Ember Legacy, Volume 1

Chapter 9: End Of A Quest…

City of Vale

"But it is one thing to read about dragons and another to meet them."

~ Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea

Pyrrha eyed the guard atop the walls of Vale as they approached. She and Jeanne were, as usual, bringing up the rear of their party, her squire with the reins of the supply-bearing spare horse attached to the pommel of her saddle.

"Does it seem to anyone else that things seem a little more… tense?" she called out, interrupting Nora's rambling story regarding a Troll who was somehow simply a misunderstood artist whose preferred medium just happened to be blood.

Ruby turned in her saddle, silver eyes shining in the early twilight. The setting sun made the orbs appear to be dancing with flames.

"I did notice that, yeah. Gonna make our next steps a little harder, but we'll manage."

"Yes, you still haven't explained that part fully," the alabaster-haired Elf at her side commented. "How exactly are you going to search the entire city for this manuscript?"

"Eh, I'll figure out a way," the brunette replied breezily.

"I shall pray to Oum for inspiration," Ren stated softly.

The redheaded Knight eyed him warily, unsure if he were being facetious or not, but the amused eye rolls from both Nora and Weiss finally clued her in.

"It's nice to see the group so cohesive," Jeanne commented quietly.

Pyrrha shot the blonde a warm smile. "Indeed. I am happy that Weiss worked things out."

Jeanne smiled back, but then ducked her head in embarrassment. Shaking her head with a sigh, Pyrrha resumed her observation of the armsmen patrolling the battlements.

I wish things were different, Jeanne… I truly do...

If it were only her at risk, she might have actually considered throwing caution to the wind. But it wasn't, and if it were anyone else then their love might not be such a forbidden quagmire of emotions.

She was a Knight. Jeanne was her squire. And that was all there was to it.

At least until the blonde warrior became a Knight herself.

Would she wait for me that long, though? After all we've been through, so many months of denying our feelings for each other… Why would she hold onto hope for that long?

She was pulled away from her despondent thoughts by Ruby's voice, the leader obviously having been calling for her more than the once.

"I'm sorry," she returned abashedly. "What was that?"

The brunette gave her a wryly sympathetic grin. Sometimes that girl can be far too perceptive, I imagine she somehow knows exactly what I was pondering.

"I said, there are Knights at the gate, I believe from your Order. Would you like to do the honors?"

"Certainly," she replied evenly. Giving her warhorse a gentle nudge with her knees, she broke into a canter. Jeanne dutifully followed after transferring the spare horse to Ren. The blonde kept her own horse trailing behind and to the left, indicating her subservient status.

"Well met, my sisters," Pyrrha called out in a clear, ringing voice as they approached.

There were four of them, wearing the same white sash bearing a black crow gripping an arrow that she herself did, hanging from their belts on their right side. All were dressed in armor of varying colors, bearing shields across their backs and swords belted at their hips.

One stepped forward, the senior member of the party. She was well known to Pyrrha from when they first had arrived in Vale, as much as the others were. The lightly-tanned Elf had indigo hair that was fairly short and spiky but for the left side which was brushed over to hang just down to her eyebrow. Nebula blinked her olive green eyes and rested a hand on the hip of her grey fitted armor as she shot the approaching pair a warm smile.

"Well met, my sister," she returned. The Elven Knight granted Jeanne a brief though amicable nod. "Novitiate."

"You appear to have picked up some friends," another with long brick-red hair called out. Octavia's patchwork brown and slate armor looked deceptively fragile as always, though Pyrrha knew it to be just as finely crafted as any Knight's.

"Indeed," the green-armored Dew stated quietly, brushing her long flowing dark blonde hair off to the left side, her violet eyes twinkling merrily. "Have you been out causing trouble?"

"Always," Pyrrha chuckled lightly. "But in any case, we have returned from our adventure and would seek re-entry into the city. Has something occurred to warrant such heightened scrutiny, by Knights of Artemis no less, at the gates?"

"You could say that," the last Knight, a woman with olive skin and medium curly black hair pulled back from her face into ringlets uttered darkly. "Crime is rampant, and the bloody King's council sits around and dithers. I hear there is but one advisor who is worth anything, but she makes little headway against the other pompous fools."

"Behave, Gwen," Nebula chided gently. "You are just bitter that the King removed the Knights from his council."

