Hello everyone! Nevermore is over and now it's time for Reconstruction! For once, I am perfectly happy with the title of this fic… Now I just need to figure out a name for the series… My beta reader fearnodark17 may also contribute a chapter here and there to this whole thing.

Anyway, if you've come to this and haven't read A Rose's Scales and Reversal, you'll be completely lost after five seconds of reading this. If you have questions along the lines of 'Who the heck is Aaron?' 'What's up with Yang's hair?' 'Where's our corgi overlord?' 'Do we need to put the author into an insane asylum?' or many others, go and read the other two first. It's a slog, but this is Act III. Also, to long time readers, I'm sure some references to Nevermore will be filtered throughout. Mainly jokes, but it's not like the plot of Nevermore is the most complex thing out there.

Also, I've been reacting to Volume 5 episodes as they come out. Based on my and Rooster Teeth's upload schedule, all episodes are out on youtube before I upload. At that point, spoilers are free game. So essentially, here's what you missed: Raven was overhyped and is a coward, why is turning into a bird so bad and not cool, we need more cute sister moments between Ruby and Yang, f*** Adam, protect the Belladonnas, and Changing Colors is more believable than Bumblebee… And yes, I realize what I've done/doing with Red Sky is as bad if not worse than the hinting RT is doing with Bumblebee.

But you didn't come to hear me rant. Let the Reconstruction project begin...

Aaron leaned against Nalia's side as he waited for Ruby to exit Tialdarí Hall. She'd been in there for quite some time now. Queen Islanzadí must be skeptical of the direction Ruby was taking the Riders. Aaron wasn't completely happy with the situation either, but it's the hand they were given.

Nalia dipped her emerald snout down and nudged Aaron's right shoulder. You aren't one to get impatient, she reminded. What's bothering you?

Ruby's trying to play politics. You know how she feels about all that on Remnant's side. Here, she has no idea what's going on. Aaron shook his head. But it's not like we could have offered support, even…thirteen years ago. That's still hard to wrap my head around.

Anyway, it's not like I'm the only one who's ready to get going. Aaron nodded at Yang, who stood by the one remaining Bullhead brought over from Remnant. It had been about a month since Halcyon was killed, and she still hadn't gotten much better. Since then, she'd been flipping between rage and severe depression. When she got low, Aaron swore he saw a look in Yang's eyes that he didn't like. Each time that happened, Ruby and Cerise were on top of her in a second.

She is getting better. Nalia hummed with happiness for more than one reason.

You're just happy Irolon's back.

Nalia snorted. Having him as an Eldunarí is better than not having him at all. And… I think it's really cute that he's helping Yang like that.

Aaron's jaw dropped as he stared at his dragon. Did you just call Irolon cute? Nalia froze, then she bobbed her head. You've been around Ruby too much.

I've spent too much time around her? I'm not the one courting her.

Aaron gave a sideways nod. Fair point. A strong wind blew into the clearing. Aaron looked up and saw Saphira's and Vert's bellies descending toward him. The two dragons landed in the clearing. But Vert's right wing didn't have its brace. Either he felt comfortable enough to use his formerly shattered wing, he found an Eldunarí he was comfortable with, or this was Glaedr's last test for him while he was in Ellesméra.

Weiss and Velvet dismounted their respective dragons and walked toward the Bullhead, where the remainder of team RWBAY, JNPR, and Viki stood. Aaron walked to join the others. Velvet looked in his direction. "I take it Ruby is still in there?" She asked.

"Yeah. I wouldn't think for much longer. It's been a while."

"There's probably other discussion going on in there anyway." Weiss sighed. "I swear, asking Ruby to work in politics is like asking me to cook. It'll happen, you just won't like the result."

"Don't sell yourself short." Blake elbowed her teammate. "That cake you helped bake second year wasn't terrible."

"Ruby did most of the work." Weiss shrugged. "I think she's got more of her mom in her than she's letting on."

Her mom is entirely in her head, Vert chipped in. I'm not sure that the two are that much different.

"Ruby always did want to be like her," Yang added from the side. Everyone looked at her, but she kept staring at the ground. "Dad still doesn't like talking about Summer, but from what he has said, Ruby is essentially a young version of Summer." The corners of Yang's lips slowly curved up. "From what I've seen in her head, I'd say that's accurate."

