Ember Legacy, Volume 4

Chapter 34: Survivors

Kingdom of Vale

"Perhaps all the dragons of your life are princesses, who are only waiting for us to show a little beauty and courage. Perhaps at the very bottom every horror is something helpless, that wants help from us"

~ Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

"Don't fashion me into a maiden that needs saving from a Dragon. I am the Dragon, and I will eat you whole."

~ Unknown

The snowstorm that had raged for the past couple of days had finally dwindled away, permitting the citizens of Vale to rejoin their efforts at rebuilding their city. Rubble was cleared away and a gigantic Red Dragon corpse was finally removed from the wall, with some friendly Draconic assistance, of course.

The people hadn't had much time to relax, truly, with the remnants of Orcish war parties roving about the countryside. Fortunately, allies had arrived just before the snow hit, bringing the King of Atlas himself along with a sizeable force of troops at the bequest of the recently deceased King Ozpin.

Order had been restored, and a temporary Regent named. Lady Peach, a minor noblewoman who had been absent during the events leading up to the Battle of Vale, or the Second Dragon War, depending upon who you asked, was organizing a new council and leadership. Lady Nebula Violette was named as the temporary head of the Valesian guardsmen and common soldiery. It was an especially easy choice to make once the missive arrived from the Headmistress of the Order of Artemis, naming Lady Violette as the new Head of the chapter there in Vale.

Today, though, was declared to be a public holiday. Feasts were to be held as precious stores of food were opened up for the citizenry, with promises having been secured from both Mistral and Vacuo on more supplies to be transported immediately.

In Vale Keep, though, a ceremony was to be performed.

Many minor nobles and wealthy merchants filled the cavernous audience chamber. On the dais at the front of the room sat King Ironwood, with his Royal Mage Winter behind him, as well as Regent Peach.

Yang winced softly as her arm was jostled by a portly nobleman who eased past to grab a seat. Her wounds had been numerous and slow to heal, but, fortunately, she'd received a little assistance along those lines "So, princess," she began casually. "You talk to your sister yet?"

"Briefly," her new mate replied from where she sat at her side, fingers entwined with her own. Weiss' pale blue eyes flickered over towards where her elder sibling stood, ramrod straight and staring straight ahead. "Fortunately, my younger brother, Whitley, was able to talk some sense into her, so that she would cease in her efforts to return me."

"She has that much regard for him?"

"Oh, no, not at all," Weiss giggled. "He just holds far too much over her head as blackmail. Forced her to back off."

Yang barked out a quick laugh, earning her stares from those around her. "So, do you owe him, now?"

"No," the platinum-haired Elf stated smugly. "I only agreed to cancel a few debts of his own towards myself."

"You have a strange family," the Gold sighed with a shake of her head.

"True enough. What about yours, though? Did you ever find out why Raven showed up?"

Snickering, Yang tugged her lover a bit closer. "Yup. Qrow guilt-tripped her into coming with him. They're clutchmates, so he knows all of her triggers." Her grin momentarily morphed into a frown. "Wouldn't tell me what they are, though. Cranky old Wyrm says I have to figure them out on my own."

"Well, love, it's only been a century, I'm sure after a few more you will pick up on some of them…"

The conversation around them cut off as Regent Peach stood and took a step forward. She gazed out across the room, her expression solemn but warm.

"Good people of Vale," she began in a clear, high-pitched voice. "We have been through much in the past few months. Upheaval of the type never before seen in our fair Kingdom. We have many to thank for their efforts in restoring order and safety to our population." She glanced behind her, giving the King of Atlas a grateful nod which he returned.

"Aside from our good friends of Atlas were many brave souls who risked their lives in securing our Kingdom once more." Her voice dropped slightly. "And many of those did, in fact, offer up the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our lands."

Yang stiffened, the breath hitching in her chest. The Elven Mage's grip tightened on her arm, and she knew that they both were holding in unshed tears as they bravely tried to get through the rest of this ceremony.

"While we will have a much longer commemoration to honor the fallen later this evening, that is not why we are here today. I have the honor of confirming an appointment towards one of the noble knightly Orders. Lady Nebula Violette, will you please step forward."

The indigo-haired Elven Knight walked up from the side, Dew trailing a step behind and holding a folded cloth of white in her outstretched hands. Nebula stopped a few paces away from the Regent and bent down on one knee.

"Lady Violette, I am affirming your appointment as the Head of the Valesian chapter of the Knights of Artemis. As such, I am also appointing you as the first member of the new Royal Council, alongside your current, though temporary, duties as the leader of our military."

