The Lost Kingdom Rises

Chapter 2

Leaving the Nest

It was truly fascinating. In all honesty it reminded him of the Pilgrim's Way, there was just so much green! The student of Monomon had been traveling for little over a day and it already topped his other excursions. His orders were simple, explore the world and discover its state of being, and retrieve a very important artifact. If Hallownest was to return to the world then they needed all the information they could get. Getting that artifact would need all of that information and more.. A very simple but very daunting task. A hand reached up to brush the mask that resided atop his head, relishing the comfort it gave him. It was a gift from Monomon, one that he treasured very deeply. And with his onerous task he needed all the comfort he could get. He stared at his hand as it fell to his side, it was still a very odd thing to get used to, this façade. He was still a bug, but he wasn't. Just like Hornet, the other chosen for her own important journey. They, as well as the others, were given bodies that would fit this world's standards. Apparently the people living above ground weren't bugs, how odd. He almost didn't believe it until Hornet brought the two outsiders to the City of Tears. So strange, squishy things with odd fur on their heads. Perhaps they were a type of moth? Ah, thoughts for later.

He spent hours like that, trekking through the large plants with hard brown surfaces, until he reached the first sign of civilization. A dirt path. How unbelievably mundane and exciting all at the same time. For it was just a simple dirt path, but at the same time it was a dirt path from a lost civilization! You see, Hallownest May be a legend to those who live above. However Above-Ground was exactly that to those who lived in Hallownest. People ventured above of course, but they were never really keen on speaking about it. There was a particularly interesting and popular rumor that Oro the Nailmaster has taken a student or two during a supposed visit. Whether this was folly or not was up for a very heated debate. Perhaps he could meet the person? It was only a few years ago, so the person might still be alive. Well, thoughts for later, for now he had a path to follow. And a new adventure ahead of him, but as his feet carried him forwards his mind left to his earlier conversation.

Days Earlier. . .

The

Atop the tower in the City of Tears, Lurien watched. What exactly was he watching? Everything. Knowledge was power after all, and in that regard he was one of the most powerful beings on the planet. His current gaze was on the Forgotten Crossroads, someone had been stealing a grub's children. A pity to be sure, but that wasn't his concern. His gaze shifted, but he didn't move. Didn't move in his seat, didn't even blink, he simply moved,

"Do you understand?"

Quirrel flinched a little bit, lost in his thoughts. He was still getting used to the effects of the blessing. Magic truly was a wondrous thing.

"Sorry? Ah, could you repeat that please?"

Lurien suppresses a sigh, Quirrel was unbelievably useful so he would forgive any adjustments he was going through. Finally his gaze settled, the sky was overhead, a gleaming castle stood strong and proud, its powerful head sipping a cup of coffee. How powerful, and yet completely unaware that he was being watched. Another strange but walked through a pair of doors, blonde 'fur' on its head and spectacles on its face. Humans were indeed truly odd creatures. Squishy, and with their skeletons on the inside of their bodies. Absurd.

"You are to obtain a very powerful artifact from the Above-Ground. We do not know where it is, but it has become active, and is extremely dangerous. The Above-Ground is in a very precarious situation, so close to war, and this could tip that scale. You're mission is to go and fetch this artifact before it can be used in the wrong hands." He explained, his vision changing again, this time to a road with a figure riding a horse. "Things are changing, pieces moving, and the Pale King has decided that we should slowly bring ourselves back into the world. If we are not careful, we could find ourselves dragged into the problems of the Above-Ground."

Quirrel listened time every word, memorizing it. He was good like that, it's why Lurien preceded him over the other. . . Workers. Very reliable, he hadn't a doubt that he would be successful.

"So I'm looking for an object of incredible power, do we have any idea what it is? Where it might be?" Quirrel asked. He needed something to go off of.

"Yes, it has many names, and a very unmistakable essence to it. I believe you may know it as the Dream Nail. So it may take the form as a weapon or a tool. I can somewhat narrow down the location, it's on the continent of the Wizard. . ."

"Ah. . ." That, might be an issue.

"Yes, do stay safe in that strange world. Oh? What's this?" Lurien moved from the conversation.

Quirrel modded and took that as his cue to leave, moving until he was making his way down the tower. Lurien on the other hand was watching a quickly developing battle, between three of the Witch's pawns and one of the Wizard's most valued pieces."

"Oh it does look like she might lose, I am curious, will stealing a Maiden's powers succeed?"

