#amber arc

YES!

As a reward for your patience, I give you the last chapter of Pollinated Juniper Berries +1

Pollinated Juniper Berries +1

Part 12

The Call to Arms sounds off on the Octuple’s scrolls and Jaune races past Nora, who is standing by the open front door holding a garden wagon by the handle. He’s in such a hurry to get ready he doesn’t see her politely raise her hand to get his attention.

Ruby has Petal Burst from the workshop to the front yard, Crescent Rose already having been with her there. Nora smiles and waves gently at her younger fiancee, who smiles back with a manic return wave. Yang walks past Nora who tries to get the blonde’s attention but when she fails she lowers her hand and shuts her mouth. Ruby just looks at Yang with narrowed eyes and points at the porch swing.

Jaune reappears trying to put his rust colored armor on with one hand while talking on his scroll with the other.

Jaune: “What do you mean, excuse me Nora…”

Nora: “Of course, Jaune.”

Jaune: “…you don’t know who sounded the alarm? Crimson and Ranger are on patrol with Pyrrha and Weiss… Dad is running up now… Did Ruby help fix his sword?” *shoots Ruby a glance to see her nodding with two thumbs up* “Yeah, she says it’s good… Okay, but mom, who DID sound the alarm if it wasn’t you or the Corcoran’s?”

Nora: “It was me.”

Jaune: “Oh, never mind, it was Nora… I don’t know why… I could ask her… How did you know she had the garden wagon with her…” *everyone present sees Jaune’s eyes open wider than they believed they could* “Nora? Did your water break?”

Nora: “Yes, dear.”

Yang: “THE BABY’S COMING!!!”

The kitchen door explodes into matchsticks as one Lie Ren runs through it at Aura enhanced speeds towards the bullhead.

Ren: “WOOHOO! I’LL GET THE SHIP, YOU GUYS GET NORA READY TO BOARD!”

Nora: *smiling serenely at the sight* “Lie seems quite excited, doesn’t he?”

Yang: “Nora? You okay, honey?”

Nora: “Oh yes, Yang, I am.”

Jaune: “You seem… … …calm?”

Nora: “I’ve already spoken with Doctor Solitaire. She will be meeting us at the hospital. Oh, Doctor Forrest will be there too, but she said that was mostly to keep you all calm.”

Ruby: “Are we sure she’s not a pod-person?”

The bullhead skims over the house before doing a 180 in mid flight and dropping just enough that the back loading ramp barely disturbs the grass

Ren: “LETS GO, LETS GO! MOVE IT, MOVE IT! JAUNE AND ISHMAEL, Y’ALL MAY WANT TO TAKE THE TRUCK! IF ANYONE GETS AIRSICK ON NORA IM THROWING THEM OUT OF MY SHIP! RUBY! GET YOUR ADORABLE ASS UP HERE AND GET IN MY COPILOT CHAIR. ITS TIME TO GO!”

Ruby: *looking back and Mr. Arc and Jaune as Yang drags her up the ramp behind Nora* “Help me.”

Jaune and Ishmael: *share a look and quickly step off ramp*

Ruby: “COWARDS!” *ramp closes and the ship takes off towards Domremy*

Ishmael: “Jaune, you pull the truck around and I’ll gather up everyone who wants to go into town.”

Jaune: “It will be everyone.”

Ishmael: “Yep. Tight squeeze but we’ll make it work.”

—Later that afternoon—

Horses being ridden on the streets of Domremy wasn’t anything new. Most of the populace was aware of the jackalope living with the Arcs, especially after the winter holidays. However a Huntsman riding a horse at a full gallop alongside the jackalope, whose riders white hair was blowing behind her like something out of a children’s cartoon, definitely caught some attention. So much so that when THE Pyrrha Nikos and some other Huntress sped by on motorcycles shortly afterwards no one paid that much attention.

When the last two arrived Pyrrha parked (illegally) and tossed her keys to Crimson. Ranger was busy trying to rub down the horse and see to Juniper since Weiss had abandoned him the same way Pyrrha had just done.

When Weiss and Pyrrha made it into the waiting room only the twins, Amber and Aurelia Arc were there.