Nebula bowed her head as Regent Peach murmured a few words over her, to which she nodded in affirmation. Once she rose back up, grey armor clinking softly, Dew draped the long white cloak across her shoulders. The back of it was adorned with the crest of the Knights of Artemis, a black crow gripping an arrow.

Instead of leaving the platform, though, Nebula merely stepped to the side with Dew remaining just behind her.

"And now, one last bit of glad tidings," Peach announced. "Lady Violette has the privilege of awarding one of those who worked so bravely on the behalf of the people of Vale."

Nebula nodded firmly once more. "Novitiate Jeanne D'Arc, please step forward."

Both Yang and Weiss dashed away their tears as they saw another pair of friends ascend the stage. The blonde now wore ornate armor very similar to the other Knights of Artemis, save that hers was enameled white with gold accents. Pacing behind her was Pyrrha in her elaborate crimson and gold armor, looking for all the world as if she might actually explode from containing the pride shining in her emerald eyes.

Jeanne dropped to one knee, much as Nebula had, but she kept her head bowed respectfully.

"Novitiate D'Arc," the Elven Knight began with a smile. "I have often wondered why it was that we did not arrive at this point sooner. It has been, in my humble opinion, long overdue.

"As a reward for your numerous acts of unwavering loyalty, bravery, leadership, cunning, and selflessness, all in the service of our Order, but more importantly, in the pursuit of the defense of Vale, I hereby name you Lady Jeanne D'Arc, a noble Knight of the Order of Artemis." The indigo-haired Elf drew her sword and lightly tapped the former squire across both shoulders. "Rise, and be accepted as our equal and sister."

As Nebula sheathed her sword once more, Jeanne rose and immediately turned to the side. The resounding crash of armor as she practically leapt into Pyrrha's arms echoed throughout the audience hall. The ensuing shocked gasps as the blonde and redhead eagerly locked their lips and wrapped armor-clad limbs around each other were drowned out by the loud laughter and applause from those who knew the pair.

Yang could only roll her eyes humorously. "Well, it's about damn time."

"Yes," Weiss sighed softly, wrapping her slender arms around her lover's own arm and resting her head on her shoulder. "Yes, it is. How long do we want to stay in Vale?"

The blonde shrugged slightly, careful not to dislodge the small Elven woman. "Well… my quest is over with. It's time for me to return as I promised."

"And I shall be by your side," the platinum blonde stated smugly.

"Yeah, you will be," she chuckled, pressing a soft kiss into her wintry tresses. "From here on out, that's how it's gonna be."

"Good. I love you, Yang."

"And I you, princess. I think the lovebirds up there came up for air, maybe we can finally wrap this up…"

Concealed in the shadows, a dark figure watched with careful eyes the proceedings arrayed in the hall. Things seemed to be progressing nicely, and there was no further reason for her to linger.

As she stirred slightly, two heads turned to regard her. Lilac and pale blue eyes twinkled with mirth, the blonde going so far as to give her a cheeky wink as if she knew how such ceremonies would only serve to bore her to tears.

The dark-clad girl smirked as she gave them both a nod, then turned and slipped out of the room. Limping slightly still, the Cat Faunus Rogue sighed to herself, once again resolving to do something very, very nice for Weiss in the future. If she hadn't been given the pair of healing draughts prior to the battle when the Elven woman was redistributing the supplies, she never would have survived out in the wilderness.

I think I managed to actually break every one of my limbs on those tree branches after my aura gave out, Blake thought to herself wryly. Not to mention several ribs. She sighed once again, though, at the memory of Regent Peach's earlier words.

"We lost so very many," she whispered morosely, pausing outside the chambers she'd been given for her convalescence. "So many unnecessary and… painful deaths…"

A tear trickled down her cheek as she closed the door behind her. Arrayed on her bed were her gear, including her enchanted bow, Gambol Shroud, and two quivers stuffed full of arrows, also enchanted thanks to a certain friendly Elven Mage.

She stepped forward, passing her knapsack to run her hand along the smooth, dark wood of the bow, her fingers tracing the outline of the runes etched along the sides. Her Faunus ears perked up as someone slipped almost noiselessly into the room behind her.

"You just going to cut and run?" a soft voice inquired.

She allowed a small smile to form on her face before turning. "Not without you."

Ever so carefully, the raven-haired woman gathered her lover up and into her arms. She had to be mindful of the brunette's arm, still in a sling, as she reassured herself once more that her Ruby was still alive. Hands fisted into the back of the red cloak as her tail wrapped around them both.

"Shhh, it's okay, Blakey," the brunette reassured her softly. "I'm okay, we're both okay."

"I know, I just…" She bit back her tears, knowing that they were foolish at this point.

