#maiden blake au

[howlingday]

He keeps getting good another chaptrr

1ST / 2ND / 3RD / 4TH / PREV

"Honestly, can't you do anything right?!"

"I'm trying, okay?" Ruby whimpered after yet another of Weiss' 'honest criticisms' as she called them. Really, they were just Weiss yelling for about a half an hour. And it ended the same way, too.

"Well stop trying and start doing!" Weiss then stomped away, leaving Ruby alone in the dorm, yet again.

This wasn't what Ruby thought Beacon was going to be like at all. She thought she would be going on adventures, making friends, and having fun while learning how to become a huntress. But all she was learning right now was how out of her depth she truly was.

If only Yang was here, but it seems she had something better to do with Blake today. Just like yesterday. And the day before. And the day before that.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Ruby opened it to find Jaune standing there with sad eyes. "Is... everything okay, Ruby?"

"Yeah, just... me and Weiss are still trying to figure things out." Ruby said, clearly lying to cover for her partner.

"Oh, okay." Jaune said. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"Not really." Ruby replied.

"Do you wanna... hang out with my team until your team gets back?"

"Yeah." Ruby perked up, making Jaune's tail wag. "Yeah, I'd like that."

--------------------------------------------------

"Oh, hello, Pyrrha~!" Weiss called sweetly, walking up to the more famous student. "How are you this afternoon?"

"I'm fine, Weiss." Pyrrha replied. "I'm just out grabbing medicine for Jaune while he's studying."

"At least your partner studies." Weiss said with a grumble. "My supposed 'leader' would prefer to play video games instead of putting in the effort to learn."

"I... see..."

"Excuse me, I didn't mean to vent." Weiss apologized. "But she can just be... so... frustrating!"

"Well, have you considered how she might be feeling?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she's certainly younger than us, so maybe she's just not sure what direction she should go. You remember being her age, don't you?"

"I do, but she never had it as difficult as I did!" Weiss huffed. "She never had impossible expectations to live up to like I did."

"Really? What her home life like before coming to Becaon?"

"She probably goofed off at her old school, too."

"Probably?" Pyrrha quirked her brow. "Do you know what school she went to?"

"Well... No." Weiss admitted.

"Do you know why she built her weapon the way she did? Or who taught her before she applied to her old school." Weiss was quiet. "Weiss... Aside from her name, what do you know about Ruby?"

Weiss had no answer. She never considered Ruby to really be her partner. Until now, she saw Ruby as just some kid who lucked her way into being her partner, as if it were some cruel twist of fate as punishment for some crime she didn't commit. This was the first time she considered that maybe, just maybe, Ruby was just as unhappy with Weiss as her partner as she was with her.

"I... should probably ask her." Weiss then said.

"I think that would be a good idea."

--------------------------------------------------

"Hello, again~!" Pyrrha chimed as she opened the door to her dorm. "Oh, hello, Ruby."

"Hi, Pyrrha~!" Ruby smiled, sitting on the floor across from Jaune, books out and open between them. "Jaune and I are just studying."

"Oh, really?" Pyrrha stepped aside to reveal the icy glare of Ruby's partner standing behind her.

"Weiss?!"

"Ruby," Weiss took a deep breath before speaking further, "would you like to study with me?"

"Um..." Ruby scratched her head. "I'm kinda already studying with Jaune."

"Oh..." Weiss wanted to say more, but she thought better than to start anything in someone else's dorm. And what Pyrrha said. "Then perhaps I could... study with you, too."

At this, Ruby looked to Jaune, who smiled, and she gave a smile in return. "Yeah, we can do that, too!"

[bridgyrose]

Weiss found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror as her heart pounded in her chest. She was supposed to be getting ready for her first day of class, something she had done plenty of times before while living in Atlas. So why was she so nervous today? Was it the fact that she was finally wearing a skirt? Maybe it was that the longer she stared at her reflection the easier it was to find imperfections in her looks like the little facial hair that was missed when shaving or how her makeup didnt look as even in the light. 

Her eyes moved from her face to her chest as she tried to adjust the bra she wore under her shirt. This was the first time she’d worn something more than just a sports bra under her clothes and she couldnt seem to get it to sit right. Maybe her chest and shoulders were just slightly too wide for the size she picked or maybe the type of bra she had wasnt quite right. Either way, it made it difficult to focus on being prepared for classes. 

Still, it wasnt like there was much she could do about it now. She was already dressed, classes were going to start right after breakfast, and she still had to worry about her skirt. Her hand ran down to make sure she didnt have any unsightly bulges, only for her to stop as she saw the bathroom door swing open with Ruby standing just outside with a syringe, decanter, her clothes, and a towel wrapped around her to be ready for a shower. 

Ruby quickly closed the door. “I-I didnt know you were in there!” 

“And I had thought I locked it,” Weiss answered back as she cleared her throat. She took a moment to compose herself as a blush started to cross her cheeks. If she was going to be living with three other girls while at Beacon, she was going to have to find a way to keep her own secret from coming out to them. The last thing she wanted was for them to think they were living with a boy. First, she’d have to make sure the door locks to keep anyone from walking in on her. A bathroom schedule could work, though there was no telling how long it’d take Yang and Blake to shower or brush their hair with how long they kept it. Not that she could complain, she had always kept hers long too and she knew it took her nearly an hour for all the upkeep on it-

“Do you know how much longer you’ll be in there?” Ruby asked. “I do still need to shower.” 

Weiss quickly brushed her hair to pull back into a ponytail. “I-I just need a few more minutes!” 

“Alright,” Ruby answered back. 

Weiss took a deep breath and ran her hands down her clothes once more to make sure everything sat right and to give her one last attempt at adjusting her bra before heading to class. Once she was sure everything was in order, she opened the door with a smile. “All yours.” 

“Great!” 

Weiss huffed a bit with how quickly Ruby seemed to shove her aside to get into the bathroom, and then flinched when she heard the door slam right behind her, hair almost getting caught with it. She walked over to her bed and sat down to make sure she still had her book bag packed for classes, a habit she had formed ever since she realized she wasnt much of a morning person. 

“Are we getting breakfast as a team, or just heading down while Ruby finishes getting ready?” Blake asked. 

“She wont take too long,” Yang answered. “She’s usually pretty quick, so it wont be too much longer of a wait to head down together.” 

“If you’re sure.” 

Weiss quietly watched Blake and Yang to try to figure them out more. Yang seemed to be the easiest of the two to understand. Ruby’s sister, protective of those she cared about, and she almost seemed to have an endless supply of energy to her. She was the first to rise along with Ruby to train, didnt  seem to tire out no matter what she did, and she only seemed to like to be around gatherings if she was around anyone she knew. 

And Blake almost seemed like a mystery to her. The bow she wore never seemed to come off, even while she was sleeping, which as far as Weiss was concerned, had to mean she was hiding something. Though, there wasnt any proof that she was and Blake always stayed up late into the night reading, so it was possible that she took it off right before bed. Beyond that, she seemed to get along with Ruby well since the two had been talking ever since the party after initiation. 

Then there was Ruby. For being the youngest of the team, she seemed to know her way with her weapon. Which was better than most from what she saw in the highlight reel during the party. Most of the other students looked as if they had never faced a grimm before. But beyond that, Ruby at least seemed like someone she could get along with even if she was the one who was supposed to lead their team. 

However, none of that really eased Weiss’s mind. The thought of them finding out she was trans was still a terrifying one. If her family was any indication on how most people would take it, then she’d rather keep it a secret for as long as she could. 

