected from her...
"We're on our way to Makna Forest," Qrow informed him.
"Friends come to right place!" the nopon declared happily, putting its stubby arms on where its hips might be. "Ponspectors always help those in need!"
"I'm pleased to hear your creed hasn't changed," Ironwood stepped forward. "Might we barter for some medicine? One of us has been in some considerable distress."
Ilia stepped forward, still pale and shaking. The 'ponspector's' face quickly shifted to concern. "Yes, of course! Follow, follow!"
He guided them towards one tent in particular, and motioned towards a cot. "Bit small for hom-hom, perhaps, but made of fine moss and feathers- soft as hom-hom like!"
"If you can provide the medicine, I'll take care of her myself," Blake volunteered. "I'm a medic in the Colony 6 Defence Force."
"I suppose I could do worse than to learn some medicine," Blake considered. "Team RWBY hardly has a dedicated healer, after all."
"Maybe Team JNPR would need a healer if any of us ever got hit!" Nora boasted eagerly. "Well... Fearless Leader takes a lotta hits, but he's got so much aura it doesn't really even matter!"
"Too bad my other didn't have it all..." Jaune considered mournfully.
"I'd also be much obliged if you would allow me to write a message to my colony," Ironwood requested. "The mechon drove us out of our home, but we have recently taken it back. I should like to alert them that I'll be returning soon to guide them home."
"Yes, we have paper, pen, and pigeon!" the ponspector nodded happily. "Friends stay night- scary monsters come out when dark. Even during day, stick close to lamps! High lamps, not low- low lamps scary-dangerous!"
"We've been told about the upas," Yang interjected with a chuckle.
"We'd be glad to spend the night," Ruby bowed slightly. "Thank you for your generosity."
"It would be up to Ruby to show some common decency," Weiss sighed.
"Even in a different world," Qrow chuckled. "Things change as much as they stay the same."
There beds were, as promised, remarkably comfortable, if rather small. Especially after their rather arduous past few days, they all sunk into a deep slumber, and awoke refreshed in the morning.
"Are you feeling better?" Blake asked of Ilia as the group gathered in the center of the camp.
"Much," Ilia agreed. "I'm... sorry to be such a burden..."
"As you should be," Raven sniffed.
As they spoke, Ruby approached the leader of the ponspectors. "If it's alright for me to ask... what are you doing out here?"
"We endeavor! Find treasure! Ponspectors til we die!" the ponspector explained through several poses. "Come to Glowey Swamp seeking treasure of the giants!"
"Giants'... treasure?"
"GIANTS!" Jack leapt to his feet. When he noticed everyone staring at him, he slowly slunk back to his seat. "Had a pastor who loved giants. Sorry, carry on."
"That's a story I'm willing ta tell ya some day," Tai grinned as he approached. "So, Tin Man, you get that letter sent?"
"It should be arriving before the sun sets," Ironwood agreed.
"Then we oughtta get moving!"
"Friends listen!" the ponspector piped up. "Path through swamp dangerous! Ponspector give guide- follow bird, he show you safe way!"
The ponspectors gathered around in ceremony as one of them moved through their lines, holding a bird in his wings. "Just... follow bird!" they all cried as the bird was released...
And flew off in the wrong direction.
"It's... goin' back to Colony 6," Yang observed.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The head ponspector coughed into his wing. "Ignore bird! Follow lamps!"
Yang finally released the snort that had been building up.
"Oh, come now!" Weiss objected, while attempting to hide her own giggles. "It's not... that funny!"
The other Yang, and her team, were a little better at hiding their laughter, not giving in until they were out of the camp's earshot. "Don't worry, I know my own way," Tai assured them.
Following Tai's guide, they were able to stick to mostly solid ground as they wound their way through the spongy landscape. Ruby greatly preferred the marsh at night- during the day, the glow vanished, leaving it very much what she usually pictured a marsh to look like. A part of her wondered if that was why the monsters only came out at night as well.
"Who cares why the monsters come out at night?" Whitley huffed.
"She does," all of Team WBYJNPR sighed.
The sun was on its way down again as they climbed a hill, and Ruby noticed a large stone structure in the distance. "Whoah, what's that?!"
"That would be the Giants' Fortress you've heard tell about!" Tai grinned. He looked around. "Damn, it's getting late again. Tell ya what, I think there's another ether lamp at the top of this hill- we'll stop there for the night, and I'll tell you the story."