Aaron nodded. He'd seen much of the same thing the one time he was that deep in Ruby's head. He looked between Vert and Saphira. "Are you two ready to fly when Ruby joins us?"

I am, but my engines are running low on Dust. Vert flapped his wings, the membranes touching the jets strapped to his side.

"We should be able to make it to Ilirea." Velvet took Vert's wing brace off where it hung on his side. "Maybe a little farther. But after that, we're grounded without help."

"My Bullhead's in a similar position." She rapped her knuckles against her transport. "The tanks have a full case apiece, but if we run into wind, I don't think we'd make it to Aberon."

I am used to having sore wings. Saphira fluttered said wings. I could make that flight with Weiss on my back without stopping.

Weiss put a hand on her dragon's neck. "There is no need for that. We are going to take it easy, and we're only going to Ilirea, not Aberon."

Saphira snorted. That doesn't mean I couldn't do it.

Nalia growled. Arrogance kills more dragons than anything else. You may be able to fly there, but what condition would you be in? Would you be able to move? Fight? You'd be in a position similar to what you were when you first flew to Urû'baen. Saphira hung her head, sufficiently chagrined.

"Don't worry, Saphira." Aaron smirked. "She's speaking from experience." He heard a door close behind him. He turned toward it and saw Ruby and Cerise walking down the steps of Tialdarí hall.

Ruby was back in the red dress and cloak she was given to her on the Rider's first trip to Ellesméra. A living white rose with a ruby in the center held her cloak in place. As she walked, her hair swayed, making her pointed ears stick out even more. All of Cerise' scales were polished to a shine. The only scales missing in her coat were from the injury on her front right leg when a Beowolf attacked her way back when she was two weeks old. Both Rider and dragon had smiles on their faces, or at least as best as they could physically manage.

"We have the Queen's blessing to leave," Ruby announced as she approached the Remmartians. "She's not the happiest about our arrangements, but she sees the necessity."

"What about the other things?" Aaron asked.

He saw Ruby try to hold back a smile. "She was quite surprised, to say the least."

We will tell you in the air, Cerise said. We should not speak of it on the ground.

Ruby faced Blake and most of her good cheer disappeared. "Is the cargo secured?"

Blake grimaced and stared at the back of her Bullhead. "Pruma's in there, with a Dust charge on her chest." She shook her head. "The sooner we can remove that curse, the better."

Aaron looked toward Viki. Both Morzan and Pruma were frozen alive, and if one of them died, half the former slave population of Dras-Leona would too… But she didn't need to know that. Hopefully Atlas would take Pruma and house her somewhere until the elves found a way to lift the curse. "I couldn't agree more."

"We should get moving," Ruby said. "The sooner we meet with Deynor, the sooner we can get home."

"All aboard," Blake climbed into her Bullhead, and all of JNPR followed her in.

Viki looked between the Bullhead and Nalia. Any step she took toward one, she took one in the other direction. The fact she was even considering the Bullhead was a good sign. Aaron walked to his sister's side and put a hand on her shoulder. "Viki, it's okay to ride with me on Nalia, or with everyone else in the Bullhead. I can't make this choice for you."

"I…uh…" Viki's head dropped. "I don't know how."

Aaron's shoulders dropped. Viki had come a long way from being a slave in Dras-Leona, but she had even longer to go. "Okay then. Who makes you feel safe, or who do you want to talk to."

Viki blinked. "You and Nalia."

Nalia hummed and laid on the ground. You are always welcome to fly with me. She stretched out a leg to make a ramp up to her back. Viki slowly climbed up Nalia's leg and to the saddle. She didn't even need to be told. Even if this was just around Aaron and Nalia, it was a good thing.

Aaron climbed up Nalia's side and Viki wrapped her arms around him. He looked around the clearing. At that point, the only ones still on the ground were Velvet and Ruby, and they were working on fitting the brace over Vert's right wing. Both Riders backed away and Vert flexed the wing. He snorted his approval and the women grabbed the other brace from where it hung on his side.

Motion on the far side of the clearing caught Aaron's eye. A familiar elf walked out of the trees, but not the one he expected. Then again, Yaela was riding back to Dras-Leona. "Ruby? Rhunön is heading this way." Aaron gestured in the general direction.