Weiss finally stood up and stretched. “I’m going to make my way to the cafeteria and save a table for the rest of you.” 

Yang shook her head. “We really should wait for Ruby. She wont be much longer.” 

“It’ll be fine,” Weiss said as she finished putting on a pair of heels and hoisted her book bag over her shoulder. “I wont eat until you’re all down there, all I want to do is make sure we have a table we can sit at. There’ll be nothing worse than trying to find a table when there isnt one.” 

“Alright, we’ll be down there shortly.” 

Weiss nodded and started to slowly walk through the halls as she tried to keep her balance. It may not have been her greatest idea to wear thinner heels than what she’d practiced with, but it was a bit too late now. She was still waiting for Klein to send the rest of the clothes she’d asked for including the wedges she preferred to walk in. Until then, she had to work with what she had and the shoes she normally wore for her combat gear were certainly not suited for classes. 

Once she caught her stride, she started to walk a bit quicker to the cafeteria in hopes to snag a table for the rest of her team. Her speed started to pick up with each step as she used a few glyphs to keep her balance. 

And yet, it wasnt enough to keep her from missing a step down the stairs. 

Weiss’s heart raced as she felt herself start to fall, losing concentration with her glyphs. Her eyes started to glow on instinct as she put a hand in front of her to create a wall in front of her to catch her fall. At least until she felt someone grab hold of the back of her collar. 

“Are you okay?” a girl’s voice asked from behind Weiss. 

“Y-yeah, I’m fine,” Weiss answered as she calmed herself enough to let the fire in her eyes die. She used a glyph to help herself get her balance again before turning around to see another student behind her, amber eyes and black hair. “Thank you.” 

The girl almost seemed to look Weiss over before nodding and walking down the stairs. “You shouldnt run in heels like that.” 

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you… uh…” Weiss paused. “What’s your name?” 

“Cinder,” Cinder answered. “And something tells me that we’ll be seeing more of each other.” 

“What makes you say that?” Weiss asked, though her question fell on deaf ears as Cinder continued without answering. She tried to follow her out, only to lose track of her in a crowd of students. She paused at a window when she saw a blush on her cheeks, almost tracing it with her fingers. She needed to find her again.

[heyahs]

team rwby as the four maidens

ruby as fall maiden

weiss as winter maiden

blake as spring maiden

yang as summer maiden

— ♡ —

the tale of the four maidens is obviously the story of how ozpin met them. could it be that when he looked at the rwby team at the beacon academy he remembered his old maiden friends? 👀

[unhetalia]

"A Love Without A Name"

Word Count: 3,408.

Rating: Mature

Summary: Alfred's freedom hinges on his ability to guess a magical creature's name. He doesn't take the task very seriously.

Notes: Written for @usukweek Day 1 - Fairy Tale AU. Because I was late to starting, this fic is current unedited - I'll post it on AO3 once I've cleaned it up.

***

“So… do you know what my name is, darling?” England asks, his expression is mild as if he were out on a midday stroll, as opposed to fucking his hips in and out of Alfred’s willing body.

In contrast, Alfred lies beneath him gasping out his pleasure. His nails are clawing at England’s back, desperately trying to pull him closer. His heaving gasps are England’s only answer.

England has asked him this same question every day for a hundred years; Alfred hasn’t bothered answering in fifty. 

***

There is a story about a beautiful maiden who made a deal with a Creature. Her first born child for all the riches in the world. The beautiful maiden had no plans to marry or have children and believed she was tricking the creature, but it wasn’t even two years later that she fell in love and became pregnant. Eventually, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.

The story goes that when the creature came for her son, the woman was prepared. Cunning in her own way, and unwilling to let the creature get the upper hand again, she convinced the creature to make a bet. I bet you that I can guess your name, creature, she crowed.

The creature disagreed, and was so sure she would never know his name that he agreed that if she was able guess it, he would renege his claim on her son and let him stay with her.

What the creature hadn’t realised was that the woman had known his name all along, though at first she had pretended to guess a variety of incorrect names. Is it Frederick? Or John? Blake? Bud? Bowser?

Eventually, though, she said, I think I know your name, Creature and said his secret name, and the creature wailed and screamed but had no choice but to leave the woman and her baby alone.

And of course, the woman lived happily ever after, and her son grew up healthy and strong, and they never saw the creature again.

Or so the story goes.

***

Alfred is newly eighteen when England comes for him. He is walking home from work - a small school with only eight students where he teaches basic reading and arithmetic - when he notices a horse drawn carriage beside him. It’s odd, because he’s pretty sure that the carriage wasn’t there a second ago. I must be really tired, he thinks.

A man steps out of the carriage, and the first thing Alfred notices is that the man is exceptionally handsome, with messy light blonde hair, striking green eyes, and even more striking eyebrows.

The second thing he notices is that the man must also be exceptionally wealthy. He’s dressed in the way of aristocracy, wearing a dark suit and white gloves that would surely be stained in any other occupation than ‘sitting around and being rich’. 

Alfred instinctively smiles at him, even though his mother had always warned him about doing such a thing. The man smiles back and says, hello, Alfred.

Which -

“How do you know my name?” he asks. He is suddenly alert, because his mother has spent years warning him of many things, to the point that Alfred doesn’t quite remember what all the warnings were, only that strangers knowing his name must be one of them.

The man keeps smiling, and steps closer. Alfred tries to step back, but finds that he can’t.

“I know your name because you’re mine,” the man says.

And then Alfred’s world goes black.

***

Alfred is England’s because the stories are wrong, and the creature - call me England, creature gets a bit tiring, don’t you think? - and the fair maiden never made a deal for riches, and she never knew his real name.

Instead, the true story is still about a beautiful maiden, but this one gets pregnant out of wedlock. The father is a noble already engaged, who would never leave his comfortable life for a kitchen maid. The maiden was fine with this, and fine with raising her child on her own, because she had loved them as soon as she knew they existed.

Everything was going perfectly fine, until the day she started bleeding and bleeding, and she knew that if it didn’t stop, she and her baby would both die.

This is when England comes in. He doesn’t know how she knew about him - only that one day a woman summons him in order to bargain for the life of her child. 

I have a sister who will care for them, and so I can die. But please, let my child live.

Young maiden, you are not destined to die today, England had said. Only your child.

The young maiden was not happy with his answer. 

Let me die instead, she begged. 

That’s not the way it works. No single life is the same, and so no life can be traded for another. He paused. But I can make you a deal. It comes with a guarantee - eighteen years with your child. - a son, by the way. If you win, you get his full life. If you lose, he will be mine after his eighteenth birthday. I will treat him like one of my Court, and he will be safe, but you will never see him again.

Desperate, the maiden agreed readily, though she made him repeat his promise to take care of her son - a son, she was having a son.

If you figure out my name, maiden, he is yours. If you do not, he is mine.

***

Alfred’s mother had been obsessed with names when he was younger, he remembers. She had pieces of paper all around their little cottage, filled with names from books and stolen from travellers who passed through. Jeremiah and Josiah. Kallen and Maurice. 

A real name, though, is made of more than one name, but of multiple stuck together. One does not guess anyone’s true name.

His mother’s obsession had petered out when he'd turned seven or so. Instead, she had made herself fully available for Alfred. They weren’t wealthy, but she was a doting, loving mother. She taught him to cook, and bake, and clean. Most importantly, she taught him to read and write - a luxury not afforded to many in their village.

