We do not own RWBY or any other copyright content. All rights to it go to Monty Oum, VIZ Media, and their original owners. All OCs are owned by us.
Writing credits go to Uzumaki Ricky, Monsterhuntergod, Sharad the hedgehog, and Traines, as well as Kima Whitehawk Jordan on Facebook. And a very special shoutout and thank you to 501awezome and Mega Ghost on Fanfiction.Net for all your support.
Tiger King and Dragon Queen: Year 1
Volume 1 Chapter 30: Majesty of Them Hills
Yang's only regret that morning was taking a nap in the same bus seat as Ruby, as a sudden jolt from a bump in the road sent her head flying off Ruby's thin shoulder and into the seat in front of her. Annoyed as she rubbed her nose, Azura turned to look at her out of concern.
"Are you okay, Yang?" the blue prince asked, concerned for his friend.
"Rotten roads…" Yang grumbled as she laid back, her arms crossed.
"You're lucky, Yang. They only paved these roads fifteen years ago." Zhan said to her, as he made sure his luggage was staying up properly.
"I wish I was like Ruby. I don't know how she can sleep through this." Yang grumbled, her eyes looking at her still sleeping sister out of the corner of her eye.
"If you want, you can try sitting next to me on the ride back." Azura offered, still a bit concerned.
"How gentlemanly." Yang answered with a smile, getting a light blush and a smile back from Azura.
"How much longer!?" Nora groaned, forced to sit on the inner seat by Ren for safety reasons.
"We'll get there when we get there! Stop asking!" Rena snapped from a seat behind her.
"You want to fight me, Septim!?" Nora growled, turning around in her seat to face her.
"Don't tempt me, Valkyrie…!" Rena grumbled, having been jostled awake by the bumpy road like Yang.
"Ladies, ladies! It will only be a couple minutes!" Zhan yelled sternly, causing the two to - for the time being - stop.
The bus trundled along its merry way through the winding roads as it climbed into the hills. Around them as they got farther away from the big city, they were surrounded by rolling green hills, verdant forests, and clean mountain streams. Animals in numbers many of them had never seen before roamed freely, as if comfortable enough to show their faces around the prying eyes of man. Rounding a sloped bend, they arrived at a surprisingly well-developed bus stop for a place so remote. Large enough for several buses to enter, park and leave at once. After the chaotic affair of over a dozen highly strung Huntsmen-in-training leaving the mobile spam can, they breathed in the crisp autumn air.
"Alright, people. Here we are. The town of Gildstone, everyone." Zhan said proudly with a happy sigh, slowly stretching after his bulky frame had been cooped up.
Looking out, they saw a rustic town, one that had changed only mildly after what looked like centuries. Cobblestone streets, white-washed buildings, and dark timber beams, even a few lamps that needed to be lit. There were the normal, modern amenities, but it still was as if they were almost sent back in time. Only in the suddenness of someone speaking to them did they break out of this trance.
"Hey, Azura." A familiar voice said smoothly.
"Hey, Red." Azura replied, still seeming to be a bit out of it before jumping a bit in shock and turning to look at his friend in a bit of a more rustic outfit and with a seemingly tall young woman, a bit taller than Yang, carried on his back in a fireman's carry. "Wait, Red!? What are you doing here!?"
"I'm here to cater the race, my friend." Red replied happily.
"You know this guy, boss?" Zhan asked, looking over the new man in his midst.
"Yes. This is Akazaru Red of the Akazaru clan's Kaze family. He has been my very best friend since we were kids." Azura explained, introducing his friend.
Yang stepped up to Azura's side and looked Red over. Unlike the time she saw him at the birthday party, he seemed relaxed and calm. For some reason, she felt that it was not a natural thing for him to be like this. She quirked an eyebrow at his outfit: Dark blue shirt and simple cargo shorts in place of the unbuttoned blazer jacket.
"Why is there a woman on your shoulder hanging like a deer carcass?" Blake asked, an eyebrow raised in surprise and concern in equal measure.