Amber: “The baby has been born…”

Aurelia: “…and everyone else is either in the room with Nora, or…”

Amber and Aurelia Arc: “…at the prison with Dad and Jaune.”

Weiss: “Why is your father and Jaune in prison!?”

Amber and Aurelia: “Oh, they’re not…”

Amber: “Ren is in prison…”

Aurelia: “…for reckless driving…”

Amber: “…disorderly conduct…”

Aurelia and Amber: “…and public indecency.”

Pyrrha: “REN did something indecent!?”

Weiss: “What in the…was he like this when Lily was born?”

Pyrrha: “I don’t know. I was unconscious from blood loss, remember?”

Ruby: *coming up behind them* “Ready to meet our new daughter?”

Pyrrha: *gasps* “Another little girl?”

Weiss: *gives Ruby a peck on the lips* “Lead on Ruby.”

After a short walk they see a rather large room with almost every female living in the three houses in it. Everyone waves as they walk by.

Blake: *handing Lily to Pyrrha* “Thought we’d wait and let you introduce Lily to her little sister.”

Pyrrha: *gives Blake a quick kiss* “Thank you, but I wouldn’t have minded.”

They continue their walk to Nora’s recovery room. The new mother is sitting up in bed and Jaqueline is holding a swaddled baby up to her. Both are looking down with giant smiles.

Nora: *without looking up* “Hi you three. Want to meet the baby?”

Weiss: “Schetzi, all the military forces of Atlas couldn’t stop us.”

Pyrrha: “Have you picked a name yet?”

Nora: *whispers* “I have but I’m being naughty.”

Jaqueline: “She’s refusing to tell anyone until the boys get back.”

Nora: “Ren was…excitable today. He deserves to hear it aloud with the rest of her parents. Jaune too, since he went with dad to get Ren out of jail.”

Ren: “Well then, should I go get the rest of us?” *everyone in the room except Nora jumps as his sudden appearance startles them*

Jaune: *typing on his scroll* “On it.”

Jaqueline: “I’ll go see Ish and my other kids. That will make some room for everyone.”

When Ruby, Yang, and Blake join them in the room Nora uncovers the baby’s face.

Nora: “Everyone, this is Mullein Valkyrie.”

Ren: “Nora?” *lays his head in the crook of her neck, weeping loudly*

Nora: *looks at the rest of her fiancées* “Ren mentioned he wasn’t comfortable naming our kid after his parents. So I named her after his mom’s favorite flower. Also it goes with Lily!” *looks at Blake and Yang excitedly* “You two should DEFINITELY research flower names!”

Ren: *sits up, his face back to its usual impassive expression* “Just because Pyrrha and you named your children after flowers doesn’t mean that they have to.”

Nora: “I’m not FORCING them to. Boy I’m starved. Do they have pancakes in the cafeteria?”

Part 8 b (aka A Winter Holiday cont.)

Let it be said that Amber, Aurelia, Orla, and Amethyst had learned during the Rescue Day celebration who told a good holiday story. Before the four littlest (and Nora) had a chance to corner Blake, with puppy dog eyes at maximum yield, the faunus already had a storybook in hand and a cozy spot by the fire to read aloud.

Blake: “So it was that King Wenseloz the Good and his knights rode at dawn, to repel the invading bandit army. The people of Stephanos, immigrants from Mistral, had held the pass through the mountains for two days without aid. And truly they expected none, for they were foreigners with no ties to the Kingdom but the taxes they paid. Their spears were blunted and their shields were bent and the injured now outnumbered the whole. On the dawn of the third day, as the bandits made ready for another charge a horn sounded in the east. None from Stephanos knew the sound, but they saw the response from the bandits. The outlaws turned toward the east, stringing bows and planting spears to take a charge. The ground vibrated with the rumble of hooves and the King’s banner came into view.

Seeing a chance to route the bandits, Captain Ageon Nikos…huh.” *Blake flips the book around to see who the author of this edition is* “I wonder if he’s one of Pyrrha’s ancestors? I’ve never heard a version that names him before.”

Nora: “You can ask her. After you finish the story, please.”