He knows now that the disappearance of her interest had come with the realisation that one cannot guess a name. Instead, she had decided to make every second with her son count.

England offers Alfred the same deal. Of course, if you figure out my name, you can leave and go back to your mother and your job and your small life. Until then, you are mine.

***

Is your name Dylan Parkinson?

No, Alfred. That is not my name.

***

England’s aristocracy is a facade. He dresses well, and the one room they stay in inside the giant castle he takes him to is furnished well enough, but when Alfred explores the rest of the castle, he finds it dilapidated and dirty, empty of anything that makes it a home. 

The one livable room has a giant, four-poster bed shoved in one corner, with a cot laid out at the foot of it meant for Alfred. The cot isn’t nice, especially not compared to England’s bed, but to Alfred, it;s better than the scratchy collection of hay and linen he was used to back home.

England doesn’t seem to actually want to do anything with him. Mostly he sits around while the man goes through paperwork. Paperwork for what, he doesn’t know. Was there some kind of Creature bureaucracy?

Alfred tries to escape a total of one time, wherein he twitched slightly with intention and England said don’t even think about it, then put him to sleep for an hour. It doesn’t seem worth it to try again.

“What am I even here for if I’m just gonna sit here and watch you stare at pieces of paper?” he complains. 

“Look,” England sighs. “Unfortunately I don’t actually have a use for you yet. Maybe a spell will require a human sacrifice at some point, then you’d be handy, but as of right now just. Sit still.”

Alfred carefully ignores the mention of human sacrific and stands up, hands on his hips. “How about I clean your house and like, cook for you and stuff? You eat, right? Sitting still is impossible for me - my mum used to say I needed to be walked like a dog.”

England waves him off. “Yes, do that, if you want. Just remember that I’ll know if you try to escape and that I can’t be poisoned.”

Alfred, who had never even considered poisoning another huma - err, living being, balks at the statement. “What the - I don’t posion food! That’s sacrilege! And just you watch, this castle is going to look amazing!”

He doesn’t think England really cares what he does as long as he’s not constantly hovering and bothering him, so Alfred decides it’s perfectly alright for him to make all the decisions regarding what to do with the rest of the non-England occupied castle.

He needs to take whatever freedom he can get, after all. 

***

Is your name Aaron Baker?

No, Alfred, my name is not Aaron Baker.

***

Alfred knows he’s a good cook. His mama was a kitchen maid for royals, and she’d taught him everything she knew. Still, the awed look on England’s face when he tries Alfred’s stew is worth more than every compliment the villagers had given him over the years. This is a being of magic, and yet he still looked at something Alfred created as if it was out of this world.

“Maybe I won’t use you for human sacrifice,” England says, two bowls later. Alfred takes it for the compliment it is, and grins back at him.

***

He doesn’t know when or how it starts, but Alfred starts eating with England. Then, he starts talking with him. He asks questions about what England does when he’s not making deals with desperate women, and finds out that there is Creature bureaucracy, and that England somehow leads it.

“Wait, you’re the King? Why are you living in an abandoned castle?”

“Our royalty do not work in the same way yours does. I must always be alone, except for my intended and my Court. The Court is made up of … well, individuals that I own. Since I prefer not to do that whole ownership thing - well, before your blasted mother wrangled a deal out of me - here we are.”

“And what, you don’t have enough juice to spruce up the castle by yourself?” Alfred asks, incredulous. A castle didn’t seem like much compared to bringing a dying unborn baby back to life. 

“There are … rules. Strange hospitality rules. It’s very stupid and not worth explaining. That is to say, I can not use magic on a home, even if it’s mine.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Quite.”

***

Is your name Rumpelstiltskin?

Rumpel - what? What kind of name is that? No, that’s not my name!

I saw it in a book and thought it’d be good to try it!

***

It takes three years for Alfred to complete the castle renovation to his exacting standards. Every day, England asks him if he’s figured out his name, and Alfred takes a guess. A lot of the time, they’re names of people he once knew, though sometimes they’re names he reads from books in the large library he’d found on the fifth floor (of eight, which is honestly just excessive, no one can blame Alfred for taking three years to finish everything). Mostly Alfred doesn’t put as much effort into it as he should. If his mother couldn’t do it, there’s no way he can. 

The day he finishes, he barges into his and England’s shared room to demand he see the fruits of Alfred’s labour, since he knows England would never see any of it otherwise. When he needs to leave, England just pops out of existence and to where he needs to be, no need to take the door. He hasn’t seen a lick of the work Alfred’s been doing.

Honestly, Alfred expects England to hum and feign disinterest. Well, you’ve certainly kept yourself occupied, he’ll say. Now we need to find you another hobby so you don’t bother me while I’m trying to work

That’s not what happens. England sees the clean floors and walls and the furniture Alfred had either built himself or bought from the nearby village (with money from the part-time teaching job he’d gotten himself, because England truly did not care what he did as long as he came back at the end of the day), and whispers you’ve built me a home, then turns around and shoves him against the nearest wall in order to kiss him senseless.

***

Apparently those dumb ‘can’t use your magic to build your own home’ rules are due to courtship rituals. Alfred still has no idea what exactly those rituals are, because how exactly is he supposed to remember anything when England is biting at the junction between his neck and shoulder just enough for it to hurt so good?

***

“Uh, Beef Stew.”

“You think my name is Beef Stew?”

“What? No, I’m thinking about what to make for dinner.”

***

Five years after the day England ravished him against the wall of their newly renovated castle, Alfred realises he hasn’t aged.

“My darling, I despair for you,” England admonishes. “How could you not notice you haven’t aged? It’s been eight years!”

“Wh - I’ve been busy!” I’ve been getting fucked silly every night, I’ll have you know, he carefully doesn’t say. England is too smug already.

“Well,” England begins. “Technically, I own you, so you’re tied to my life force. And because I’m immortal, well… I’m sure you can extrapolate.”

“Oh.” Alfred takes a moment to think. “So if you didn’t own me, I’d be mortal again.”

“Yes, you wouldn’t be part of the Court, then.”

And then England would be alone again, doing magical paperwork in the same room. He wonders if the castle would fall into disrepair again, without Alfred around to clean or to repair anything that breaks?

“Huh.”

***

Alfred finds England’s name by accident. 

The fifth floor library is one of his favourite places, and often he takes a few books to the school to read to the children. Quite a few of the villagers stop by to listen to the stories alongside the children, and there’s been talk of doing night classes for any of the older folks who want to learn to read themselves.

One day he finds a book that looks a lot older than the others. It’s made of brown, aged leather , and has a strange, gold symbol embedded on it that somehow looks like an infinite amount of intertwining circles. When he opens it, the first page proclaims it to be the property of Prince Arthur James Kirkland. It’s a child’s diary, though the contents are confusing, as if the child was writing about fantasies as opposed to any real places or events. Maybe Prince Arthur was never actually a prince, but a boy with a vivid imagination?

He decides to take the book to the school to show one of the other teachers, a woman by the name of Agnes who loves all things fantasy. Except when he tries to show her, she only looks confused and asks Alfred why he’s trying to show her an empty book.

He realises later what it means, and who the book must belong to. A magical book, in a castle owned by the King of Creatures, who must have once been a prince, a long time ago.

This is England’s, whose name is Arthur. This diary was a record of his childhood, before he was an all powerful king.

Alfred has found out England’s name, but finds he’s more interested in reading stories of what he was like as a precocious child, running away from nannies and scaring mortals against his mother’s orders.