Every night since the battle she'd woken up, screaming from the nightmare memory of the argent form plummeting towards the ground just as she had mostly healed herself up. Blake had raced ahead, heedless of any danger or her own lingering injuries, to reach the impact site.

In her nightmares, though, instead of the presence of another Silver Dragon, glowing with a bright inner light as she struggled to keep the broken form of Ruby alive, she only came across a bloody and mangled corpse.

The Faunus lifted her head and pressed a warm kiss into the lips of her lover. She once more gave silent thanks to Oum and whatever powers there were overseeing them that Arslan had caught up with them in time. She'd never heard of Dragons having the powers to use spells, but she supposed it really shouldn't have been a surprise. The various races of Dragons were just as varied within their own kind as Humanoids were within theirs. Blake was ever so grateful that Arslan, at least, was a practiced healer and able to bring Ruby back from the brink of death.

She wasn't able to heal everything up, of course, but the brunette's arm was recovering. And it certainly didn't hold her back when the two of them shared a bed.

The Faunus woman blushed slightly as she parted from the kiss, her body warming not just from the affection but from the memory of the cozy nights they'd spent together so far.

She cleared her throat, though from the knowing smirk on Ruby's face there was no use even denying how much the effusive brunette affected her. "So," she murmured, feigning nonchalance. "When are you going to tell your Matriarch that you're still alive?"

Ruby's smirk transformed into a wide grin as she shrugged her good shoulder. "Eh, she's a Dragon. I'll give it a few decades, then you and I can just move into the Hold together."

Chuckling, Blake pulled her into one last kiss before they gathered their belongings and ventured out into the world of Remnant.

She reflected on just how insane it was, really, to have developed feelings for someone who could outlive her to such an extent. But, even with foreknowledge, she wouldn't have changed a thing.

And before she got to the point where it would be a concern, their vast difference in lifespan, the both of them had a lot of living to do. It was a wide, dangerous world, but she was ready and willing to face it with the even more dangerous and beautiful creature in her arms.

A/N: Am I still a complete shit? Yeah, I am, especially for playing with everyone's emotions. That wraps things up, though, landing on a solid note with Freezerburn, Arkos, and Ladybug. Thank you all for sticking with me on this journey. It's been the epic, gritty, high-adventure fantasy story I've always wanted to tell, and with Dragons to boot. I've had so much fun writing it and a blast reading the reviews.

I hope to see you all in more of my stories, including my ongoing RWBY / Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines story, Blood of the Rose. I have another one lined up that I will be working to completion before posting up, it's a RWBY / Suicide Squad mashup sort of tale, inspired by a hell of a lot of other stories drifting about on here. Also, don't forget to check out my holiday special that will be starting over the following weekend and for the week leading up to Christmas Eve, Seven Days of Yule. I'm going to write every chapter based off of my RWBY stories or series that I've written. And yes, the second-to-last chapter of my holiday special will be revisiting these folk.

Also, let me leave you with a recommendation if I may, if you're as much a fan of Dragons as I am, please give Wings of Dust a try. It's by one of my very favorite authors, Solora Goldsun, where our favorite characters from RWBY are Dragon Riders rather than using semblances. It's off to a wonderful start, give it a read!

One last shout-out to my absolutely fabulous Beta, KellyConnely, and more loving appreciation that I truthfully know how to show for all of you wonderful readers and reviewers. Thanks again for all of the support. Shout-out to all those who dropped me a note on the last chapter, contentious as they might have been, I always appreciate the feedback: carpenter656, AntonSlavik020, RatedRSuperStar87, timrocks99, Bman000444, Minesniper, bankerrtx01, Crescent Sunrise, ExKage, TacoKing23, allie300093, kinigget, ZHsteven, Boombox94, OverDude12, cheers!

Stay shiny, my friends, and let me leave you with one last parting gift:

"Listen my hatchling, for now you shall hear

Of the only seven slayers a dragon must fear.

"First beware Pride, lest belief in one's might

Has you discount the foeman who is braving your sight.

Never Envy other dragons their wealth, power, or home

For dark plots and plans will bring death to your own.

"Your Wrath shouldn't win, when spears strike your scale

Anger kills cunning, which you will need to prevail.

A dragon must rest, but Sloth you should dread

Else long years of napping let assassins to your bed.

"'Greed is good,' or so foolish dragons will say

Until piles of treasure bring killing thieves where they lay.

Hungry is your body, and at times you must feed

But Gluttony makes fat dragons, who can't fly at their need.

"A hot Lust for glory, gems, gold, or mates

Leads reckless young drakes to the blackest of fates.

So take heed of this wisdom, precious hatchling of mine,

And the long years of dragonhood are sure to be thine."

~ E.E. Knight, Dragon Champion