"He did?" Pyrrha exclaimed, startled. Met with four somber nods, the redheaded Knight stared out into the city ahead with no small amount of perplexion. The heads of the main Orders located inside the city, be they Artemis or Cardinal or even the venerable Order of Oum itself, were always granted a seat on the King's advisory council. They had no vote, per se, but their voice was always heard.

Granted, the typical representative from the Order of the Cardinal was usually more of a hinderance to polite and meaningful discourse, but still…

"This is most disturbing, my sisters," Pyrrha finally stated. "But it does not deter us from entering the city, if we are still able to do so."

"Of course, sister," Nebula replied warmly. "Can I assume the others of your party are under your purview?"

"You may."

"Then I will not need to interview nor register them," the purple-haired Knight replied. "Pass freely and be well."

"I thank you," Pyrrha smiled. "Perhaps at some point we might visit you at the keep?"

"That would be lovely," Dew grinned. "You still owe me a sparring session."

With another smile, Pyrrha turned back towards the patiently awaiting group, Jeanne still trailing respectfully behind. She stopped her horse, guiding it beside Ruby's as she succinctly explained the troubles currently plaguing Vale.

"I might be able to use this," the brunette mused. "Well, in any case, let's get inside. Thanks for handling that, Pyrrha, and you too, Jeanne."

"Of course," Pyrrha replied. Her smile widened at her squire's blush from the unnecessary thanks. "Do you have a destination in mind?"

"I stayed at this one really nice tavern the last time," Ruby began as they moved forward. "In fact, that's where I met Weiss."

The Elven Mage nodded levelly. "The Crow's Rest."

"Yep, that's the one. Pretty sure there's a stable right across from it, so let's just head on over. It's on a cross-street right inside this gate."

The party rode inside the city, following Ruby's lead as she turned at the first intersection.

"It's probably a good thing we didn't have to sign in," Nora confided to Pyrrha quietly. "I think I'm still banned. Well, maybe, I mean, it's been awhile…"

"What did you do to get banned?" Jeanne asked with considerable levity.

"Oh, you know," the orange-haired warrior replied airily. "Just a little bar brawl that resulted in the total destruction of said bar… and perhaps hospitalization of some guardsmen… and a couple of those Cardinal Knights…"

Pyrrha desperately tried to hide her amusement, especially as it pertained to Knights. Though, truthfully, she was just as happy to see any member of that misogynistic, elitist, bigoted Order fall upon misfortune.

Rumor had it that hundreds of years ago, things were much as they are now with regards to the Order of the Cardinal. They only accepted Human males of noble blood. Historically they were viewed as effective deterrents of crime and banditry, but they were also famous for their harsh judgements and treatment of suspects. The Order of Artemis was supposedly founded in direct contrast to the authoritative Cardinals.

Things hadn't improved much over the years, and they were oftentimes bitter rivals.

As Nora regaled them with a brief but colorful description of the legendary brawl, with Ren nodding in resigned confirmation, Jeanne was laughing heartily. Tears of mirth streamed from her sapphire blue orbs as she attempted to remain upright in her saddle.

"You seem to have a penchant for the breaking of your opponent's legs," Pyrrha commented wryly after the pink-armored woman was done.

"Oh, it's not me," Nora replied innocently, though her turquoise eyes were sparkling with mischief. "It's Magnhild, she just can't help herself."

"Uh-huh," Jeanne giggled doubtfully. "The hammer did it."

"Yep, she's just got a mind of her own sometimes."

"Nora," her lover sighed indulgently. "Do not make it sound as if you have a sentient weapon."

"But wouldn't it be totally cool if I did?" Nora said excitedly, bouncing in her saddle.

Jeanne nodded with a wide grin. "Yes, totally."

They arrived in front of a stable then, the six of them dismounting and handing their mounts over and into the care of the proprietor. Ruby instructed them to leave their bags there for now as well, save for the ones on their backs, as they'd come back once assured there were available rooms.

"I hope they do have space," the brunette exclaimed as they walked across the cobblestone street. "The owners are really nice, as is their daughter, and the… food… is…"

She trailed off uncertainly, coming to a stop in the middle of the street. Pyrrha was startled to note the diminutive group leader's stormy grey eyes, and she rested her hand on the hilt of her sword, looking about for danger.