By the time they'd found and summitted the hill in question, even Yang was willing to take up that offer of rest. "Don't go too far from the lamps," Qrow advised. "They're for more than just lighting the way- monsters will stay away from the concentrated ether."
"No problem," Yang grinned as she leaned back against the pillar upon which the lamp sat. "These fists have one name on 'em, and it's that metal faced bitch's."
"We're glad to find you so agreeable, Yang," Blake rolled her eyes.
"How do you live with her?" Neo asked, matching the on-screen Blake.
"Hard work and determination," Blake sighed, also mimicking her other.
It didn't take long to get a fire going, and as they ate their dinners, Tai cleared his throat. "So, you were wonderin' about those ruins over yon?" he asked, pointing to the fortress in question.
"Yes!" Ruby's eyes were shining as they always did when she was about to hear a story from one of her three favorite people.
"Well, those ponspectors had it right- those are giant ruins," Tai grinned. "Long ago, in the days of yore- back when there was a lot of yore lying around-"
"Dear gods, can you not just stick to the story?" Raven groaned.
"Like father, like daughter," Ren commented, recalling how this very world had begun.
"Every stupid joke is a boot up your ass, Tai," Qrow inerjected.
"You're no fun," Tai pouted.
"Exactly like daughter," Qrow chuckled.
"Anyways, back in the old days, this land was populated by giants. 'Bout three times the size of a full-grown homs, and the original rulers of Bionis. You can find remnants all up and down the back."
"Too bad we don't have time to go check 'em out now," Yang gazed at them almost wistfully.
"You wouldn't want to," Tai quickly shook his head. "Because... well, there aren't any giants there now. At least, not giant homs."
"I... suddenly don't like where this is going," Yang found herself squirming uncomfortably.
Tai took a long drink from a flask at his side and sighed. "You wouldn't. The giants were wiped out... by the ancestors of the arachnos."
"Yeesh, giant humans vs. giant spiders- count me out," Torchwick shook his head.
"Wait for them all to die out and snatch up the treasure, I suppose?" Whitley narrowed his eyes scathingly.
"That's how it works outside the castle, princess," Torchwick snickered.
"A-A-Arachnos?" Yang paled, her eyes narrowing at the ruins with a new level of dread.
"Thought that might knock some of the wind out of your sails," Tai gave a sympathetic smile.
"We... had a nasty run-in with an arachno queen in Tephra Cave," Ruby explained quickly.
"I see," Tai crossed his arms. "Well, back in these days, an arachno queen would have been a rank-and-file soldier in comparison. And you've seen how fast those bastards can reproduce- the giants were badly outnumbered. In fact, there's probably only one reason that they managed to end the war in a draw."
The direction of his gaze- directly at the scythe on Ruby's back- left nobody in doubt as to what that reason was.
"Crescent Rose?" Ruby asked, wide-eyed.
"Now that I thgink about it..." Ren recalled. "The arachnos in the cave... when they saw you has Crescent Rose, they called you 'murderer... friend of giants.' Could this be what they were talking about?"
"Protector of Bionis, bringer of order," Tai nodded slowly. "Story goes, in their time of greatest need, the scythe presented itself to a giant leader, name of Maria Calavera, and she used it to turn the tide. But, by the end of the war, she was the only giant left, so she went off into the wild. Nobody knows what came of her after that."
"Here's hoping it treated her more like Rubes than like me," Qrow muttered, toasting with his good arm.
"How much of that is really true?" Blake asked with a clear note of skepticism.
"Oh, dear, poor Blakey's never been one for fairy tales," Kali noted sadly.
"Nor should she," Adam scoffed. "Needless flights of fancy, of no proper use to anybody."
"I suppose not..." Blake muttered. "Mom, want to tell me some fairy tales after this?"
Kali beamed- Adam glowered.
"Pieces of it, for sure," Tai shrugged. "The giants and arachnos definitely wiped each other out- past that, we've only got myths and legends. You'd have to ask someone who was actually there for more, and good luck with that." He looked over the marsh. "Enough talk for now- if we get an early enough start, we should be able to reach the end of the marsh tomorrow."
"One last night to enjoy the pretty..." Ruby sighed.