***

When England - Arthur James Kirkland - asks him to guess his name that night, Alfred says, “Cinnamon Buns.”

***

England’s wrung all the pleasure from Alfred’s body that it can handle, and then some. Their last round had started with England on top, but eventually he’d maneuvered Alfred on top of his cock and made him ride him until he’d cried, cock unable to come with England’s magic wrapped tightly around it. Eventually, England had sat up and licked into Alfred’s mouth so he could swallow his lover’s cries as he undid the spell and finally, finally let Alfred finish. 

Now, Alfred’s arms are wrapped loosely around his neck, Alfred’s head laying on his shoulder. England lays him on the bed like a child, kissing his eyes, his nose, his lax mouth.

When Alfred is comfortable, England slides in beside him, chuckling when the other man immediately scoots closer in order to rest his head on his chest. Alfred’s clinginess after sex is a given; routine in the same way The Question is.

The thought makes England frown. He looks down at Alfred’s blonde head, and asks a question he’s been wanting to ask for ninety years.

“Are you ever going to answer with my real name?”

He feels Alfred tense against him. “What are you talking about?”

“About ninety years ago, I left my journal in the library for you to find,” England admits. “I wanted to give you the chance to go back to your village, see your mother again. But that night, when I asked you, you gave me a joke answer. And every day for the next forty years you never once gave the correct one - then eventually stopped even bothering to answer. I have to admit, I - I don’t understand.”

Alfred turns to look up at him, and to his surprise, he’s grinning. “Have I managed to stump The King of The Fae? Why, I think I should be proud of myself for such a feat.”

Alfred presses a kiss to England’s chin. “It’s simple, really, and you’d think that after what we’d just done you’d get it.”

His voice lowers to a whisper. “I’d already decided by then that I quite liked being owned by you.”

[obligatoryjauneblog]

Eve Au: Can we get Eve helping Blake acknowledge her romantic feelings for Blake as the final sign of forgiveness of both ends. Fluff amd final closer for the duo.

Hm, I got a better idea for their reconciliation

Blake: I guess in a world of maidens and relics, you having a kid isn't the craziest thing...

Eve: Hmm...

Blake: He's... cute, takes after his dad, you lucked out in him getting horns like you.

Eve: Let's hope that's the only thing he got from me...

Blake: ... You know there was a time I thought you had admirable traits, that you could be good... and then...

Eve: Then I fucked it all up...

Blake: ... But you got better, I think Jaune's been rubbing off on you... He's proof of that.

Eve: Yeah.. he is.

[infoglitch]

Love is a dangerous thing (The revenant au.)

Synopsis: in a future where Jaune and Yang are together instead of Yang and Blake. Yang gets killed in the final battle, this leaves jaune heart broken and.. he doesn't heal. He can't heal. Not after already losing others. So he does the unthinkable.. he tries to bring back Yang by shoving the spring maidens powers and.. something else, into Yang's corpse.

----

Branwen camp: 12:35 a.m.

The crackling of flames and the wailing of screams were a symphony to a Jaune.

They deserved this, every last one of them. They all deserve to burn.

That thought ran through Jaune's mind as it was the only justification he needed.. he just needed to find the leader.

Find her, then we can get yang back.. find her, use the machine and we can have our happy ending.. we can have all of it.

It's just one life.

He could see her, her black hair, her face that despite it wrinkles still looked like Yangs. The same face that would make a smile that made his heart skip beats.

It's just one life.

She glared at him with her crimson eyes, which blazed with a fire. But it was only a flame, no crackles, no eruption of light. Just fire... Jaune didn't know why but he couldn't stand it. She stormed towards him as she unsheathed her blade. Jaune drew Crocea mors as and placed a yellow bracelet on his wrist.

The woman darted towards him and slashed, only for Jaune to block it. Jaune and her stared at each other before he was met with the sight of a raven flying upwards as he looked a little confused before he went wide eyed.

Damnit she's got the advantage.

In a moment jaune leaped out of the way as she transformed back and brought her blade down. Jaune turned and was about to strike her only for her to change into a raven and avoid the strike. She flew behind him before changing back and sliced. Jaune narrowly dodged and once landed on the ground he turned and slashed, only to be met with air as he looked around.

Damnit. She could be anywhe- ACK!

Jaune released a choked out yell as she stabbed her blade into his side. Jaune hacked up blood before she removed her blade and kicked him into the ground. Jaune released a groan as he held his side. Before being kicked and rolling over with him being by the blade of her sword. She glared him down and just as she was about to kill him jaune activated the yellow bracelet. It transformed into its true form of Ember Celica with jaune throwing a bunch as a blast of lightning dust was released, the woman released a scream of a pain as she fell back, the front of her body was beginning to show signs of burns burns. Jaune quickly got up and slugged her in the face. With Raven, blacking out.

----

It's just one life

Jaune placed Raven's body in the machine. And as the door to her canister closed jaune walked up to a switch. With him looking at the machine.

There stood a machine which he didn't recognize and didn't know what it did.. until he found its blue-prints before atlas fell. It was some kind of transference device. It was made to transfer so you could send magic into a person of your choice.

Perfect for transferring the maiden powers. All jaune knew what he needed to do was do one little tweak and now you could send the powers to anyone.. even a corpse.

It's just one life.

Jaune gulped softly before pulling the switch as Raven's pod was releasing a blinding white light, before Jaune heard her shrieking. Jaune closed his eyes as he let the machine do its work.

It's just one life.

As Raven's screams died he took a deep breath. Before the same white light shines inside the other pod, Yang's pod. Jaune kept his eyes shut as he waited.

It's just one life.

He soon opened his eyes as he looked to see the light vanished he ran to Yang's pod and quickly opened it. He saw Yang's body begin to fall as he quickly caught her. Her body was warm, so much warmer than it was from when she was in that wooden prison.

Jaune wanted to celebrate but he needed more than warmth. He needed real proof. Which he would receive as Yangs eyes fluttered open. She looked dazed before her eyes focused on Jaune.

Vomit boy? What are you doing here?

It's just one life.

It's just one life.

It's just one life.

It's just one life.

"It's just one life, So why does it feel like it's one million?"

[weisscoldglare]

Winter maid weiss holding blake bridal aytle whole holding her in the sky above the kinging romantically watching the night sky together. Weiss energy trail morphs into hearts as blake kisses her cheek gentle and loving.