"Oh, sorry about that, she doesn't do flights that well. Had to give her some sleeping pills. Should've worn off by now." Red apologized and tried to wake up the girl. "Olivia, angel." he spoke softly to the girl.
"Five more fucking minutes…" the woman answered in rough annoyance.
"That's all it took?" Ember asked in surprise.
"She still seems a bit out of it. How many did you give her?" Azura asked, surprised.
"She took an extra strength one, one of those big pills. One of those ones you give to an elephant." Red said casually.
"I would have taken two, but someone wouldn't let me!" Olivia growled as she slid off Red's shoulder like a snake off a tree.
Azura bowed a bit to her. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Olivia." he said, trying to be polite.
"Cut the formal shit." Olivia said, rubbing her eyes and cracking her neck loud enough to make the group flinch.
"Charming personality." Weiss said dryly with a roll of her eyes.
"Say that again, Ice Princess." Olivia said as she yawned, placing her arm on Red's head to steady herself as she stretched out her legs by raising one of them up with her free arm and putting it behind her.
"Clean the sand out of your ears. Maybe that will help." Weiss answered her.
"It ain't sand in my ears, just the stupid shit coming out of your mouth." Olivia shot back with disinterest.
As she finished stretching, Yang got a good look at her: she was Pyrrha's height with neck-length, sandy blonde hair, and grass green eyes. She was also fairly tan. Her clothes were as clear cut as her words, with a small black jacket unzipped over a white crop top. Likely to accentuate her abs. On each shoulder of the jacket was an emblem of a forest green colored rabbit's head. Barely covering her hips and upper legs were a pair of black short shorts. Capping off the minimalistic design choices were simple running shoes; the kind Yang knew as being exceedingly cheap.
"So, is it just you two, or did you bring friends?" Jaune asked simply.
"Boss man is off looking for some ancient ruin; Grey is probably hitting on some chick or takin' in the sites." Oliva answered casually.
"Why not both, Green Hare?" A voice called out from a nearby café.
Looking across the way, they got a good look at the man who called out to Olivia. A boy wearing an easy - almost unreadable - smile raised a cup to them in greeting. He wore a simple white shirt with a pair of baggy brown shorts, his hands were covered in a pair of black, fingerless gloves. He had shaggy, neck-length gray hair and ocean blue eyes, half-lidded in what appeared to be exhaustion. He sat at a table outside a local café, with a club sandwich and latte, across from a local woman. Unlike Olivia, he had fairly light skin.
"Can you ever do an introduction right?" Olivia groaned in annoyance.
"Oh, c'mon on, 'Liva. Ruins the flair." the boy said with an easy laugh as he sipped his drink.
"How many lattes has he had?" Blake asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not gonna lie, hun. I lost track. Explains why my heart feels funny." The boy answered in an oddly relaxed way.
"How does your left arm feel?" Ren asked, mildly concerned.
"Like a dream." He said with a near silly smile.
"Okay, good. No heart attack." Ren replied.
"Waiter. Here you go. Keep the change. I'll catch you, love. See you around." The boy said, pulling forty lien out of his pocket and handing it to his waiter before he then leaned across the table to kiss the lady on the cheek. He made his way over to the group, giving a view of just how short he was, standing only at 5'1'.
"That's Morgan. Just call him Grey, he loves it. The resident charmer of anything with boobs." Olivia said with an eyeroll.
"Charmed." Rena growled.
"Well, that is three members of your team down. But I still do not see any sign of your leader." Azura replied, looking around.
They all then heard the distinct sound of huffing and puffing from someone out of breath. Turning to look, they saw the culprit.
A tall man, tan-skinned - as tall as Jaune - ran up to them, bending over at the knees as he caught his breath. After taking a second, he stood up to his full height, his gold eyes were brimming with excitement, and he wore a satisfied smile. His four-foot-long, fur covered arms hung down with his hands pressed against the ground to hold him up while he was bending over. He took off the brown cowboy hat he was wearing and ran his left hand through his neck-length sun blonde hair, resting the hat at his side next to his tan khaki shorts as the others noticed his torn up shirt, which was reduced to barely anything more than the collar, showing off his stomach and abs. In his right hand, he tightly clutched an ancient scroll.