Ruby found herself unable to sleep that night- visions of everything that had happened so far- and visions of things that may lie ahead- kept her mind buzzing, and she had neither the soft cots nor the sheer exhaustion from the previous night. She awoke early to find Tai keeping watch, leaning against the lamp's pillar.
"Can't sleep?" he asked casually as she approached.
"No," she admitted. "I can't stop..."
"Jaune, get out of there, run!"
"AAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHH!"
"... thinking."
"Is that... what it was like?" Saphron asked, tears crawling down her cheeks.
"It was... pretty intense," Jaune nodded his agreement.
"Haven't been able to stop thinking myself," Tai shook his head slowly. "How long has it been, since I found that little sausage up in that temple? Fifteen years? Feels like it was just yesterday." He glanced away, as if unable to make direct eye contact. "Sorry I couldn't save your... real parents."
"I'm not her real dad in this world?!" Tai gasped.
"Almsot forgot about that," Yang blinked.
"But you're still my dad, in blood or not!" Ruby assured him.
"I guess so... still like this one better than that idiot who calls himself 'Taiyang Xiao Long' in Voyage Home..." Tai muttered to himself.
Ruby looked up, surprised. "It's not your fault! I owe everything to you! It's only because you saved me that day that I can be here now, discovering the world! Besides... that's when you found Crescent Rose, too, and without that, we'd be..."
"Huh, you're right," Tai raised a hand to his chin. "You and Crescent Rose, pulled from the same temple at the same time... heh, you put it like that, it almost seems like some sort of... divine plan, doesn't it?"
Ruby giggled. "Yang said almost the same thing! I don't know about all that, but... it does feel like Mom and Dad left it to me, in a way. Their last gift- so I want to learn its secret- unlock its true power. But here I am, just making big piles of scrap metal..."
"You've moved above just studying it in a lab," Tai smiled, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You've found the path- you don't need to know where it leads. Not yet. For now, just focus on putting one foot in front of the other."
"Thanks..." Ruby slowly nodded.
"Not bad advice," Qrow agreed. "This adventure is one whopper of a burger. No need to try eating it all in one bite."
"I truly do not understand your way of thinking sometimes," Winter shook her head.
The next morning dawned... early, if not bright. "Not the nicest bed I've ever had... far from the worst, either," Qrow reflected as he rolled his shoulder in its socket. "We just about outta this place?"
"Only a little further," Tai assured him. "The high entia ruins mark the edge of the swamp- you climb up, and there'll be a short passage through Bionis's interior and to Makna Forest."
He led them up yet another hill that rose above what he described as 'Mauk Floodgate', and around the next corner, before the sun had even reached the top of the sky, there it was- the high entia ruins. A large, carved stone wall built into the side of Bionis, with two figures almost a mile high on each side- they looked like homs, but for the wings sprouting from the sides of their heads. The fine features had worn away over time, but each still had an arm extended, palm facing outwards towards the marsh.
"Now, these people had a knack for design," Coco whistled, lowering her sunglasses a little to see them properly.
"Eh, they were just showing off," Raven shrugged.
"That's your goal," Tai pointed towards the top of the wall. "You get up there, and that's your path."
"In that case... this is where I turn back," Ironwood announced. "The people of Colony 6 need a leader. Once we have the colony up and running, we'll have to work on forming an alliance with Colony 9."
"With a war on the horizon, that only makes sense," Winter nodded her approval.
"I understand," Ruby nodded. "Thank you for coming this far."
Ironwood crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "I believe I may have made some... regrettable statements back in the mines. I ask your forgiveness."
"Am I hearing things, or is Tin Man actually apologizing?" Qrow wondered, sticking a pinky in his ear.
"I have been known to acknowledge my failings in the past," Ironwood objected.
"It's just a joke- take it easy."
"Oh, you... don't have to apologize," Ruby flushed. "If I'd spoken up sooner, you might not have been in danger in the first place."
"Be that as it may, I owe you my life," Ironwood shook his head. "Should you need the aid of Colony 6, call to us, and we will come." He turned his gaze to Blake. "As for you, Medic..."
"I'm going with them," Blake declared. "The mechon must pay for what they've done... and I'm sure Adam is still out there somewhere. I have to find him."
"Adam..." Ghira growled.