Ruby turned her head in that direction, then walked toward the elf. Those two had a short but intense history. Ruby had admired Rhunön since Aaron revealed that the elf had forged all the Rider's swords, and very few had even been nicked, much less destroyed. From what Aaron could tell, Ruby pretty much met her idol.

A few minutes into their conversation, Ruby stiffened up and her movements became jerky. For a second, Aaron thought something bad happened. Ruby bowed the Rhunön and walked back to Cerise. There was a slight bounce to her step, but only people who knew her would be able to see it. When she reached her dragon, she turned her head to Aaron. Her eyes shone brighter than the sun and her lips curled inward. Something happened, but it couldn't have been bad.

Ruby climbed up Cerise' side and seated herself in front of Yang. She drew her solar powered Scroll from a pocket. "Okay teams, we all ready?" In response, all dragons flared their wings and the engines on the Bullhead spun to life. Aaron pulled his helmet over his head and handed Viki a makeshift motorcycle helmet. It didn't have all the Scroll integration that his had, but it had the Scroll wired right in. "Right then. We have business in Ilirea. If all goes well, we can be back on Remnant tomorrow morning. Follow us." Ruby and Yang pulled their own helmets over their heads. Cerise pushed off the ground and rose above the trees. Nalia, Saphira, Vert, and the Bullhead followed in that order.

After a few minutes of flying, Ruby's mind pressed against Aaron's, and probably everyone else's. Her excitement and happiness rolled off her like a tsunami. Also, the Scroll line clicked. "Oh my gosh! Rhunön asked me to take over sword forging for the Riders!" She bounced in Cerise' saddle.

"Really?" Aaron smirked at the back of Ruby's helmet. "That sounds like your dream job."

"That's being a Huntress, actually." Ruby turned her head back. Even though there was quite the distance between the two, and both of them were wearing helmets, Aaron could see the smile bursting off Ruby's face. "But this is a very close second. Forging weapons for the next generation of Riders? This is going to be great!"

Are you going to hold yourself to just swords? Nalia asked.

Saphira snorted. I don't think Ruby can hold herself back when it comes to anything weapon related.

"You're learning. Good." Weiss patted Saphira's neck. "You'll need to do that a lot more in the future."

"How about this: whatever weapon works for the Rider, I'll forge it." Ruby sounded extremely confident in herself. "I don't care if it's as small as a knife, or a sword twice the size of Yatsuhashi's. If it's also a gun, all the better!" She paused in her excitement. "I might be able to improve our current weapons too. Give them a Brightsteel coating and all that. It wouldn't be as strong as something made from solid Brightsteel, but it's better than what we've got now."

"Does that extend to all of us, or just you Riders?" Blake asked over the Scroll link. She didn't sound too enthused about it.

Ruby hesitated. "Maybe. Trust me, I want to help in any way I can. But… I don't know if this is something that should stay with the Riders. I swore to Rhunön I'd go by her rules. Only Riders ever used her swords. The coating might be different enough. I just don't know right now."

Blake sighed. "Okay. If that's how it's done, okay."

Ruby, Nalia interrupted anything else Blake would say, how are my eggs.

"Oh. Right. Well, they'll be well taken care of. They're the first eggs the elves have seen in years. They won't let anything happen to them. If none have hatched by the time you come back, you are free to take them." Nalia hummed and curved her neck back. She nuzzled her one wild egg through a saddlebag.

"As for the politics side of things, I think I did a decent job. We're free to come and go whenever we want, and Queen Islanzadí agreed to house some of the eggs. The relations between Remnant and here I'll leave to the actual politicians for multiple reasons. But the split force idea is completely okay."

"Now we just need to figure out the time dilation." Aaron sighed. "That could be a problem."

"I might be able to help with that," Weiss said. "I'm not sure if my time dilation glyph works the same way, but it's better than nothing."

Aaron looked back at Weiss and Saphira. "That might actually work."

If we can close the gap, Nalia started, who knows what opportunities will arise.

"Well, Riders, why don't we talk about that?" Ruby suggested. Aaron took the hint and ended the call with Blake, JNPR, and Viki. Ruby sighed. Umaroth, are you sure we can't let them know you're here?

Another mind entered Aaron's. I am certain, Umaroth said. It is not a matter of trust, but a matter of necessity. Your team has your trust in this matter, and by extension mine, but they are not Riders. As such, they cannot defend their minds as well as any of you. If anyone who seeks knowledge of your power and can see into minds, they will find us.