"Okay, I think I lost the giant cave bats. Now let's just hope that that rabies shot I got in the back of that bazaar worked as well as that weirdo said it would." the boy said as he finally noticed the group in front of him. "Friends of yours, Red?"
"Friends of that guy there, actually." Red said as he pointed to Azura.
"Is that… the Lost Scroll of the Elementals? I thought it was just a legend." Azura asked, trying to reach out to touch it only to get his hand slapped away, causing him to shake it in pain.
"That's why I'm here: I prove those legends are real." the boy said with enthusiasm.
"The Lost Scroll of the what?" Jaune asked in confusion.
"A tale for another day, Sir Arc." Azura replied, waving his friend off.
"You mean like a treasure hunter from the movies!?" Nora asked, rushing up to him with stars in her eyes, brimming with joy and excitement.
"Never really thought of it like that. Although that does have a nice ring to it. 'Carter Zlato: Treasure Hunter Extraordinaire.' Catchy." the now identified Carter said with a laugh as he stroked his chin in thought.
"Don't give our leader any more hair-brained ideas. He has enough of those." Olivia groaned in annoyance.
Azura smiled. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Zlato." the azure samurai replied with a light bow.
"Please, 'Mr. Zlato.' You're making me sound like my old man. Just call me Carter." Carter said humbly.
Azura smiled and nodded. "As you wish, Carter." he replied, extending his hand out for a handshake that Carter reciprocated.
"Right then. Team, time to catch us a train ticket. We need to reach the top station for tomorrow's festivities. The booze isn't gonna drink themselves." Carter said to the members of his team.
"They're not for us. We'll go out and party when this is all over. I know a couple good clubs." Red said casually.
"Great, gang's all here. Come on, you three knucklefucks. We got a train to catch. And put on a fucking shirt, Carter!" Olivia said, still leaning on Red, and giving him a hard slap on the ass to motivate the boy to move.
"Over my dead body, you recalcitrant banshee." Carter shot back as the gaggle of four began to walk off.
"Girls, girls. You're both pretty." Morgan said sarcastically.
"Shut up and have a heart attack already." Carter and Olivia said in unison as they both rounded on Morgan.
"Catch you later, Azura. Don't worry, you won't be missing too much of the fun." Red said as the group headed off to the station.
Azura nodded in disbelief as they left. It was at that moment that Pyrrha spoke up. "... What just happened?" the redheaded champion asked in disbelief.
"I like them." Nora said with a chipper smile.
"Of course you would, Lady Valkyrie…" Azura replied in a deadpan.
"Right then. Ruby, come with me. We are gonna get us a train to survey the racecourse." Zhan said. "Everyone else, mill about for about half an hour. I'll text you all when we are ready."
"Why me?" Ruby groaned.
"You're my fireman, remember?" Zhan said, raising his eyebrow.
"And that's because you can't be trusted to not give into the temptation to use your Semblance in the race." Azura added, reminding the red reaper.
"I hate all of you." Ruby groaned as she followed Zhan like an upset puppy.
"Love you too, Ruby! See you on the train!" Yang called to her little sister.
"Wait a minute. Azura, where did your cousin go?" Weiss asked.
"Oh, Trivia? I can never keep track of her. She is around here somewhere." Azura replied, waving off Weiss's concerns.
"Well, I guess we got some time to kill." Rena sighed.
"Finally! Some freedom! Let's go, Ren!" Nora yelled happily, before running off with Ren in tow.
At Gildstone Station
As Ruby followed Zhan, she got to look at the local station. An old building, kept renovated and maintained throughout the ages, mixing that of a functioning station and museum. Artifacts of the railway's past, posters, pictures, and more were cleverly integrated into the station set up. The actual platform was outside, made of hard mountain stone cut surprisingly well for a place this far away from civilization. The black beams contrasted with the dull red tiled. As they rounded the corner heading towards the engine sheds, she saw Zhan meet up with an even taller and burlier man than him.