Blake: *goes to apologize but Ren kisses her before she gets the chance* “Okay, not apologizing. Just gonna read.” *reopens the book* “Seeing a chance to route the bandits, Captain Ageon Nikos commands his sturdiest men to bring two shields each to the front line. Then his best spearmen were posted behind them and his remaining archers behind them. Then he timed his mad charge to disrupt the bandit archers before they could release their volley. Surprisingly from the north, the most perilous part of the pass for man and beast, arrows flew, taking the lives of the bandit leaders. Without their leaders, and attacked from three sides, the healthy bandits ran away. Leaving their injured and their slaves behind.’ Oh, thank you for the tea.” *Blake paused to sip the soothing drink*

Yang: “Our pleasure Cutie-cat.”

Ruby: “Yeah…have you gotten to Johanna’s Ride and the King’s Trees yet?”

Blake: “Not yet. The slave boy is about to reunite with his father.”

Ruby and Yang: “Oh, okay.”

Blake: “Brunaz ran in from the north. ‘Brun!’ he yelled over and over until a boy of ten ran from the huddled slaves into his arms. The bandits, to their folly, had abducted the son of the man known as ‘The King of the Wilds’ and his father had tracked them across the lands. The two celebrated their reunion, speaking words in their native tongue. None of the knights or the Stephanosians understood it, but King Wenceloz the good looked on in surprise upon hearing it.”

Weiss: “Oh, my!”

Nora: “NOPE!”

Weiss: “Nope?”

Nora: “We can ponder if Wenceloz is just another incarnation of Ozpin and Brunaz is an ancestor of Ranger later. Story! Now!”

Weiss: “Kitten, I apologize for the interruption. Please entertain our pregnant girlfriend.” *looks at the large crowd now gathered in the Arc’s living room* “And everyone else.”

Blake: “Brunaz brought his boy to the king. ‘Tell him what you said to me, boy,’ and with that prompting Brun told the king of the bandits that had ridden out. Dressed as royal knights and planning to ride into the castle and raid what they could while the king was here. ‘We must warn them,’ the king said, ‘but how. They have a head start and our horses are tired.’ ‘HA!’ laughed Brunaz, ‘there are faster paths than the roads if you know the wild areas of your lands. And my beast will take any knight you wish through them.’ With a short discussion Johanna came forth and shed her heavy armor. Brunaz threw his heavy brown cloak over her shoulders and whistled back towards his men. A creature of legend answered his call, bigger than a horse and built like a rabbit with ANTLERS!” *Blake shuts the book* “Okay, this seems unreal. Every version I’ve ever seen described a reindeer. Not a jackalope!”

Every Arc in attendance gave a chuckle at Blake’s outrage. Saphron pulled out her scroll and sent Blake and the rest of the Octuple a picture. It was of her and Terra in a date at a museum. The pic showed them posing in front of a large painting showing a blonde haired, blue eyed woman astride a creature somewhat between a reindeer and a rabbit. Most of the Octuple zeroed in on the woman’s tabard. Blue and white with a pair of yellow crescent moons.

Ren: *looks around the room* “Does Jaune know about this?”

Amber: “No. Saph just saw the portrait herself.”

Aurelia: “But she bought him a print of it at the museum gift shop.”

Amber & Aurelia: “It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

Weiss: “I’m sure he’ll love it. Now, Kitten, continue the story please.”

Blake: “Johanna hopped into the saddle of the strange creature and, after Brunaz whispered something in its ear, they took off. ‘It will be dark soon. Is she a faunus?’ Brunaz asked the king.

‘No,’ the king answered simply, ‘but I should be able to assist her with my own magics.’ With an elaborate wave of his arms Wenceloz released his spell. It was meant to make tell the leaders of the villages and towns along her way to light torches or signal fires to help her see.”

Blake: “But the bandits had their own mage, who had cast a spell making the king’s magic go awry. So it instead put the adults along the way asleep and gave the children the message. But the evil mage had underestimated the determination of the kingdom’s children. As night fell and Johanna’s ride continued she saw torches, lanterns, occasionally even toys that had been tied to the trees to reflect the moonlight. And where other light sources had run sparse, wooden and cloth toys set afire and thrown into the trees. With these lights, and her strange steed she rode through the night. When the bandits arrived at the castle, they found it barred against them and every adult capable of holding sling or bow awaiting them on the ramparts.