A development, another of his agents was interfering, but the Maiden was already crippled. It was truly looking grim, and then something not even he predicted cane to pass. Hornet, the Gendered Child, interfered. Why? What possibly could have driven her to do that? More developments, more things for him to watch. For the first time in a long time, Lurien moved from his telescope. Standing up he folded his limbs behind his back and walked over to a table, with a triad checkered board on it. A game of Hallownest origin. Idly humming, he knocked over a piece on one side, and moved a piece on another team. This board represented the three main players in "The Game." Salem, the Grimm-Queen. Ozpin, the Wizard. The Pale King, the Wyrm. Three sides with their own agendas. Lurien? Well, even he knew that some pieces had to be sacrificed in order to win. The Maiden might recover, but this could work to their advantage. What would Ozpin bargain to have her back safely? What would Salem bargain? Curious and curiouser he became as he moved back to his telescope. He had a kingdom to watch after all.

"Why?"

That was the question at the forefront of Hornet's mind when she was told of her mission to the Above-Ground, the new official name for the world they were returning to. She was to become a student. . . A damn student at an academy. She detailed the explanation at that point, furious at the implications. She was Hallownest's Sentinel, it's protector! Child of the Deepnest and the Wyrm, and one of the most skilled warriors outside of the Five Knights. Yet she was going to be a student. WHY?!

"Hornet, please calm—"

The White Lady, serene and patient as always, didn't raise her voice. She only tried to salvage this conversation. Hornet was a very. . . Spirited individual, cocky and proud, yet compassionate towards those she saw worthy. That pride was hard-earned and proven, so it made sense why she was rather miffed by the plan. That was to be expected, which made the White Lady think why she hadn't prepared for it.

"No! I'm not going to calm down!" She snapped, "This is absolutely ridiculous, I'm being sent away as a student! I don't have anything to learn, I have duties here! I don't understand, what have I done?! Is this a sort of punishment? Have I failed you and the king?" Her voice faltered at that, and it made sense now.

Hornet was raised in Deepnest, where strength and perfection meant survival and victory. The land was the epitome of 'Survival of the Fittest.' Hornet saw this as a punishment for a failure she didn't know she committed. It was a silly notion, but the recent shock and the recent developments probably weren't helping the normally jubilant warrior. She thought she had failed, and was being sent away for it. If the White Lady didn't do something than this situation would only deteriorate more. So she acted.

Two hands gently yet firmly found themselves gripping Hornet's shoulders, grounding the warrior.

"Hornet, please listen! You are not being sent away as a punishment, you are being sent on a mission of the upmost importance. One that I can only entrust to you, the other knights are far too busy in their duties to send away. When the outsider left, he went back to his leader, the Wizard. A deal was struck, and while we house the Maiden, he requested that we send someone of our own to this 'Beacon' of his. When the Maiden recovers, she will act as a representative, and you will do the same. However you're station had another purpose. The Wizard is treacherous, his actions generations ago are not forgotten, and we will never trust his like again. He is most likely going to try and seduce you into the war against the Grimmqueen. You are to let us know immediately when that happens through the Dream, and what his possible plans are. Your mission is to spy on him. Do you understand?" The Queen tried to get through.

Hornet was a truly wonderful bug, and even if she wasn't the White Lady's offspring she still loved her as if she was.

Her shocked expression was hidden behind her horned mask, but Hornet still nodded. Her worries were mostly gone, but she still didn't enjoy the prospect of being a student.

"What kind of school is this anyways?" She asked, if she was going to be a student then she at least wanted to know what she would be learning. The White Lady's response was laced with amusement, already knowing what Hornet's reaction would probably be.

"It is a combat school, meant to train the youths of Above-Ground and mold them into its defenders, some of the best warriors on Remnant will be attending." As she expected, Hornet visibly perked up when she nodded in acceptance. Hornet was wise for one so young, but she was definitely Herrah's child. Giving her thanks, she turned to walk away, mumbling something under her breath.

"Well that doesn't sound too horrible." The White Lady let out an amused noise as she turned back to look put the window at the City below. That was well and sorted, but laces of worry still made themselves known. A certain moth was coming to visit, and when she saw the outsider it would not go over well. She could only hope her beloved returned before then.

"Face me!"

Oro was not having a good day. He was before, he was finally enacting his plan. But then. . .

"You will face me! For I am-"

This infernal bug, for whatever reason, decided to challenge him.

"Fuck off." Oro grumbled, pushing aside the bug that didn't even reach his waist. Only for him to jump right back in front of Oro, Nail drawn, and spewing utter nonsense.

"I am Zote the Mighty! You will face me, Nailmaster! And I shall defeat you and take your title!"