"Oh, Ghira, this Blake's old enough to make her own decisions!" Kira interjected. "Besides, from what we've heard, this Adam is less... er... less!"
Ghira crossed his arms. "Hmph."
Adam was busy rethinking many of his life choices.
"If that is your wish," Ironwood nodded. "Find him for me as well."
"I'll... be going with him," Ilia spoke up.
"Are you sure?" Blake asked.
"Why you'd want that worthless lump following you around is beyond me," Torchwick crossed his arms.
"Torchwick..." Adam and Blake growled.
"I'm just sayin', she's only gotten you into one dillema after another! Getting rid of her is like ditching a bad-luck charm- only makes sense!"
Qrow coughed, and rushed to hide it by downing some more liquor.
"I mean, I've never seen anything cooler than Ruby smashing mechon with Crescent Rose, but... I know I'm just slowing you down. I know I'm pretty useless compared to you guys-" ("Or in general," Torchwick couldn't help scoffing, earning him another couple of growls,) " "but that's alright! I know what I can do- I can go back to the camp and help them to rebuild."
"Go back and pump some guns- you just gotta shape up- like me!" Yang flexed with a smirk. It turned to a more gentle smile as she placed a hand on Ilia's shoulder. "Go do us proud, kid."
"Thanks," Ilia bowed her head, her scales turning pinkish-red.
"I entrust Blake's safety to you four," Ironwood bowed to Ruby, Yang, Qrow, and Tai.
"Make that three," Tai raised his hand. "'Fraid I'm tapping out here, too."
"Oh, c'mon, Pops!" Yang objected.
"Hey, the mechon withdrawing from the colonies for now doesn't mean we've seen the last of them," Tai pointed out. "When,not if they launch another attack, Colony 9's gonna need all hands on deck. Especially if Jimmy here's looking for an alliance."
Yang looked down. "I... guess that makes sense."
Tai laughed. "Hey, don't go acting like this is the last we're gonna see of each other. You just need to buck up your ideas a little."
There was a round spit take from everyone in the room. "I'm sorry, 'buck up your ideas?'" Sun repeated. "Who even says that? What kingdom is that saying from?"
"I've never heard it in Atlas, that's for sure!" Winter stared.
"Not in Mistral!" Pyrrha agreed.
"Never in Vacuo!" Neptune's jaw was on the ground.
"Even I've never said that!" Tai shook his head.
"These worlds do have some odd turns of phrase," Penny commented. "Adding 'buck up your ideas' to database..."
"Database?" Sun asked sharply.
"Oh... to my... repertoire?" Penny fumbled, hiccupping like mad.
"Keep each other safe," Tai gave one last smile before turning and following Ironwood back towards the swamp. He paused just before Mauk Floodgate, throwing back one last look. "Ah... what am I gonna do with those kids?" he sighed.
"Watch who you're calling a kid, 'old man,'" Qrow chuckled.
"We're the same age, Qrow," Tai offered a long-suffering sigh.
Their numbers down to four, the remaining pilgrims looked towards the wall- and the single nopon in uniform poking around the bottom. "Another ponspector?" Ruby blinked.
"Maybe he can tell us how to get up this wall," Blake suggested.
"Because of course everyone out there will be willing to help you," Whitley scoffed.
"Well, the ponspectors have been pretty helpful so far," Ruby pointed out.
The ponspector turned and hopped in excitement when he saw them. "Ah, hom-hom friends! Home base say you be coming! You going to Makna Forest, yesyes?"
"That's the plan," Qrow agreed. "Any idea how to get up this wall?"
The ponspector turned, a wing stroking his chin. "In days of old, bird-people use lift to go up quick-quick!"
"Just take the lift up?" Yang grinned. "After all the walking, I could-"
"Me no finish," the ponspector interrupted. "Activate lift involve going through bird people coming-of-age ritual."
"Oh, boy," Nora sighed heavily. "There's never a coming of age ritual that doesn't involve some harsh twist, is there? Let me guess- we gotta strap our arms behind our backs and wrestle an Ursa Major using only our pinky toes?"
"I would hope it's nothing so extreme," Ren quietly prayed.
"What does this ritual entail?" Qrow asked.
"Must recover four elemental stones from four corners of swamp, and when bring here-"
"That's enough- that's already more than we have time for," Qrow interrupted. "Is there any other way?"