Y'know winter maiden Weiss is just as tragic as the other AU's

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

RK AU Idea: the Brawling Bakers, Hazel and Gretchen

Hmmm. Good basis, but ...

~~~~~

Blake: It's the Witch of the Yeast!

The tall, broad shouldered woman rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck, slinging her heavy crossbow over her shoulder

The Witch: Aye. You four are new. Are you looking for the way out?

Weiss: Yes.

The Witch: Well, I know part of the path. Unfortunately I don't know where the exit is either.

The Witch: You all must be hungry. Come. How did you find your ways to this place, Anyways?

Yang: *Thinking she looks somewhat familiar* We used magic to make bridges from Atlas to Vacuo, we got knocked off by some bad guys and now we're here.

The Witch: So you know of the Relics? Dah. I was supposed to be one of those Maidens. I got attacked by some Scorpion faunus, my Semblance went crazy and I found myself here.

Ruby: You were supposed to be a maiden?

The Witch: Yes. Given you aren't flying, none of you are?

Ruby: N-No ... Um. One of our friends from Beacon - do you know Beacon academy?

The Witch: Know It? I was top of my class! But, About your friend ... I can guess where that story ends. Where Their Story ends.

Weiss: Yes, and it's ... It's happened twice. Both of them gave themselves t protect as many as they could - to keep the powers out of another's hands.

The Witch: Well, I'm sorry ... That's horrid to hear. Y'all are real strong to keep pushin' on when they're gone.

Blake: You seem pretty young for someone from a Hundred-fifty year old book - but also was on remnant long enough to go to Beacon.

The Witch: Dah, that's the Ever After for you. I just miss my brother.

Weiss: You had a brother?

The Witch: Aye. his Name was hazel. Strong little one, all we had was each other growing up. I can only hope he's alive and well.

Yang: *Stops walking* H-hazel? You Disappeared listening to Ozpin?

The Witch: *halts, turns to Yang* Aye? What about it.

Yang: Is your name "Gretchen Rainart?""

Gretchen: ... You've met my brother? He's alive!?! IS he alright?!?

Yang: I- I- *Deep Breathe* I don't know how much you know about Ozpin's history, but he was fighting an Immortal Witch - someone named Salem. She is very strong, and very dangerous. Me and my friends were in trouble and he ... He saved us. he got us out of there.

Gretchen: ... Ah .... That ... That hurts to hear ... I am happy he did good with his life ... But that ... I haven't expected to see him again, but to know ...

Yang: I'm sorry.

Gretchen: No, don't be. It is better I know now that later. I- Let us keep moving ... I need to ... think ... about that.

[razorblade180]

Dragonslayer Week Day8: Pregnancy

[Lasting Embers Au]

After a daunting journey and calm boat ride home, Yang walked down the familiar dirt roads of Patch with a duffel bag hanging off her body. Her feet hurt a little but not as much as her head from mentally constructing the conversation she’d be having in a couple minutes.

When she finally made it home, a feeling of relief hit to see that Jaune wasn’t in the living room. It was still kinda early after all. Yang carefully tipped toed a few steps inside before the loving husband came sliding down the stair rail, landing in front of her to give a warm hug.

Jaune:Welcome back! You’re home early!

Yang:H-Hey! Since when are you an early bird? *kisses him* I thought you’d be sleeping?

Jaune:I went on a run with your parents.

Yang:(Damn, I forgot they like him!)

Jaune was quick to notice his ray of sunshine was looking a little dim. Not by much, but noticeable.

Jaune:You okay? Don’t tell me the reunion went terribly?

Yang:No- well….it started good, but then got fairly bad, but then it got good again!

Jaune:…So are you Blake on better terms?

Yang:*nods* Somehow we ended in a net positive.

Jaune:Soooo why do you look a little exhausted? Like this isn’t the “party hard” exhausted. It’s “well that just happened.”

Yang:….*teary eyed*

Jaune:!? *cuffs face* Hey hey hey, what’s wrong?

Yang:I wish it was “party hard” that trip! Can you promise me you won’t be upset?

Jaune:O..Okay? I’m all ears.

The blonde bruiser began to recount her unexpected adventure as the two of them sat on the couch.

Jaune:So instead of a simple visit to Menagerie, you and Blake went on an adventure across two different deserts to find kidnapped faunus? Can’t say that’s exactly out of the ordinary.

Yang:Yeah but it daunting. I may or may not have almost…got caught in a fiery explosion that destroyed a house.

Jaune:Who’s house exploded!?

Yang:Hehe, so that’s the kicker. This entire thing started with the Winter Maiden looking for….Adam. Who was one of the abducted.

Jaune:Ah…oh…so when you said things got fairly bad-

Yang:Old wounds and sore spots opened between Blake and I. I’m a little ashamed to say part of me didn’t want to deal with this at all but I wasn’t about to leave Blake alone in that situation.

Jaune:No one would’ve expected you to. It’s you. I get why you said it was daunting. Why didn’t you call for help?

Yang:We were on a time crunch. Things were happening so fast and…I saw some stuff i rather not talk about. We got a lot of people out but not all of them.

Jaune:Adam?

Yang:Man is too stubborn to die. For Blake and Jacquelyn’s sake, that’s a good thing. As for me…I’ll never be upset I saved a life. I just can’t believe I saved his. Imagine saving Cinder’s life.

Jaune:See, this is how I know you’re a better person than me; because I wouldn’t have done that. To be fair though, none of friends would want me to. No wonder the trip ended early, but why’d you tell me to not get upset?

Yang:….It was really dangerous throughout. I was reckless; and I even got caught up in dangerous situations when my guard was up. I should’ve asked for your input.

Jaune:I mean a call would’ve been nice but it kinda sounds no different from any of our other insane missions. You’re Yang Xiao Long, The Blazing Huntress. Strong, capable, clever, caring, and-

Yang:Pregnant. I’m…pregnant.

Her hands began fiddling with themselves as her eyes got watery, their gaze fixated on Jaune’s growing shock.

Yang:Blake didn’t know at first but after she learned I pushed to stay. I know that was so…so stupid. Even if I didn’t know what exactly I was getting into I should’ve said no, but I felt stuck between worlds! I never got hurt but….*crying* I don’t know. The more I think about it the more I realize how much I could’ve ruined us. How badly I could end up hurting you-

His arms wrapped around faster than she could blink. Yang felt her body press against his, receiving a gentle warmth that secure and yet so fragile. His fingers stroked her hair while the warmth of his tears fell on the crook of her neck.

Jaune:We’re gonna be family.

No malice or resentment. Not a drop of anxiety in the words that didn’t ponder what could’ve been. Just the sound of happy disbelief that spoke in what was going to be. It was as if a haze disappeared from Yang’s eyes that turned her tears of guilt into comfort. Jaune pulled himself away just enough for her to see the same shimmering gleam in his eyes as they begged her to speak. Yang began nodding her head again as her breath hitched through a growing smile of relief. It felt like the news finally felt real.

Yang:Yeah; we’re gonna have a baby.

[lovingdabeessss]

Ever wonder about how Yang knows she's probably gonna be the next spring maiden?

I do wonder however personally I don’t think Yang ponders the possibility of her being the maiden to often

Mostly in avoidance of the very complicated emotions that would come with ravens possible death and also because she believes in ravens ability to run and hide from danger

In yangs mind almost every death she’s seen is from people refusing to run away

either sacrificing themselves or being dedicated to an insane person like Salem or being obsessive and insane (Adam)

And Raven is not this kinda person she always runs at least in yangs mind she does and this might actually bring her comfort in the sense of her not dying

That’s why if she does die it’ll be like 5x more fucked up for Yang

AND there’s a possibility that yang doesn’t believe she would be who ravens thinks of last when she dies

She might not think Raven cares for her anywhere near that much

But WE know she’s (most likely) the next spring maiden if raven dies

And that’s something I LOVE to think about

Like my little brain came up with an au a while back where I was thinking about what if post Yang telling everyone Raven is the maiden they go on a little family trip together Raven and Yang and raven dies and Yang comes back and just says she left