Utter nonsense, it was almost enough to make him laugh, almost. At first he was amused, nor he was just utterly irritated and steadily growing angry. He had plans to fulfill, a very important journey to take, and a reunion to make. However, just as he was making his way to King's Station, this happened. He could hear the Stag Beetles scurrying around, he could see the doors. Once again he pushed the big out of the way and continued forward. Once again this 'Zote' jumped in front of him.

"I,"

This.

"Am Zote,"

Damn.

"The Mighty!"

Bug!

That's! It! With little to no effort, Oro picked Zote up my the mask, and hurled him away from him. He could vaguely see his small frame summersaulting through the rain before he heard a satisfying 'plunk' as he fell into a river, or a pipe, or something. Oro didn't care, he could finally leave and go to the Above-Ground.

Years ago he had left the Kingdom of Hallownest and ventured into the world above. He made a short life there, as what they called a "Hunter." But he found seclusion in snow-capped mountains. It was to put space between him and his brother, Mato. They. . . Had a falling out, space would do them both good. One day he would reunite with him, but two angry Nailmasters was a recipe for disaster. He enjoyed the seclusion, and the Nights. Absolutely beautiful, the stars painting the sky and the cracked moon shining with its brilliance. He watched it every night without fail.

He also took a pupil, yes indeed. Apparently he gained fame as he did in Hallownest, and that warranted the attention of a young lady wishing to become a Huntress. For some absurd reason she thought he could help her to attain that goal.

He said no.

But if there was one thing that he came to respect about his pupil, it was her persistence. She wouldn't give up, a bit like that infernal bug, but in a good way and a less irritating one. The real reason he decided to teach her though, that was far more important. Her reason for wanting to learn was a noble one, one that he could accept. That persistence came into play during her training. Humans, he noted, were extremely frail creatures, and it showed. His training was brutal, tiresome, and was not meant for the weak of heart. Hell, the art of the Nail could be described as that. Her persistence and unwillingness to give up eventually, dare he admit it, grew on him. She was a worthy pupil, and he was proud to see her grow. Eventually, as with all students, she learned all that he could teach her. Unfortunately she couldn't learn the rest from Sheo and Mato, but his Nail Art fit her the best, it seemed. So he sent her off with his blessing, and to his dismay he didn't see her again before he left back for Hallownest.

That's why he was going to the surface. He wanted to meet up with her, to find her and test her, as any good teacher would. How had she grown? Would she surpass him? That was a thought that excited him greatly. She was a worthy pupil and would be a worthy opponent when the time came. He knew her name, and he knew a little bit more of what she told him. He would find her, he wouldn't return until he did. It was unfortunate that he was still at odds with his brother, but that was just how things were.

He passed through the hustle and bustle of Kong's Station, bugs of all sorts scurrying about, Stags storming off and coming in to take passengers all across the Stagways. It was organized chaos. He shifted the bag he was carrying over his shoulder and approached the private Stag Station, paying for a single ticket and, despite the beetle's confusion, gave it directions to the Above-Ground station. It was still being constructed, simple but efficient. It would be expanded upon if things went well. For now it was a simple place. He stepped out in the air, taking in the senses of the wind and the sun, birds chirping in the forest, he had missed this in a way. It was good to be back. He secured his nail, jostled his pack a little bit, and set off seemingly into the wilderness. He knew the way, he had been there before.

Three Years Ago. . .

Meditation, something integral to Oro's mastery of the Nail. While important, training the body was not enough on its own. To be an efficient fighter, one would must master the body, and the mind. Meditation was an excellent way to clear the mind, and Oro did so every day. Honing the Mind as well as the Arm holding the Nail was one of the many, many lessons instilled in him by the Great Nailsage. Well, more beaten into him then instilled, but it worked. The Great Nailsage was brutal in his methods, but that brutality shaped Sheo, Mato, and him into some of the best fighters Hallownest had ever seen. They were painful, the training was hard, but the pride he felt when he bested his master was worth everything he experienced. He valued the lessons, he wouldn't be here today if it weren't for the training. He wouldn't be on an isolated peak, under the stars, and in one of the most Wondrous lands he had ever experienced.