Ruby: “Woohoo! Imagine their surprise!”

Blake: “Back in Stephanos, King Wenceloz received a magical message letting him know his gamble had paid off. The Wild-men and the Stephanosians insisted on celebrating the victory and the Festival of Winter together with the king’s men. But none of the three groups could agree on how to celebrate. Arguments got heated to the point that some worried another battle was about to begin.”

Orla: “Oh, no.”

Blake: “However the king pulled a sword off the wall and pointed at the town blacksmith. ‘You there? Is this sword iron?’ The blacksmith was quick to answer. ‘No, your Majesty, it is Mistralian bronze. A combination of bronze, iron, and dust that makes for a longer lasting blade .’ The king nodded, ‘so I assumed. Alloys ARE stronger. Blending our traditions can make us stronger as a people too. A royal decree! From this day forward the Winter festivals of all our many cultures shall be blended. We will call this new Winter’s holiday, “Nomme Deliquesce!”

Pyrrha: “Wait a minute! Are you saying the ridiculous name of Remnant’s winter holiday is just, just…”

Jaqueline: “A bastardization of the original name from days of old? Yes.”

Yang: “So how did the name Halloween come about? It’s a MUCH cooler name than…that.”

Weiss: “According to a legend I read, a flying person sheathed in green flame said the word to one of the Old Kingdom monarchs on Solitas. Supposedly as a description of the Grimm. I always thought the story very silly. All Atlesians do.”

Blake: “SO the king had created a new tradition and upon his arrival home was told of the bravery of the kingdom’s children and their sacrifice of toys and other possessions to aid Damme Johanna. So he made it a point to have one of his knights recreate her ride on its anniversary and pass out toys and treats to the children. The practice spread to most the nobles of the kingdom and the holiday as we know it was born.”

Part 8 a (aka A Winter Holiday)

The Arc home was filled with love, laughter, and music. The winter holidays had come and a large meal had been prepared and eaten. Jaune and his father had pulled out guitars and played while Ranger accompanied them with a small baldrian. Crimson had finally relented to let Jaqueline hold Zinnica and pulled out a fiddle, so with an impromptu band they sang and danced. Amber, Aurelia, Orla, and Amethyst Corcoran had opened a slew of presents each. But everyone had admitted defeat on who had ‘won’ when the twins opened Ruby’s gifts. The girls had opened fully functional, if currently dulled, replicas of Milo and Akouo (for Amber) and Myrtenaster (for Aurelia). Jaune and Ranger had made customs carrying cases with the two teen idol’s autographs shellacked in place. Ren and Nora had presented coupons for free training with the weapons. The twins had attached themselves to their idols and hadn’t let go until they fell asleep in their arms. Orla had adored the Octuple’s gifts of articulated dolls that had been redressed and outfitted like all the Huntresses and Huntsmen in her life. Amethyst had her own stuffies of Juniper, Zwei, and many of the animals on the Arc’s land. The two babies had many gifts that they didn’t really appreciate, being too young. Blake had given the Corcoran’s a book her mother had given her about the extra needs of a faunus child, and Crimson promised to give it back soon with a wink. Ishmael and Jaqueline had presented the Corcoran’s with a deed. It was for the plot of the Arc family land that the mother-in-law suite was built on.

It was very late when the Octuple walked back into their home with a bundled Lily asleep in Yang’s arms. Their King’s Tree was the only light in the living room and they all chose to leave it that way as Yang took Lily to the nursery. When Yang returned her sister and five of their significant others were staring daggers at a certain knight sitting in the middle of the couch.

Yang: “What?” *ruby points to a small pile of presents under the tree. They are sloppily wrapped and when Yang sees a name tag for Weiss’s, it’s obviously Jaune’s handwriting*

Pyrrha: “He broke the rules.”

Jaune: “I didn’t! I handmade everything! No lein was spent!”

Ren: “Jaune, a loophole, really?”

Jaune: “I’m sorr, umph.” *Blake performed SOP, interrupted his apology*

Weiss: “Apologies are unnecessary as we knew you may try something like this. So your punishment…” *hands Jaune a much prettier wrapped parcel* “…is to open your present first.”