But aren't we doing that with Ozpin? Weiss asked.

Human and elf regents are among the few outside the Riders that are aware of our existence. This Ozpin appears to be the equivalent to Vale.

Not quite, but he does have a big influence. Ruby faced back toward here the pocket space flew behind Cerise. How do we get the rest of the team into this. I really think they could help us out. And Pyrrha's a Maiden. She already carries one of Remnant's biggest secrets. If we can't trust her, we can't trust anyone.

Umaroth stayed silent for a while before answering. All who know about the Eldunarí must show that they can defend their minds well. If they prove that, and their knowing furthers the protection of the Eldunarí, they may know.

Ruby sighed again. Thank you.

Aaron narrowed his mind so only Ruby could hear. Why so adamant about getting the others in on this?

I've had enough of keeping secrets from friends. Ruby looked at Aaron, and even through the helmets and distance, locked eyes with him. We both know what that can do to us.

Aaron winced and looked down. Yeah. Something this big… with our luck, that's a bad idea.

Ruby nodded. As long as we agree no secrets to each other, or the team. Like I told Umaroth, if we can't trust each other, we can't trust anyone.

Cerise curved around the mountain that guarded the back of Ilirea. Yang's arms tightened around Ruby. The younger sister squeezed one of her sister's arms and turned her head back. Yang stared at the mountain and the city, and her whole body shook. She was in pain, returning to the place here her dragon was killed. "Yang?" Ruby whispered.

Yang shook her head. "I don't want to be here."

"Don't worry. We're going to the citadel, and not staying anywhere in the city itself. You won't see that place again."

"Does that matter with you?" Yang's helmet turned to Ruby. Even through the helmet, the younger sister felt the glare. Yang dipped her head. "I'm sorry. It's just…"

"North Sanus Mountains." Ruby nodded. She faced the city again and subconsciously rubbed her bionic right arm. "I'm sorry, Yang. We won't be here long. When we get back, you can take me to-"

"No." Yang shook her head again. "I won't take you there. I don't care what's going on." She looked at the bag on her back where she carried Irolon's Eldunarí. Her whole body relaxed and her grip on Ruby loosened.

"I once said the same thing about going into your head way back when. I really won't mind." Cerise flew toward the wall and slowed down as she approached. For the first time that Ruby approached the city, no cries of fear or alarm went up. Ruby looked off Cerise' side and down at the wall. The soldiers on the defenses shook their weapons at the dragons, but it was more like they were cheering for them. Ruby waved at them as Cerise passed.

The gates of the citadel loomed before them. They were closed, but it looked like a couple new doors were carved near the base. Probably so people who could come and go without going through some convoluted tunnels or wait for the huge doors to open. A few people waited into the courtyard in front of the citadel. One of them wore purple robes and a golden crown. It looked like Deynor was checking all the boxes of how royalty looked. Hopefully he was more like King Ozlan, not the King of Mantle.

Cerise touched down in the courtyard, and the other dragons and Bullhead followed suit. Ruby dismounted Cerise and took her helmet off. Hopefully her helmet hair wasn't too bad. When everyone had their feet on the ground and helmets off, Ruby approached the King of Alagaësia. She gave King Deynor a polite bow. "Thank you for receiving us on such short notice."

King Deynor returned the bow. "You are the Riders who freed Alagaësia from Galbatorix' grasp. I would be remiss if I ignored your call." He gestured at the smaller doors. On this closer view, it looked like the doors could fit a dragon similar in size to Glaedr.

The doors opened as the entire procession approached. At the far end of the large tunnel stood the golden doors to the… at least former throne room. Whether Deynor used it as such, Ruby didn't know. But the black dragon that was forced to work for Galbatorix surely still lived back there. "Has Shruikan given anyone here any trouble?"

Deynor grimaced. "He has not attacked anyone, but no one is willing to enter the throne room, or even venture near it. I fear the day someone walks in there while he is sleeping or when he is hungry."

"I may be able to help with that. We found something on Vroengard that could calm a dragon like him."

"How is it possible to sooth that anger?"

"There's one thing that ties Shruikan to sanity. If not…" Ruby shivered. "We may have to kill him. I don't see a way around it right now.."

Deynor raised an eyebrow. "After all you said you went to save his life?"