"Morning, foreman. Sorry it took so long. You know the buses on those roads." Zhan said as he shook the man's hand.
"It's fine. At least you made it on time. And who's this little thing?" The foreman replied with a smile before looking down at Ruby, who pouted at being called "little."
"This is my friend Ruby. She's going to be my fireman for the race. Also, I dropped off the side rod at the engine shop for the boys." Zhan answered him.
"Glad to hear it, Zhan. Reliable as always. Anyway, follow me, Ruby. We'll get you acquainted with your position for the race." The foreman replied, motioning for Ruby to follow him.
"Hey boss, is there a train that needs to get taken up? Figure give my friends at least the lay of the land and give Ruby firsthand experience." Zhan asked.
The foreman thought for a moment before nodding. "St. Walkern needs to be taken up to be fixed and made ready for the race. That and a line of slate trucks for tomorrow's deliveries." He noted.
"Thanks, boss. Right this way, Ruby. Time to get into some overalls. Burning low grade Dust gets quite dirty." Zhan said, motioning Ruby to follow.
Ruby bit back a groan as she nodded. "Right behind you, Zhan…" she replied, following him.
After a quick trip to the bathroom, both came out wearing blue and white striped overalls, and same-colored caps. After handing Ruby a shovel, the two walked into the main engine shed. Several lines of track filled the room, with the large warehouse-like room being mostly empty, save for one lonely looking engine. It was far smaller than what Ruby expected, running only on rails somewhat wider than two feet. It has four small wheels, a tall black funnel, a brass dome, and a cab that sort of made it look like a snail. Painted in a deep blue, with a red beam front and back that held its buffers. On its side, read gold letters St. Walkern.
"Hey, old girl. Sorry you got to be left behind." Zhan said to the engine as he placed his hand on its side tank.
"This is the train for the race?" Ruby asked, surprised.
"Yep. St. Walkern. Named after the railway and the railway's namesake. Though, admittedly, the past hundred and fifty years haven't been too kind to her." Zhan said sadly, looking into the reflection on the brass dome.
"She looks pretty good for her age." Ruby noted, walking closer to get a better look.
"We keep the engines looking good, but it's how she runs is the issue. The strain of the Great War did a lot to her. So bad that she was parked in a shed for nearly twenty-five years after its end and it took a decade to fix her up again. Ever since then, it's like she doesn't have what she used to." Zhan explained, pain oozing from his voice with each word.
Ruby looked at the old engine with sympathy as she placed a hand on its side. "Don't worry, old girl. We'll have you up and running for the race as if you were fresh off the day, you were first built." the red reaper told the old locomotive.
Zhan let out a small smile at that. "Let's get her steamed up. This is the part where my Semblance works wonders." Zhan explained as he got to work.
"Oh, right. Your Semblance is a fire-type, elemental manipulation Semblance, isn't it?" Ruby asked, remembering what she was told once before.
"I only can manipulate heat and fire. I can't make it. Now go grab a new batch of Dust." Zhan ordered, as Ruby rushed off to fetch it.
Ruby saluted as she came back with the Dust, a smile on her face. Smiling back, Zhan nodded to her as the two got to work.
In Town: Azura and Yang
After the group had dropped their luggage off at their hotel rooms, they split off to explore the town. Among the split, Azura and Yang kept close as they slowly meandered through the shops of the town. It was more accurate, however, to say that the blonde, bodacious bruiser was dragging the blue wonder around.
"Come on, Azura. Quit dragging your feet like they're made of lead." Yang huffed as they walked along, dragging him by his arm.
"I can walk on my own, Yang. Try to take life a little more in the slow lane occasionally. Relax and enjoy the scenery." Azura replied, trying to keep pace with the brawling beauty with the hold she had on him.
"Funny. You're the one saying to slow down the day before the race." Yang chuckled.
Azura chuckled a bit as well. "What can I say? I want to make sure I am well rested before I win." he replied, a smile on his face.