The redheaded Knight still wasn't exactly sure how this seemingly sixth sense of Ruby's worked, but she'd placed her trust in the girl at the start of their journey, and she wasn't about to second-guess herself now.

"Ruby?" the Elven Mage whispered, gripping her rapier by the hilt and her free left hand twitching by her side. "What is it?"

"Trouble," the brunette replied softly, barely moving her lips. "Maybe. Maybe not. Definitely somebody dangerous, though."

"What do you mean?" Ren probed gently.

Ruby just shook her head in response. "Okay, when we get inside, you all sit at whatever table I indicate, alright? Follow my lead, stay put, but be ready to flee if I tell you to."

"I am not about to leave you to face whatever danger there is, alone," Pyrrha stated firmly.

The shorter brunette rounded on her, eyes a darker grey than she'd ever seen before. They truly seemed to be harboring some living essence.

"You need to swear to me upon your oath, right here and now, that you will do as I say," Ruby said with careful enunciation. Her face nor her voice betrayed any emotion. "Swear to me that you will do as I say in this."

Pyrrha let out a frustrated sigh through her nose, but quickly acquiesced. "Very well, I so do swear it."

Ruby's eyes flickered over to Jeanne, who gave a start at being included. "Er… Yes, m'lady, I so do swear it as well."

The brunette regarded the others levelly. "The rest of you, if you cannot follow my instructions on this, then we will have to part here. I will not be responsible for harm brought to you inside this building."

Both Ren and Nora nodded, the latter with unusual solemnity, while Weiss simply raised a regal eyebrow.

"I trust you still, Ruby," the platinum-haired Elf stated simply.

The brunette in question gave them a small smirk before turning towards the door with a resolute nod. "Then let's go in."

o o o

Yang sighed as she rested her head in her hand. "You sure this is the place?"

"Yes, Yang," her raven-haired companion replied, her voice not betraying any of the irritation she must have been feeling after the umpteenth time she'd asked the same question.

The blonde tried to be patient, she really did. And she knew in her heart that Blake's methods, though slower and far less direct than hers had been all these years, were already proving to be more successful.

It was just so gods-be-damned boring.

All week long they'd been chasing down leads. Interestingly, one led her right back to her old friend Emerald once more, and she'd filed the information away for future reference.

Always nice to know where others of her kind hid.

The latest one, however, had seemed more promising. Through her various resources, Blake had come in contact with a young Faunus pickpocket who accurately described a girl, one who inexplicably caught him red-handed, as her eyes changed color. The pair of them had scoured the marketplace where the boy had said the event occurred, and the raven-haired Rogue was able to confirm the story with one of the magic merchants there who often fenced some of the stolen items from members of the Thief's Guild.

So now they had a description, a small girl with short red-tipped brown hair, wearing some sort of red and black skirted ensemble and a red cloak. No obvious weaponry, but Yang was fairly certain this was another of her kind.

Whether or not it was her sister remained to be seen, much less if the girl would be openly friendly or hostile.

Sometimes her kin had a tendency to be a bit… prickly with first encounters. It was a reputation well-deserved.

The blonde perked up as a newcomer entered the tavern. It was another young girl, this one in her early teens, with long brunette hair and longer ears atop her head.

The Rabbit Faunus made directly for Blake, sitting next to her and offering a shy smile.

"Hello, Blake," she greeted the Cat Faunus warmly. "It's been awhile."

Blake smiled in reply, her tail flicking over to brush against the other girl's arm. "It has indeed. You're looking good, Velvet."

The brunette shrugged. "Work keeps me busy," she replied. Her brown eyes focused on Yang, and she was shocked to see such maturity contained therein.

This girl has seen quite a bit...

"I understand you're looking for a particular girl?" Velvet asked without any preamble or introduction.

"I am, yeah," Yang replied. "You have information for me?"

"Not personally, no, but my friend does." The Rabbit Faunus raised her head, catching the eye of the serving girl. The bubble blonde, seemingly of an age with the brunette, trotted on over immediately.

"Hey Velv!" she exclaimed.

"Hi Elise, do you have a quick second?" Velvet indicated Yang with a nod. "She's looking for that girl you told me about."

