Chapter Text
They ran as the Jabberwalker overran the village. The Rusted Knight, the one who is said to have been creature’s foe told them run, so run they did. They caught flashes of steel and something else as they ran. Out the village and onto the water, following the Rusted Knight and his mount. When they reached safety on the other side and walked out of sight of the village the Rusted Knight called for a halt.
“I can’t believe it. The Rusted Knight, in person,” Blake said excitedly.
Rusted Knight dismounts and rubs the head of his Jackalope companion, “you did good Juniper,” his deep baritone echoing in his helmet.
He turned to face them, even under the armor and helmet Ruby could tell that he looked relieved… and somehow nervous. This was the Rusted Knight, the Hero of the Ever After, who along with the Curious Cat guided Alyx back home. He removed his helmet revealing a face lined with age, long blond hair pulled back into a tail, but his tired blue eyes shined undimmed.
“Team RWBY,” Jaune Arc said, “you finally made it. Stars and Vales we have been waiting for so long.”
They gasped in surprise. Their friend looked so different now, so much older. How long has he been here? And…
“What do you mean we,” Ruby asks.
He smiled and looked over their heads. They heard footsteps coming up from behind. They turned to see a woman walk into the small clearing.
Clad in whites and blues, with silver and gold accents, the long skirt swishes around her legs. Her long white hair flowed down her back, and her face was hidden behind a half-mask that only showed her lips, which were pulled up into a soft smile, and black lace veil was over even that. The only color she seems to carry were her bright red lips, and the crimson treads wrapped around the base of her left pinkie and ring finger.
“She bore no crown, only mask and veil, yet she carried herself with the grace and elegance that was truly regal.” Blake recited.
“Under a mourning veil of a kingdom that never shall be hers: The Crownless Queen,” Yang finishes.
“It is so good to see you all again,” she said as she pulled the veil back and removed the mask, revealing an aged face with ice blue eyes and a scar across the left eye. “Lady and Mother, it is so good to see you,” said Weiss Schnee.
Ruby gasped. Both of her best friends were here and had grown and changed without her. And they were two characters from one of the most beloved books on Remnant. While she felt kinship with the Rusted Knight, she still admired the Crownless Queen especially during the fight with the Red King. Even if the story painted her as a bit of a cloudcuckoolander. A knight and their lady who through great odds helped a child home? Who can't but help admire that.
Blake glanced between the Rusted Knight and the Crownless Queen, a blush flaring up on her cheeks.
“Oh Gods,” she squeaked.
Yang noticed and grinned at her, “what was that Blakey?”
Weiss and Jaune noticed as well as Weiss walked towards him and gave him a brief kiss on the check.
“Imayhavewrittensmutficsfortherustedknightandcrownlessnqueen!”
Her blush had deepened even more and refused to look her friends in the eyes.
Ruby finally broke free of her surprise pulled Weiss and Jaune into a hug. Tears welling up in her eyes. Yang and Blake joined her, and Little popped out of her hood and hugged the top of Jaune’s head.
After a moment they broke apart, however reluctantly.
“Mien Ritter,” Weiss said to Jaune. “I think it best that we get moving but first what exactly happened? There is not supposed more than one Jabberwalker.”
“I don’t know,” he said with a shake of his head. He then glances as RBY, “unless you three know?”
The girls glanced at each other before Yang spoke up, “the one that we killed went poof like one of Neo’s illusions.” She mimed the affect with her hands.
Jaune closed his eyes and Weiss let out a soft curse.
“If that lunatic is here, then Lady help the Afterans.”
“Weiss,” Jaune tried to interject.
“I know she’s your cousin Jaune, but she is working with Cinder and has tried to kill us!”
He sighs, “I know, I know.” He looks over at Ruby, “how exactly did she end up here?”
The young girl looked to the side, “she fell with me. We were fighting during that fall, she’s targeting me.”
“Then we really better get a move on.”
--
Jaune fell through the starless Void, panicking before calming himself. He looked around trying to see if there was anything he was falling towards. A streak of silver catches his attention.
“WEISS!”
He turns and angles his decent and holds out his hand.
“WEISS!”
“JAUNE!”
She held out her hand as he sped towards her. It seemed to take an eternity and but caught her hand and pulled her close. She wrapped her arm around him as they spied a fireball falling pass them.
Crescent Rose was enveloped in flames as it fell.
Jaune looks at Weiss, who then nods. They angled themselves to intercept the falling weapon. Golden light enveloped them as they fell, from one world to another.
He splashed into the sea and immediately felt his armor pull him down. He knew he couldn't remove the steel plates but did his best to tread water and swim to stay afloat. He saw an island a short distance away and with what little strength he had left swam towards it. The motions of the waves and few pieces driftwood helped to keep him going forward. He knew he was lucky that he has been training as a swimmer for years before he even left for Beacon, being one of the few activities to not worsen his condition.
Jaune coughed up sea water as he pulled himself onto the beach. He looked around finding himself alone. He remembered falling and holding onto Weiss, but where was she? His eyes widen, they hit the ocean and got separated on impact.
“WEISS!”
Panic crept into his voice, he couldn’t lose another friend again. He just couldn’t. He glanced around but her white and blue dress would have blended in with the surf. She was so small, and he knew her Aura was very close to being depleted that she could have been lost. Then he saw it, further down the beach he sees unmoving white and shards of red gleaming in the sunlight propped up on driftwood. It was at least a fifty yards out, despite his exhaustion he ran. Despite nearly losing his footing in the wet sand he made it without falling.
“Weiss,” he gasped out.
She was covered in cuts, bruises, and abrasions. Her blue and white outfit was torn and bloodied, and her hair was starting to come out of her long braid. She looked like hell, and he knew he didn’t look much better.
He knelt and pulled her out of the surf and held her close. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his Aura. He had recovered some of his Aura and just barely enough to activate his Semblance. Weiss, the way she slumped in his grip and how cold she felt, had to have exhausted her entire Aura. She needed help, she needed what little she has amped up.
A soft white glow enveloped them both, slowly spreading out form his core. For a few heart beats nothing seems to happen until Weiss started to stir, then shudder. Fluid went down his back, he ignored it and slowly rubbed and patted her back.
“Easy Weiss.”
After a few more splashes, then she weakly pulled back from him. He slacken his hold and slowly stood back up. He kept a hand on her as she was unsteady.
“Thank you Jaune,” she said after wiping her mouth.
“You’re welcome Weiss,” he replies.
She leaned into him as they walked, and he into her. Both were unsteady and had gone beyond mere exhaustion.
“Jaune?”
“Yes?
“Where are we?”
He stopped and looked up at the palms and the massive tree that loomed over the distant horizon.
“I don’t know.” Waves crashed and muffled the sound of his racing heart. “I really don’t know.”