"Being cocky, I see?" Yang asked with a smirk.
"Is it really being cocky if I can back it up?" Azura asked back with a smirk of his own.
"Not if I have anything to say about it, big boy." Yang answered.
"How about a wager, then?" Azura offered.
"And what is that?" Yang asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Whichever one of us places lower in the race has to do whatever the other wants for a week." the blue prince said with a smirk.
"Oh, you're on!" Yang fiercely answered, putting her hand out to offer a handshake.
Azura took her hand and shook it with a smile. One that Yang reciprocated.
At the Station: With Weiss
Not wanting to somehow miss the train being run by her own team leader, Weiss opted for the safe strategy of staying close to the station. Walking around, she meticulously looked at every exhibit and artifact. Surprising her the most was the fact the railway had been around long before its engines. For nearly a century before that, it was run by mules hauling carts along its rails. Yet there was one exhibit that caught her eye that made her stop in her tracks.
The exhibit before her was about one of the engines on the railway, Number 5 to be precise. Yet what drew her to it was a picture. Despite it being black and white, it was a tall, well-built man with a white beard, with a facial structure like her mother's and her own.
"Grandfather…?" Weiss let out in quiet shock.
The picture was of him, surrounded by railway workers. Between them, however, was an engine far boxier and squatter, with no funnel. Reading it, it was an old electric engine that long ago used to work in the Schnee Dust Company's mines here in Vale. However, when it was no longer fit for purpose, her grandfather, Nicholas Schnee, donated it to the railway in its earlier years. To which, the railway named it in his honor as thanks. After reading that, Weiss smiled and teared up a little. She did not remember much about her grandfather, but it warmed her heart to see him again. Even in such a limited form.
With Jaune and Pyrrha: In Town
Near the station, Jaune sat on the edge of a fountain in a square. In his hand, he had a big bag of chips that he was eating at an unhealthy rate. Worry and nervousness was painted across his face. As Pyrrha walked up holding a water bottle for him, her expression went to worry for her team leader and friend.
"Jaune? Is everything okay?" the redheaded champion asked her partner in concern.
Jaune jumped a bit, startled by Pyrrha's appearance. "Why wouldn't everything be?" Jaune answered quickly.
"You're really digging into that bag of chips. Are you sure you're all right?" she replied, looking at the large bag.
"It's like you can see right through me…" Jaune sighed in frustration. "Can I do this, Pyrrha?"
Pyrrha was surprised by the question. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't you be able to?" she asked, confused.
"How can I do this when I know I'm going to lose? Hell, I might get last place knowing my luck…" Jaune moaned, as he hung his head, as if already admitting defeat.
Pyrrha sat down next to the blonde knight, placing a hand on his. "Jaune… it's fine. You don't have to win. You just need to do your best." she reassured him.
"What if my best isn't good enough?" Jaune asked her.
"If my time in tournaments has taught me anything, Jaune, it's that winning isn't everything. I can't tell you how many times I've lost before I finally started my three-year winning streak." Pyrrha admitted to her partner.
Jaune at first sat there, before letting out a small smile, and finally stood up. "Alright, I'll try it. Thanks, Pyrrha." Jaune answered her warmly.
Pyrrha smiled and gently gripped his hand, a light blush on her face at the sight of the blonde's smile. "I'm happy to help, Jaune…"
Before Pyrrha could continue, they both got text notifications on their scrolls. It read, "Train's ready. Head over to the station."
"I knew Ruby ran fast. I didn't think she could work that fast." Jaune said in shock.
Pyrrha nodded, equally surprised. "Neither did I. Well, let's go, Jaune. We can go at a slower pace so that you can rest your stomach on the way." the redheaded champion told the blonde knight.
With a nod from Jaune, the two were off. As they made it to the platform, the rest of the group trickled in and converged. They did not have to wait long before a shrill steam whistle was heard. What backed down onto the platform line was the last thing they expected. Instead of a line of coaches, instead was a brake van and a line of thirteen mine wagons, headed by the blue Number 1 locomotive. Ruby cheekily popped her head out of the left side of the cab.