In the sense of wanting to wait a little till she has to come to terms with her mom dying like maybe she says she’s “gone” and everyone assumes left and that’s why she’s upset and she can’t bring herself to correct them

And also what if they decide that to counter whatever cinders doing with trying to get all maiden powers they need to do that and winter needs to take all of that power

And it’s a really hard talk about how winter would need to kill yangs birth mother which would be a super terrible thing to try and reason to Yang but they’d have to (plus most people in that group hate ravens it’s just for yangs sake they really feel bad like Weiss hates her for bad parent solidarity and Blake loves her girlfriend and ruby loves her sister)

Not knowing that they’re actually talking about Yang who’s now the spring maiden

Like wouldn’t that be messed up?

Anyway yeah ignore my random stupid au thanks for the ask sorry for taking forever school is hard

[howlingday]

Just more maiden blake

First / Second / Third / Previous

---------------------------------------------

"It sounds like you had an exciting first day." Blake's mom said with her usually cheery.

"And you're sure you didn't, uh... slip up?" Her dad, on the other hands, was his usually worrisome self.

It was to be expected, though. Her first conversation with them after who knows how long she'd left, and only days after leaving the White Fang to top it off, it shouldn't come as a surprise that they'd be feeling a whirlwind of emotions ranging from anxiety to ecstasy. What was surprising was how... not angry they were. She'd abandoned her family for the White Fang and then abandoned them to attend Beacon.

"No, Dad, I'm fine." She sighed. "And Professor Ozpin said he paid extra close attention to me while I was in my initiation."

"Mm, I don't like the way he said that." Her father grumbled through the screen.

"Oh, you know he means well." Her mother said, rubbing his arm to calm him down. Judging by his relaxing face, it must have been working. "And what about your team? What are they like?"

The question made Blake flinch. There was a lot going on with her team, and the least concerning was the fact that she was sharing a team with Weiss Schnee of all people on Remnant. But she gave a sigh and chose to answer the question as best as she could.

"Well, I just learned my partner is just as 'special' as I am."

---------------------------------------------

"And that's when I learned what was happening to me."

"Yeesh, talk about a creepy story." Yang said, stirring her spoon in her cup. "I mean, you have a nightmare, get visited by a creepy, old dude with broken glasses, and you learn that you have a super power that you can't tell anyone all before you learn how to write your own name."

"I was still learning." Blake gave a chuckle. "But yeah, learning all of that while being so young. It's... It's uncomfortable to think that it could happen again to someone else. When did you learn?"

"Oh, you know..." Yang gave blinked a couple of time, then brought a hand to scratch her ear as she answered. "I just kinda walked into it."

An obvious lie. Blake could make a standing argument about the hypocrisy of the scenario. She'd just explained how she had to change her sheets the night she learned of her Maiden powers and how terrifying it was to be told about a double life you'd be forced to live for the rest of your life. Yet Yang refused to explain how she'd come to gain the powers herself.

But that wasn't how you made friends. Especially friends who would be going through the same thing you are.

"Well, if you ever feel the need to walk through it, just know that I'm here for you. And for your sister."

"And Weiss, too, right?"

"Yeah. Her, too." Blake didn't lie. But it was still a distance away from the truth right now.

---------------------------------------------

"And that's how I got over my fear of bees!"

"Wow..." Jaune was in awe of the young lady in the red hood sitting across from him. He'd wished he was half as brave to run through a beehive to grab his sister's hairbrush. Unfortunately, he didn't have the stones, or the immunity, to survive even one bee.

"So, uh, what crazy things have you gone through?" Ruby asked. "You know, besides the whole initiation we went through?"

"I, uh, haven't really been through a whole lot." Jaune sheepishly replied. "My life has never been that exciting. Just me going in and out of hospitals all the time."

"Whoa!" Ruby awed this time. "Like, all the time?"

"Mhm." He nodded. "Sometimes I'd have to stay the night."

"Wow! I can't imagine being in a hospital at night. What's it like?"

"It's... cold... and dark... Not a lot of people walking around." Jaune shut his eyes as he tried to remember something neat to tell her. "One time, I slipped on a bedpan."

"What's a bedpan?"

"It's this metal thing they put under beds for patients who can't go to the bathroom."

"Ew!" Ruby shouted. "That's so gross! Was there anything in it?"

"No, but I was kind sad, though."

"Why were you sad?"

"I thought it was a dog food bowl, so I thought my parents were bringing me a puppy." Ruby and Jaune shared a laugh. A long, good, healthy laugh shared between friends. Jaune was kinda amazed. He couldn't remember the last time he had a long laugh like this one. Not without throwing u- There he goes.

"Jaune? Is everything oka-" She winced at the sound of loud vomiting reaching her ears. "Gross..." Still, she waited where he'd left her. Because that's what good friends do.

---------------------------------------------

"Hey, Cinder! I ain't runnin' a daycare!" Cinder rolled her eyes and looked to Roman. "I'm trying to run a business here!"

"A business that can't spare time for one child?"

"What are you- No!" He shouted back. "I'm trying to keep an eye on the news for any big breaks in a heist I've got planned, and your stupid brat keeps changing the channel!"

"Well, maybe you should go to a different TV." Cinder mused aloud.

"There's only one, and I am not buying another one!"

"Well, Roman, it's your operation, and since you're the one running things here, then I guess you should figure out how to solve it, right?" Before he could get a word in response, she sauntered away, her tail swaying with delight through the air.

"Stupid, no good, demanding..." Roman groused before turning to the kid on his couch. "You! Out!"

"But I'm watching Pumpkin Pete." Mercury replied.

"I don't care! I wanna watch the news!"

"I wanna watch Pumpkin Pete!"

"Well, I don't!" Roman pointed the remote at the TV, turning it off. He then turned popped out the batteries inside and tossed them behind him. "There. No TV for anyone, because I can just read the news on my scro-"

Mercury wasn't listening. Instead, he was watching TV with the remote in his hands. He hummed along to the Pumpkin Pete Pumpkin Patch Pals theme song that played. Weren't his legs supposed to be broken?

[bridgyrose]

Weiss took a few deep breaths as she leaned against a tree, watching as the last of the ice had started to melt. Everything felt similar to when she accidentally set fire to the mansion. Her body felt weak after that much energy had been expended, though instead of feeling hot from the heat, she felt as cold as if she’d stood outside in Mantle without a jacket. But what worried her the most was if someone other than Ruby had seen her. One person knowing what she could do was easy to work around, buying off someone to be quiet was something her family excelled at, but if anyone else had seen… if Ozpin had seen… she couldnt lie about it being her semblance. Any huntsman worth their salt would know that this wasnt natural. 

She finally caught her breath and sheathed her rapier. “Alright Ruby, we should head out again.” 

“Are you sure you dont want to talk about what happened?” Ruby asked. “I mean, that was cool and-” 

“Drop it.” Weiss pulled out her scroll and started to pull up the compass app she had installed. “And even if I wanted to talk about it, what am I supposed to say? I just thought about everything freezing to save you and then it happened?” 

“That… sounds reasonable.” 

“It sounds crazy!” 

“Not that crazy. I mean, I stopped a dust robbery and nearly was killed by someone who did something similar to you with fire.” 

Weiss snapped her scroll shut. “What do you mean someone else has done something similar?” 

Ruby shrugged. “I dont know how to describe it, but it was as if they willed fire to work for them. It still sounds like it could just be a semblance, but watching you doing the same thing with ice looked familiar.” 

“Still, I’d rather keep this a secret from others. Once we’re out of here, I’ll get you whatever you want just as long as you keep quiet.” 

“Dont worry, my lips are sealed.” 