Jaune: *looking bewildered, takes the gift* “How did you guess?”

Nora: “Because you are our Jaune-Jaune. The sky is blue, the grass is green, and Jaune goes above and beyond for the people he loves. Now open it, my feet are swollen.” *Jaune does as he’s told. Inside the paper is a scrap book with a picture of the eight that Velvet had taken prior to their Octuple being formed*

Weiss: *sits beside him* “Before you open it I need you to hear something. There aren’t many things you need. You seem to prefer a simple life and we are so lucky you’ve allowed us to be a part of it. So this is a collection of thoughts and stories people wanted to share about you. We’re all in here, and your family and our teachers; both past and present. The first entry is from Professor Ozpin’s personal journal. Professor Goodwitch found it during the work to rebuild Beacon.”

Jaune: *opens the book to read the first entry out loud* “‘I find the case of Mr. Jaune Arc quite fascinating. I must admit that the forged transcripts that were sent in had gotten by the staff. Which only proves that digital paperwork IS inferior. However his performance at initiation and subsequent dismal Combat Class scores made me take a closer look.’ I’m not sure I should read this.”

Ruby: *plops to the other side of him* “Read it Jaune, and remember that Ozpin never thought anyone ever would.”

Jaune: “Okay, I’ll keep going. ‘What I found perplexed me. Here was the son of one of my graduates with seemingly no knowledge of what he could be. I suspect neither of his parents wanted him to be a legacy Huntsman. Having buried so many students, friends, and even my own children I completely understand their reticence. However there is a special component I have found all of the great Huntsmen and Huntresses have: Drive. And, after getting out of his own head, I saw Mr. Arc had it in spades.’” *Jaune clears his throat, his eyes wet* “‘Ms. Rose may very well be the last living Silver-Eyed Warrior. Ms. Nikos may be the greatest fighting prodigy in an age. But Mr. Arc? Jaune can keep them alive. I’ve no doubt that he will make of himself a wall…’” *Jaune’s voice is too choked up to continue. Pyrrha, weeping for him, gently removes the scrapbook from his hands and sits on his lap. She allows him to hide the fact he is crying by pressing his face into her chest*

Pyrrha: “‘ I’ve no doubt that he will make of himself a living wall that the evil of this world must break itself upon to keep them all safe.’ And you have, Beloved. We all see it. See you trying SO hard to be here for us.”

Ren: *swallows the lump in his throat* “But right now we are going to be here for you. Are you ready to rejoin our cuddle pile.”

Nora: *blinking, a lot* “Blake misses having you in the middle with her.”

Blake: *weeping openly* “I really do!”

Jaune kisses Pyrrha before she gets off his lap, then he kisses Ruby and Weiss before he stands. He kisses all of his lovers ending with Blake, whose hand he grabs as he looks towards the bedroom.

Jaune: “Thank you, everybody.” *chokes on a laugh* “You can all open your presents from me tomorrow morning. Let’s go to bed.”

———Later That Night———

A secret tap! Ren’s eyes opened as he became alert. He knew it wasn’t danger, there was a different tap for that, so he waited for his sight to adjust to the dark and found his very pregnant girlfriend looking down at him grinning. He slipped out of the bed despite Ruby’s sleeping protest at the loss of his warmth.

Ren: “Are you wanting to go see if any more presents have appeared beneath the tree?”

Nora: “I don’t believe in that old story anymore. You know that. Besides…” *gestures to the giant bed with all their lovers sleeping peacefully* “… we already have the best gifts ever.”

Ren: *lays his hand on Nora’s swollen belly* “And soon we will have another.”

Nora kisses him deeply. In fact it appears they may start a full on make out session when a new noise catches their attention. A low, continuous, vibrating sound was coming from near the center of the bed where Jaune and Blake lay intertwined for the first time in months.

Nora: “Ren, is Blake purring? I’ve never heard her purr before, have you?”

Ren: “Nora? Do you know where the book, that Kali gave Blake when she was in for Rescue Day, is currently?”

Nora: “Blake gave it to Crimson to help her with Zinnica. Why?”