"Friends can climb directly up wall- there handholds for bird people not yet do ritual."
"Always gotta go up the hard way," Yang sighed.
"I'm sure it'll build character!" Tai put in bracingly.
"Yaaaaay... character..." his two daughters 'cheered.'
"Just like that week we spent camping in the pouring rain."
"Exactly!" Tai clapped them on the backs.
"The long way it is," Qrow considered, turning to the handholds in question.
"Fat lot of good a lift is when it doesn't work," Yang pouted.
"Oh? Big, strong defence soldier, not up for a climb?" Blake asked, crossing her arms.
"Hey, it's not just that- I mean, Uncle Qrow's only got one arm, and-" Yang turned to demonstrate, only to find Qrow already on his way up the wall, moving his body with a sort of rolling fashion that was allowing him to steadily gain height.
"C'mon, slowpokes! You wanna still be down there by dark?"
The three girls glanced between each other in awe, shrugged, and set off after him.
"That... shouldn't be physically possible," Weiss stared.
"It's amazing what one can do when one doesn't know what one can't do," Winter groaned.
"Thanks, Ice Queen."
"That wasn't a compliment."
The climb was tiring and arduous, but mercifully short compared to what Ruby had expected. The sun had only just begun its descent when they finall reached the top of the wall.
"Whew!" Yang took a deep breath, clapping her hands together as they paused to look back over the swamp. "Nice view from up here!"
"I think I can see Colony 6!" Blake smiled.
"Sharpshooter's eyes," Yang chuckled.
Ruby meanwhile, turned to Qrow. "Um, Uncle Qrow?"
"Yeah?" Qrow asked- he'd taken advantage of cresting the wall to grab a drink from his hip flask.
"I... I meant to ask this earlier, but..." She was tracing a circle in the stone beneath them with her heel. "I'd like to ask your permission to keep using Crescent Rose a little longer."
Qrow blinked in apparent confusion. "What makes ya think you have to ask me?"
"I mean, it's your weapon, and all, but right now, I need to- huh?" She trailed off to the sound of her uncle laughing.
"Leave it to Little Rubes to ask such a silly question," Qrow chuckled along with his other.
"Er... is something funny?"
Qrow stifled his laughter with another drink. "Runt, that hasn't been 'my' weapon since I had to cut off my arm for it. You've already proven yourself more skillful with it than me. Keep it. 'Sides, it's not like I'm defenseless without it- do I have to bring Tai back up here to give his spiel about how great this sword is?" He patted his mechon-cutting sword with his good hand.
"No, I... I guess you don't," Ruby giggled.
"Making your way this far is proof enough Crescent Rose chose a new wielder," Qrow smiled. "Put some faith in yourself, pipsqueak."
"Faith... in myself?"
"Never lying down... never giving up... that's our pride and strength as homs. And we're going to make sure those metal monsters know it."
"Damn right!" cheered the more hot-blooded members of the audience.
"Right!" Ruby raised her hands and gave her cheeks a mighty slap. "Let's go! Prison Island or bust!"
"Now you're talking!" Yang whooped. "C'mon, let's go!"
Together, the four of them set off into the tunnel and one step further along their journey.
The door opened, and Vanessa reappeared, dragging behind her a large block of ice. From the top emerged Lana's head. "There. No more guests."
"Let Tom down..." Lana was pouting- Yang, at least, had a hunch she'd be tapping her index fingers together, Ruby-style, if not blocked by the ice.
"So, has everyone been caught up?" Vanessa asked, glancing around.
"Yup, and we've gone back to Chronicles," Jack informed her.
"Well, I don't see any reason to change track, then," Vanessa decided, returning to her own seat. "Let's soldier on."
XXXX
And soldier on we shall. The next two episodes... maybe three will be continuing with Xenoblade 1 going forward. In the meantime, I'm also going to be going back to previous episodes and... applying some polish, so to speak. Fixing typos, minor continuity errors, that sort of thing. The first episode to get this treatment was actually the last one, which had several such errors and a true travesty in that I forgot to assign a character to Borealis! I don't know how that escaped my attention, I even had a character picked out for him and everything, but... I'm gonna say I was just really sleepy and hope you accept that excuse. To see the new, improved episode, it's... well, it's there. Thanks to Corporal Crunch for pointing that out. Until next time, don't you dare go hollow- Gamer4 out!