Weiss shook her head as she watched Ruby “zip” her lips with her fingers and pinched the bridge of her nose. She still wasnt sure if she could trust Ruby to keep this quiet, but that was an issue for later. Right now, she still had to find her way towards the relics that Ozpin wanted them to pick up. And while she still didnt know where they were, she at least knew which way to go.

She moved forward through the forest, making sure to move quickly but quietly in order to avoid any more confrontations with the grimm. The nevermore that kept flying above them was starting to make her nervous, a grimm that size was not going to be easy to take down and fighting it was sure to bring other grimm out towards her. And if there was something as big as that living in the forest, she didnt want to find out what else might be out there. 

And it wasnt long before Weiss and Ruby reached the edge of the treeline, her heart stopping when she could finally see the ruins she and Ruby were meant to reach… and then the nevermore soaring just above. Getting to the ruins would need a distraction, and her powers would be ideal for something like this. But with such an open space…

“I think we can go now,” Ruby said as she moved down the treeline, keeping her eyes on the nevermore. “Looks like its turning, so if we hurry, we can get to the ruins without too much trouble.” 

“And how do you expect us to get out there?” Weiss asked. “If it comes back around-” 

“Then we take cover!” 

Weiss practically yelped as Ruby grabbed her wrist and started to pull her forward in a sprint. Not long after, she felt Ruby embrace her as the world around her started to shift and change. For a brief moment, she couldnt feel her own body, just the wind around her as if she was scattered about. And just as quickly as the sensation came, it quickly left as her head spun. She fell back into the wall of the ruins, only to feel Ruby put a hand over her mouth as the nevermore gave a loud *caw!* to lure them out with fear.

Once the nevermore was out of sight, Ruby pulled her hand away from Weiss’ mouth and sighed. “Looks like we should be fine.” 

“What… what did you do?” Weiss asked. 

“I used my semblance to get us out here quicker.” Ruby started to mess with the packets on her outfit to make sure everything was still in place. “Though, I have to admit, that was the first time I’ve used it to carry someone else. Usually I use it wth just me and Crescent Rose, not that I really know how it all works right now, I only managed to unlock it a few months ago-” 

Weiss started to ignore Ruby’s rambling and made her way over to the relic pieces, only a few left: two white rooks, a white knight, and a black rook. She pondered carefully over which one to take, only to be interrupted by someone yelling. 

“Rubes! You made it!” 

“Yang!” Ruby called out as she rushed over. “This wasnt too hard for you, was it?” 

Yang shook her head. “Of course not. Blake and I made it without too much difficulty. What about you guys?” 

“We ran into a little trouble but then Weiss-” 

“All I did was stop some grimm from coming after us with my semblance,” Weiss lied as she picked up the white knight piece. She pocketed it into her skirt and walked over to Ruby. “So, now that we have our… relic… where do we go now?” 

“Ozpin said we’d need to get back up the cliff,” Blake answered. “Though, I think we may have a bit of trouble.” 

Weiss was about to ask what Blake meant until she heard the nevermore overhead make a loud *caw* as it passed overhead. It was clear it had seen them. Getting to the cliffside was going to be troublesome without any sort of cover, which meant they couldnt avoid the grimm. 

She readied her rapier and then looked at Ruby, pausing when she saw the girl smile and her eyes practically gleam as she unfolded her scythe. “You have a plan, dont you?” 

Ruby nodded and started to rush out towards the grimm. ���Just follow my lead!” 

“Wait, Ruby!” Weiss called out in vain as she watched her partner dart out to get the attention of the grimm. 

She took a breath and followed after Blake and Yang, using her own semblance to try to catch up as she watched the nevermore get ready to send out its feathers. She quickly weaved through, eyes widening as she watched Ruby get caught by a feather. She only had one shot to keep herself from being partnerless. Her eyes burned as she set out a chain of glyphs to block the rest of the incoming feathers, closing her eyes as the ice formed. 

She slowly opened her eyes and let out a sigh of relief when she saw the feathers stopped and Ruby safe. “You could’ve gotten yourself killed!” 

Ruby winced. “Yeah, but… I knew you’d have my back.” 

“That doesnt matter!” Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. “If we’re going to be partners, we have to work together. Which means not getting yourself killed!” 

Ruby nodded and picked herself back up and watched the nevermore. “Yang, Blake! Try to get the nevermore over to towers! I have an idea!” 

“Got it!” Yang called out. 

“And then what?” Blake asked. 

“Weiss and I will take care of the rest!” Ruby answered. She then turned to Weiss. “Think you can get it to sit still?”

“Of course I can,” Weiss said as she started to rush to the nevermore. She followed close behind Blake and Yang, watching them as they brought it over towards one of the ruined towers. She created another series of glyphs to freeze its wings in place and pulled back to Ruby as she watched Blake and Yang pull a ribbon through the towers to create a slingshot. 

It wasnt long before she watched Ruby launch herself at the bird and slice through its neck, and all she could do was stare in awe. Rose petals fell from the sky from Ruby using her semblance to launch herself, the grimm dissipated into smoke and ash as it fell to the ground. This was already starting to shape up as an interesting year to be a huntress. 

Prev

[ladyniniane]

Maintenant que le Cold Winter Challenge a commencé, voici donc ma liste à lire ❄️ (bon je me réserve le droit d'ajouter d'autres livres) ! Comme d'habitude, n'hésitez pas. si vous voulez un avis détaillé sur un livre en particulier.

Liste de livres :

-L'odeur des clémentines grillées, Lee Doo-Woo

-Quest of the warrior maiden, Linda C. McCabe

-Nettle and bone, T. Kingfisher

-Migrations, Charlotte McConaghy

-Hiver à Sokcho, Elisa Shua Dusapin

-L’inuite, Mo Malø

-Queen of None, Natalia Baron

-La détective de Noël, Anne Perry

-In the bleak midwinter, Julia Spencer-Fleming

-La femme au renard bleu, Robyn Mundy

-Januaries, Olivie Blake

-The mistletoe mystery, Nita Prose

-L’aigle écarlate et le yéti, Mashimesa Emoto

-La relieuse d’Oxford, Pip Williams

[bafflement]

Deaged Oz AU - Crossing The Bridge... Or Not - Part 1

“And you’re certain you can trust the relic to get us to Vacuo?” Yang asked, staring at Tip, who shuffled slightly, biting his lip.

“I mean, mostly? They like creating things, and this would give them a challenge. But… if he gives you a warning, you have to listen to him. If you don’t, there could be very bad consequences. He might not necessarily tell you everything, either… you’ll need to listen very carefully and follow instructions precisely. I should really go with you, but…” he broke off, glancing down at his left leg in vague despair. It had healed, mostly… but the travel down to the vault was long and he wasn’t certain it would hold up for it, much less the trip back. He really hated feeling this useless, but… besides. There was too great a risk that Ambrosius would be distracted by sheer hilarity. After all, it wasn’t often that Oz was in a state this vulnerable and as far as he was aware, this one was unique. He both was and wasn’t Ozma, not fully, not yet. And yet, he’d also never really stopped being. The risk was far too great that Ambrosius, being who and what he was, would find Tip the more intriguing puzzle.

“Hey, Pocketsized. We’ll be okay. I promise we’ll listen, you don’t have to worry about us. Will you be okay, here? I know we’re not all going, but Salem already snatched you once, what if she tries to again?” Blake sounded concerned, reaching out to ruffle Tip’s hair without really thinking about it. Tip let her without commenting, which drove home just how worried he really was about this. But then, after what happened with Jinn, could any of them really blame him?

“She’s unlikely to try it in the same way. I just worry, especially since she already has the lamp. She could easily use it to try to thwart us and if that happens, I can’t even help you. Not really, not like this.” He sighed, looking very young in that moment, the inch or so showing at his wrists just lending itself more to the overwhelming image of confused youth. They all knew it was misleading but… Tip was really rather adorable when he did that, not that he’d be very happy to be reminded of it.