"Oh, yeah, okay." Elise sat down after glancing about to make sure she wasn't under direct observation. "Look, she's not in trouble, right, m'lady? I mean, she was really nice, at least nicer than her Elven friend she left with."

"No trouble," Yang assured her. "I'm just looking for someone, and this might be her. We might be related."

"Oh, good! Very well then…"

Elise proceeded to launch into her description of the red-tipped brunette, easily matching that of both the pickpocket and the merchant. She furthermore added some details about her companion, a white-haired Elf, who left with her as well, a little over a week ago.

Smiling warmly at both Elise and Velvet, Yang produced a pair of lien coins and slid them across the table. "Thank you ladies, you've been very helpful. I'll have Blake get in touch with you if I need anything else."

The serving girl, who was in fact the daughter of the tavern owner as she'd explained briefly, grinned widely at the large-denomination coin as she tucked it into her pouch. Velvet simply nodded and made her own coin disappear as if by magic.

After their farewells both to them and each other, Elise went back to the kitchen for her next order, while Velvet departed the tavern altogether.

"I have a good feeling about this one…" Yang murmured. She looked up at her companion who was eyeing her steadily, amber eyes giving nothing away. "So, Velvet… I take it she's in the Guild as well?"

Blake nodded slowly. "She's a friend of mine. I'd appreciate it if nothing happens to her."

"What? Why would anything happen to her?" Yang looked at the Faunus in perplexion.

"My past makes me cautious," Blake stated softly. "I've seen clients who liked to… tie up loose ends when the job was completed."

"Well, I'm not like that," Yang declared, leaning back with her hands behind her head.

"No, you're not like anyone I've ever met."

"Likely true."

"Doesn't make you any less irritating, though."

"Also true, and all part of my charm."

"You keep saying that. I don't think it means what you think it means."

Yang snorted out a laugh as she looked around the room. "So this place… It's called The Crow's Rest?"

"Mmhmm."

"As opposed to that other pub we went into, what was it…? Oh, right, Crow's Nest. What is it with this town and crows?"

"I believe it has to do with the Order of Artemis," Blake explained, toying with the tumbler of whiskey in her hands. "Their sigil is a black crow clutching an arrow. I think they were founded here in Vale."

"Damn, kitten, you are just a fount of knowledge," Yang chuckled merrily. "So then, what next?"

Blake took a sip of her drink before regarding Yang levelly. "Really? You're asking me for our next move?"

"Look, Blake," the blonde sighed, dropping her arms to the table and leaning forward on them. "I've been doing this for a whole lotta years, like I said. And in just a week or so, you've gotten more results than I have in that time."

"Well, considering your methods consisted of walking into a bar and just… 'feeling' around," Blake snarked. "Can't say I'm surprised."

Yang threw her head back and laughed heartedly. "Yeah, that's true, kitten," she giggled. "So then… what's next?"

"Well…" Blake paused and finished up her glass, setting it upside-down in front of her without making any noise. "People are generally creatures of habit. If she came here once, chances are she might do so again. So, we pay Elise to give us word if she returns. In the meantime, we talk to some of the guards I know, place some more bribes in case she left the city. That way we'll know when she returns."

Yang blinked her lilac eyes at her wonderingly. "You are something else."

Blushing lightly, Blake turned away and regarded the fire pit next to them. "Whatever. So, how is it you have all this endless wealth to throw about, anyway? What is it you actually do, when not chasing down rumors and imbibing mead?"

The blonde chewed on her lip thoughtfully. "Let's just say… I came into some money. An inheritance, if you will. Some of that should be my sister's as well, though I imagine she got plenty from her… mother…"

Yang suddenly perked up as she felt it. Another presence, this one completely unfamiliar.

A strange sort of excitement and worry made her chest feel constricted. Could this be her?

"Someone's coming," she whispered.

Blake's Faunus ears swiveled about, the only motion she made. Even her tail had stilled. "Trouble?"

"Dunno yet. Go get into the shadows, okay? Be ready to run."

Blake evidently had the last encounter with Emerald and Mercury still fresh in her mind, as she didn't broker any argument whatsoever. She silently slipped from her chair and strode off, quickly melding into the back of the room so effectively even she had a tough time making her out.

All sorts of fun skills, that one...

The door opened soon thereafter, and Yang's heart gave a little skip. It was her, the brunette girl they'd been tracking down. Her silver eyes scanned the room, quickly stopping on Yang.