The reason for his location was a sour one. He and Mato had a. . . Falling out of sorts. That was putting it absurdly lightly but it hurt to call it a fight. Even calling that was putting it lightly. Needless to say the two were closer to enemies than brothers, so he left. Oro thought that as long as he was in Hallownest a confrontation was inevitable, so he left. He knew there was a world beyond, he did not know that it was so similar and so different to the one he called home. Technology was far ahead of Hallownest, however when it came to the Art of the Soul, the new world had a pathetically basic grasp of it. He never made use of it, but even he knew how little they knew. 'They' was another thing entirely. Humans and Faunus, very odd bugs indeed. Squishy things, weak, and with fur in the oddest of places. He stood out, but not as much as he thought he would. Apparently he was seen as one of their warriors, a "Huntsman," as they called it. He wasn't, and never claimed to be, but he quickly built up a reputation.

You see, this new world was beset by a totally different breed of creature that he had never seen before, the Grimm. Soulless creatures that were drawn to negativity like a noble to geo. They came in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some were smart, some lacked any form of intelligence. It was the first time he visited a village that it happened.

He dodged a swipe from the lupine creature, taking its head as it fell to his old position. He took a moment to take everything in, a village in ruins, at some point a fire had started. People were running, dying, and fighting in the streets, all the while a horde of soulless monsters fueled the death that had swept over the previous settlement. There would be no recovering this, if was a simple scenario of kill or be killed, if they survived then they would re-locate. On any other day all of them would've died, but every other day didn't have Oro the Nailmaster. He wouldn't let all of them die, he couldn't. He heard a scream and looked left, a mother and her child were cowering in front of a large creature. An Ursa if he was correct. He didn't have to think twice before he was in-between them, his Pure Nail hoisted over his shoulder in a ready stance. The creature roared at him, attempting to intimidate him into submission.

"GYASOOOO!"

Oro roared his battle cry, and for a moment the battlefield stopped, everything trembling under force and authority it carried. Some of the younger Grimm ran, experiencing true fear for the first time. The Ursa hesitated, taken aback, but it still thought itself superior.

Oro moves first, leaping into a flip and bringing his Nail down onto the Ursa who had enough of a mind and barely enough time to leap back. The ground cracked under the force of the strike, and Oro immediately started his next attack. He charged an attack, dashing towards the bear in a flash and slashing from left to right. Despite its age, the Ursa couldn't dodge, and was left with a lethal cut in its stomach. Oro gave another downward strike sealing the bear's fate, and ending the creature of darkness there.

He spared a glance back at the family, the creature already dissolving, and continued fighting well into the night. And so the Legend of Oro the Blademaster was born on Remnant.

His reminiscing was brought to a halt when he heard footsteps. He let out a sigh, he knew what was probably coming, and not for the first time. With his legend, came a sort of realization that he was a master in a totally unique way of fighting. With that fame, came people wanting to utilize it, from pompous nobles wanting to be special to a Headmaster at a Huntsman Academy. The former were various, and always turned down. The latter was special, and also fervently turned down. No doubt this was yet another person trying to gain favor, or looking for glory. So call him surprised when he saw a young girl and another old enough to be a sibling, or perhaps a mother. He looked up from his seated position, giving them the courtesy of his acknowledgment.

"Hello, I'm—"

"I don't care who you are, I know why you're probably here, and if I'm right then the answer is no," he interrupted.

The elder looked put off, obviously not expecting such a reaction. She held her tongue though, the younger of the two however. . .

"Hey! Don't interrupt my sister-"

So they were siblings? Huh, he could see it.

"-and why not?! Do you know why I am?!"

"No, am I supposed to?" He responded, completely oblivious.

He suppressed another sigh, which wouldn't help things if let out.. Apparently that wasn't the right response, the younger looked more than a little angry, and not at all threatening. Similar to one of those leafy creatures in the Pilgrim's Way that would scurry off at the first sign of danger.

"How dare you! I'll have you know that I'm—"

He interrupted her again, this time by standing up to his admittedly impressive height, and looking down at the younger. The sister could only stand by and watch with a frown.

"A self-entitled brat that is most likely a noble, or someone from the higher class, who wants to learn under me. Reasons of power, fame, a sense of being special? All utterly useless and none hold value to me. Believe me when I say that you are not the first, and you will most definitely not be the last one to come to this peak in order to be denied. So I will say it one more time. No."

She was absolutely furious, if her red face was any indication. Or perhaps it was embarrassment. I'm any case she walked up close to him, shaking, until she was right in front of him. Even then he still looked down on her, figuratively and literally. This was becoming a bit irritating, though her tenacity was commendable.

"I demand that you teach me, who are you to deny me of this!? Whoever your teacher was did a poor job of teaching you manners and respect for those above you!"