Those going exchanged glances, then Ruby shot a reassuring smile over at him. Penny just nodded, head cocked slightly. She still found it rather fascinating that this small boy was, or rather had been Professor Ozpin. She was aware of magic, of course. Not only had the General informed her of such, she was the current winter maiden. She hadn’t been built to believe in magic and fairy tales, but her father had intended her to grow. This was certainly growth of a sort, right?

Tip sighed as they left, still looking deeply conflicted. He should be there! He should be the one to talk to Ambrosius, he knew him far better than the others did. While creating a way to Vacuo would no doubt intrigue him, the relic could so easily trick anyone they talked to. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the others, of course he did… but they were still going to converse with someone who might not have their best wishes in mind. After Jinn… were the relics as tired of this as he was? What if, in the end, he allowed something to happen in the sheer hopes of being allowed to be free? After all, they were just as chained to the whims of the brothers as he himself was, and with even less freedom. At least he could move around on his own, wasn’t trapped in a vessel waiting. Why had that never even occurred to any of the previous versions, though? Surely, if it was as obvious as he thought it was, then they would have known by now? Would have set something up, at least enough that the four could have some semblance of lives of their own?

After all, even Ozma had never known just where the relics came from, what they originally were. What if they really were just as trapped as he was, was it possible to free them? Could he free them, did he dare, considering Salem?

Was it fair, to keep them trapped like that though? No, of course it wasn’t. They deserved their freedom… he really hated the Brothers, at times like this.

“Tip?” Oscar ventured, voice soft. “They’ll be alright, you know they will! Ruby knows what she’s doing, so do the others. It’ll be fine!”

“I can only hope that it will, Oscar. I just… they need to be incredibly careful in how they word this request, he’s likely to take things very, very literally. I should be there!”

“No way, Pocketsized.” Jaune interjected, looking stern. “Salem almost killed you, you’re not up to the journey. You know that, you know they’ll be okay!”

“And if they’re not? If something happens because they don’t say the right thing, or make slightly the wrong request?”

“Then we’ll deal with that when it happens. We need to get everybody to Vacuo, you know that.” Jaune sighed. “We’re hunters, Tip. We knew what we were signing up for. I know we’re young, but so are you, you’re eleven years old! I know the wizard doesn’t count, but you do. Putting yourself in danger when the others can and have volunteered for this, you realise we’d just worry more, right?”

“You are my students, Jaune. I should be the one protecting you, not the other way around. I know that I’m young physically, but still… I should be protecting the rest of you. If something goes wrong here, it falls on my shoulders. If I hadn’t been quite so, well, helpless, Salem would never have been able to snatch me in the first place. The injuries I carry are a direct result of my own stupidity.”

“NO, Tip.” Oscar sounded deeply frustrated now, glaring at the younger boy hotly. Tip flinched slightly, but met his eyes, his own self hatred burning bright. “Salem snatched you from Atlas. You were meant to be safe there, we all were. It isn’t your fault that she snatched you, you aren’t weak for being injured. Look, I know, you’re used to being stronger than you are right now. But if you plan to protect us, then you have to let us protect you, too. It goes both ways, we care about you! You matter, Tip. Why else would you be my brother?”

���… I know!” Nora interjected, brightly. “Why don’t we all just calm down and eat something. Pancakes, maybe?” She shot a hopeful look to Ren, who rolled his eyes but got up to make them anyway. Some of the tension in the room faded at that, though Tip’s shoulders were still stiff, his face still anguished. It didn’t matter what any of them were going to say, really, though. If anything happened to his students, everybody would just blame him anyway. He was the one responsible, ultimately. Oh, why had he let them go and talk to Ambrosius alone?

“So, you need a path to Vacuo, a way to get everybody from one kingdom to another quickly? I could probably do that…” Ambrosius murmured, amusement in his voice. “However… just don’t fall.”

Yang huffed as they all made their way back to the others who were waiting for them. That could probably have gone better, though at least Penny was human now? Somehow, though she was unsure what Pocketsized would make of that… after all, they had had a specific mission and that wasn’t really it. But then, with her human she couldn’t be controlled anymore. Nobody could tell her to do anything but herself. For a second, an image of Tip being controlled by the creepy wizard dude flashed across her mind, but she shook her head. It wasn’t the same thing, right? Ambrosius was a smug bastard, though. She really, massively didn’t like him.

From the looks the others were exchanging, that feeling appeared to be very, very mutual. He’d set up the path, though. They’d get there, they’d get to Vacuo. Everything would be okay, though she could see why the Professor was so worried. Maybe he really should have come along? Nah… they’d done just fine on their own.

Ruby’s nose twitched as they neared the rooms the others were currently occupying. Could she smell pancakes? Huh, maybe she was just hungry after dealing with the relic. Pancakes would be really nice right about now, though.

There were definitely pancakes, lots of them, though it was slightly harder to enjoy them while being peppered by Tip’s anxious questioning. At least he’d seemed relatively relieved by what Ambrosius had set up regarding the pathway to Vacuo? He kept giving Penny confused looks, too, and Yang snorted to herself. She’d totally called it, he really wasn’t that impressed.

Tip shifted in his seat, biting his lip nervously. He knew better than anyone the sort of loopholes Ambrosius left in the requests he actually agreed to answer.

Don’t fall.

But then, how hard could that really be?

[ahhhsami]

Forgot to include a specific rec from explosivesky's fics but 'walk where the wild things grow' for a Maiden-Yang AU will forever live in my head

Other landmark recs;

'you're a mountain, full of glory' - https://archiveofourown.org/works/18170048 also by lescousinsdangereux, for the obligatory ski/snow AU yearning

'Fractured Ribs and Horsehair' - https://archiveofourown.org/works/17762471/chapters/41911763 the ultimate Beehaw fic. Because yes an entire subgenre AU spring up out of the pun 'bee yeehaw' in like a span of 3 days. Just don't go looking up Yorse.

'they can't steal the love you're born to find' - https://archiveofourown.org/works/18278552/chapters/43257419 because Angst. Sometimes you just gotta feel the burn deep in your soul for how complicated and messy it can get to love someone

'I pictured you then, in your wedding dress' - https://archiveofourown.org/works/30372906/chapters/74877870 I swear the fandom isnt entirely run on pun titles but Blake's history as everybody's crush in show makes 'The Blakechelorette' too good an opportunity. Taking a goofy premise and making it heartfelt and sincere only makes it better.

'Brighter' - https://archiveofourown.org/works/12929652/chapters/29546493 long running and just recently finally finished heartstring twisting exploration of emotions following semi-alongside canon as it was airing over the volumes

Also by one of my alltime favourite Bumbleby fanartists, Y8ay8a.

'I'm straight, prove me wrong' - https://archiveofourown.org/works/23771068/chapters/57098788 The long history of bees as a ship developing contributed equally to a great legacy of angsty fics as it has some god tier smut. Gotta have fun between all the heart somersaults.

Can't not include author Softlight in this collection either for both spicy and heartstring pulling https://archiveofourown.org/users/Softlight/pseuds/Softlight

I can't find the Ao3 listing, which might've disappeard, but if you ever find interest in delving deep into fandom history, have what I recall being Bumbleby's first *Coffee Shop AU*, because every ship must have one

https://m.fanfiction.net/s/9785958/1/Coffee-With-Strangers - Apologies for linked to the dark place

So many! Thank you!!