She raised her mug of mead slightly in invitation, keeping her face as open and friendly as possible.

Oums' blood, don't let me fuck this up...

Five others entered on the girl's heels. A pair of armored Knights from their appearance, one blonde and the other taller and with red hair. A lean dark-haired man with a green coat, looking and feeling like a spellcaster of some sort. Another short girl clung to his side protectively, orange-haired and clutching a ridiculously oversized warhammer.

Yang's eyes widened ever so slightly as she got a read off of the hammer-wielder's aura. Well, well… I wonder if you know who's sitting up in your family tree?

Lastly her eyes fell upon the white-haired Elf, of a height with both the red-tipped brunette and the orange-haired one and matching Elise's description. Pale blue orbs regarded her intently, though she picked up on a slight widening of her almond-shaped eyes as she spied Yang returning her gaze.

The blonde offered her a small grin in greeting, which she returned with a blush and an adamant stare at the back wall.

Yang put the other five out of her mind as the brunette curtly gestured towards a table on the near side of the room, close to the door but well away from the blonde.

Cautious? Or maybe just doesn't want to be overheard? Likely a little of both…

The girl stopped an arm's length away from the table and raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "May I?"

Yang nodded, her easy grin widening as she was getting an even better read on the girl this close.

The brunette grinned as well as she sat. "Gold?"

She nodded again amicably in confirmation. "Silver?"

"Yup." The girl looked at her a little sheepishly. "So… I'm a little unsure of the protocol here. But… I'm Ruby. Um, is that okay, to…?"

"Yeah, it's fine," she laughed. "I'm Yang." She leaned forward then, willing her lilac eyes to stay their current color so as not to spook the other girl. "Can I ask you, though… and you don't have to answer this… What's your full name?"

Ruby looked at her for the span of a full minute. The blonde could practically hear the gears spinning in her head, but eventually she did acquiesce.

"Ruthralynnaerias daughter of Sumethorynnaerias."

It was an effort not to let the tears fall in relief. Ruby could tell something was going on, though, as her brow furrowed in concern.

The blonde let out another laugh, this one full of satisfaction and soul-deep happiness. I found her, sweet mother of Oum, I finally found her…

She cleared her throat. "And your father was Taiyenniellazherian?"

Ruby nodded slowly. "Yeah, that's right. How do you…?"

"Because Tai was my father as well. My full name is Yanzhiellewenayuros daughter of Ravanaerayuros… and…" She swallowed once more, knowing that a tear had escaped to roll down her cheek. "I'm your big sister."

The brunette stared at her incredulously. "...What?"

"We're sisters, Ruby, and I've been looking for you for a very long time." Yang brushed aside her tear, wiping her eyes on the back of a hand as Ruby continued to gape at her. "So very long I've been looking for you…"

Somehow they both got to their feet at the same time. Yang ignored the sudden tensing of the companions who had accompanied her sister into the tavern, much as she ignored the wide and foolish grin that she knew her face bore.

I found her, I actually found her...

"I have a sister?" Ruby murmured, still unbelieving. Her hand drifted forward, and Yang moved her own arm up to allow for the contact. The brunette sucked in a startled breath as her fingers brushed up against her skin, the brief touch causing their auras to flare up against each other.

"Oh my Oum…" Ruby had tears of her own in her silver eyes, shining brightly in the firelight. "I have a sister…"

Yang wasn't sure who reached for the other first, but they met at the side of the table, enfolding one another in a tight hug as they shared happy sobs of joy.

'So," the orange-haired warrior chirped from the table the others sat at. "I guess they're not gonna kill each other then?"

A/N: Hmm… Gold and Silver, I'm sure they're just discussing jewelry… right? Also, what to do when you realize that the only two drinking establishments you've actually named had irritatingly similar names? Poke fun at it, of course!

So now we finally have the sisters united! Next chapter will see the fellowship itself joined together, and plans made for the remainder of the quest!

In any case, much love for my Betas for this story, KellyConnely and PandaAnimeLover, as well as for my wonderful reviewers, AntonSlavik020, RatedRSuperStar87, ExKage, FoxyFoxation, Commando2341, Staticquake143, Nicodemus Cain, and nytestorms. Hugs!

Stay shiny!