The room turned an icy cold, and a thick silence fell upon them. Where he had been irritated and dismissive before, he was now menacing and dangerous. He spoke in an tone full of ice and rage, pointing one finger dangerously at the child who would dare disrespect the Great Nailsage.

"You can demand all you want, you can insult all you want, but if you dare to insult my teacher, then I will personally throw you from this peak. It is becoming very late in the evening, I recommend you leave before you end up freezing to death, the mountains get very cold around this time."

He sat back down in his previous spot, head lowered in his meditative state, while the brat wilted in fear and resignation. He could still hear the conversation though, and the elder of the two comforting the devastated younger. It made him nauseous. Coming to his home, and demanding him to teach her, only to cry when he refused. There was no way he would teach this self-entitled brat.

It was close to an hour later that he heard another commotion, raising his head he was met with the sight of the brat. Though she looked much more unsure and hesitant than earlier. Two emotions filled him, irritation and slight surprise. Many had been denied, and none had ever came back for a second chance. He was curious and still more than a bit angry about her insult, but he cleared his mind. He would at least hear what she had to say before picking her up and throwing her from his home.

"Um. . . I-I'd like to start off by apologizing, it wasn't r-right for me to yell and insult you like that. Please forgive me." She finished with a small bow, still nervous.

He stared long and hard at her before sighing, "you are forgiven, now why are you still here?"

"I think you probably know. . . I humbly request that you make me your student, and teach me what you know about fighting." She didn't come up from her bow, shaking more than before now.

This was what he was looking for, not someone making demands. His teachings were a privilege, not a right. The same went for him when he had learned under his teacher. So now he would test her, and her answer would determine his answer.

"Why?"

That made her look up at him, mainly in confusion.

"Why do you want to learn from me? Surely you've a nice and comfortable life back where you come from. A life of comfort and plenty is not one most would pass up, and you wish to take the path of a warrior. Why?"

She gave him an odd look, but then she looked away deep in thought. When she looked back at him it was a look of determination. Good.

"I have a legacy of honor to uphold. When I learned I was capable of fighting, there wasn't a question of what I would do with my life. It's my duty." She answered with conviction.

Hmm. As honorable a reason as any else he would prefer. She didn't say that she wanted to use her strength to protect others. But then again, was that his original intention? He wanted to learn so he could be stronger, he learned to gain strength. Perhaps he could iron that out and input that desire to help others. He saw much of himself in her, albeit a much younger version of himself.

". . . Very well, I'll teach you. I also won't charge you the fee, count yourself lucky."

Her expression was one of utter shock, but that soon turned to absolute elation, and with it a small victory dance.

"Yes! Yes, I can't believe it!" She continued to ramble happily before Oro cleared his throat, giving her an odd look through his mask.

She straightened herself up, holding herself in a dignified manner and bowing at the waist before him. "Thank you, it is an honor that you would accept me as your pupil."

He bowed back to her, as any good Nailmaster would, though he did have a question. "What is your name, pupil."

"Oh, of course. It's Weiss."

"Weiss Schnee."

He looked up at the stars, thinking back to that night. The wheel of fate was turning, that much was obvious. In the coming years this world would need Unity, but would be threatened by destruction. Forces were moving unseen, working towards that destruction. Hallownest would unite and take its place as the Fifth Kingdom, or it would fall into ruin with the others following suit. His student would need him, maybe not right away, but when the time came he would be there for her. After all. . .

What teacher didn't come to the aid of their student?

Deep in a forest, an accordion sang its dreadful tone. The wind itself gave way and ceased for the dirge, the world dared not to interfere with what was about to happen. Red and black tents took up a clearing, and inside, a torch lit into a brilliant red light. Unnatural and sinister it roared in its crimson brilliance, and thunderous applause followed suit.

The accordion continued, something grim was happening unbeknownst to the world.

COVID sucks, then again so does Writer's Block. I was meaning to write more, but I've kind of gotten stuck on two of my stories. For now the main releases will be this, Remnant's Colossi, and two more I have in the works. Another secondary one is in development but more on that later.

So currently, Lost Kingdom Rises, Remnant's Colossi, a Halo x Mass Effect, and a Call of Duty x RWBY.

So in regards to this I'd like input on something. This chapter has come close to 5,000 words. Would you prefer that I release chapters like this more frequently, or a 10,000 word chapter less frequently. Aside from that the groundwork is still being laid down, side arcs are being introduced, and something sinister stirs in the background of it all. If it wasn't obvious, expect a Hornet centered story with Quirrel on the side. This was a bit messy but I want to give you guys something.

That's all I have for today

Regards to all, Digital.