"All aboard the mine truck special!" Ruby yelled.
"I am not getting in that." Weiss said plainly.
"I think it's rather quaint." Azura replied with a smile.
"They're used for slate, Weiss. All that's in there is some Dust." Zhan called from the cab.
"I am fairly sure Ruby's weirdo boyfriend would like this sort of thing. Where is he, anyway?" Weiss said as she climbed in a wagon, occupying it with Blake.
"Oh, he couldn't come today. He got stuck with weekend detention for replacing Professor Port's mustache shampoo with hair removal cream." Ruby replied with a shrug.
"That is a fate worse than death." Nora groaned.
"Alright, Zhan! Begin when you are ready!" Azura yelled.
With a smirk from the cab, Zhan blew the whistle twice, before easing open the regulator lever. Slowly, steam entered the cylinders of the engine, and, with a hiss and a wheeze, the engine began to move. However, it was far more sluggish than they all expected. As if it was gasping for breath with each puff. Despite that, they made it past the platform and began their journey up into the hills.
Late That Night: Engine Workshop
"Come on! Come on! Ruby, get the EZ-80 can!" Zhan yelled from under the engine.
"On it, Zhan!" Ruby replied, going to get the can of lubricant.
Grabbing it from Ruby, Zhan stood in a channel underneath the engine, mostly used for cleaning the firebox and maintenance. The engine had been partially stripped down as the two had spent the last several hours trying to find out the source of the problem. During the run, even as early as firing it up, Number 1 had a problem with steaming. While they could build a good fire, it simply was not getting into the cylinders.
"I just don't get it. We've given her all new tubes and cylinders by now. What could be causing it?" Zhan muttered to himself.
"Is everything alright?" A calm voice asked.
Ruby turned to face who made the noise. To her surprise, a man of average height, clad in simple brown monk robes stood at the entrance to the shed. His features were plain, with brown hair and clear blue eyes. In one of his hands, he held a simple, well-worn walking stick. Everything about him really was worn, as if he had been working in the harsh elements for years. Ruby, looking at him, could have sworn she had seen him from somewhere, but she just could not put her finger on it.
"I apologize if I was disturbing you. I just heard a commotion and wanted to see if everything was okay." The man said.
"No, sir. You're all right. We are just having trouble getting this engine fixed." Zhan said, motioning to allow him to enter.
"Is something wrong with it? It looks quite well." The man said, stepping in as the wind began to pick up outside.
"She's an old girl, mister. And we can't figure out what's wrong with her, since we've done just about everything we can think of to fix her up for tomorrow's race." Ruby explained, scratching her head in confusion about what could be wrong.
"I see. Is there anything missing?" The man asked, as if trying to look at the problem from a different angle.
"All the parts are here, aside from what we stripped off to check for issues. It's been some years since she's been in an overhaul. Could probably use one, honestly." Zhan said, lamenting the state of the locomotive.
"In my experience, simply having all the parts doesn't mean something will work. It's only when they are properly fitted and well fitted will they work properly." The man said, which caused Zhan to raise an eyebrow.
"Not fitted properly… wait a minute…" Zhan said before jumping up to get his face deeper into the bowels of the machine. "Son of a bitch!"
"Is something wrong, Zhan?" Ruby asked in concern, leaning in.
"It's the air pump and steam line! They're not fully in there as they should! And they've built up clinker and ash in there! That's why she's running so bad! She can barely breathe!" Zhan explained, as if he felt dumb that he did not think of it sooner.
"Of course! Why didn't we think of that!?" Ruby asked, facepalming her forehead in disbelief.
"Ruby! Go off and get the entire tool rack 2B! And get the cleaning tools as well!" Zhan turned away from the man to say.
"I'm on it!" Ruby replied, zipping off with her Semblance in a flash of rose petals.
"Thank you, sir! You…" Zhan said as he turned to thank the man, but he was nowhere to be found. As if he had never existed. "Where did he go?"
To Be Continued…