"I don't like it either." Ruby shook her head. "But this is the one thing that makes Shruikan sane. If he breaks here, he may be beyond saving."

"I see." Deynor nodded. He turned away from the doors at the end of the hall. "My throne room has moved because Shruikan occupies the old one." Ruby followed, and judging by the footsteps behind her, everyone else did too.

Deynor led the way down a side hallway. If Ruby remembered right, this was extremely close to where Weiss was held captive. She looked back to her partner. Weiss had an arm draped over Saphira's neck. It looked like she was trying to put up a brave face, but Ruby noticed how stiff her motions were. If Saphira wasn't with her, Weiss probably wouldn't come anywhere near here. Thankfully, Deynor pushed into a room before they passed the point of no return.

Unlike the room Shruikan occupied, this place wasn't spacious, or extravagant. If it wasn't for the torches and the Varden banners, this place would have felt like a dank dungeon more than a place of power. But it did have enough room for all the dragons, and the old throne. It had a few alterations to the gold detailing, but was otherwise the same one that Galbatorix used.

Deynor turned around in front of the throne. "Remmartians, I welcome you back to Ilirea. I cannot thank you enough for your help in defeating Galbatorix and the Forsworn." His eyes stopped and focused on something. "I do not believe we have met." Ruby traced Deynor's line of sight to Viki. She tensed. What would Viki do here?

Aaron placed a hand on his sister's shoulder. "King Deynor, this is my sister, Viki Sarasdaughter. She was being held as a slave in Dras-Leona."

Viki dipped her head and her eyes flicked to Nalia. After a few seconds, she grabbed the hem of her dress and curtsied. "It is an honor to meet you, your Majesty." Nalia slowly blinked at Viki.

"The honor is mine." Deynor returned the bow. "What was done to you is inexcusable. I will endeavor to ensure that such an atrocity is never committed again in my lands."

Deynor took a seat in his throne. "Now, Riders, I am assuming you aren't here to visit."

Ruby shook her head. "We are going to be leaving Alagaësia. Now that Galbatorix and the Forsworn are dead, our homeland is in more danger than here."

The King of Alagaësia sighed. "I had expected as much. If the horrors of your land are half as extreme as your allies explained, you will need all the help you can get." He paused. "May I assume you will be rebuilding the Riders in your homeland?"

"To an extent, yes. Right now, Remnant is in more danger than here, so all of us will need to be there. As time goes on, new Riders will serve in their homelands. Their training, well, that depends on what they want. I am sure the Huntsman academies on Remnant will accept those who are willing and able to train there. We can train them in magic and all other matters related to the Riders as well. Any Riders from here, well…" Ruby looked to Aaron. He would be better to explain this next part.

Aaron stepped forward. "Nalia and I were not the only ones to escape the Forsworn. My old masters survived and were rebuilding their strength to fight the Traitor."

Deynor leaned forward in his throne. "More Riders?"

"They have the knowledge, but right now, they cannot fight. They were injured before the Forsworn attacked Vroengard, and they still have not recovered. Honestly, I don't know if they ever will."

Deynor settled again. "I suppose that will take years to come to pass. There are too few eggs for the Riders to come back."

Ruby smiled, and everyone else probably did the same. "Actually, that's no longer true. We flew to Vroengard after we left Dras-Leona. We found hundreds of eggs in a vault buried beneath the mountain."

Once again, Deynor relaxed in his throne. "It appears the Riders aren't doomed as we once believed."

"It will still take decades, even centuries, to build up to our former strength," Aaron started, "but yes, our future does not look as bleak."

"It appears so." Deynor paused. "However, before you leave, I have one request to make."

"Name it," Ruby said.

"Surda is laying claim to the city of Feinster, and so am I. The people of the city cannot decide which they would prefer. I must ask you to assist in the negotiations."

Ruby hoped she hid her disappointment. There went getting back to Remnant the next morning. She once again faced her partner. Since last time, Weiss had released her grip on her dragon and stood much more composed. "Weiss? You up for this."

Weiss nodded. "I am. But I will need to know how far you want to go to keep the city under your flag."

Deynor nodded, then sighed. "Despite this revelry, there is one thing I must address." He stood from his throne. "Rider Yang Xiao Long, step forward." Ruby felt her heart speed up with those words. She thought she knew that this was about.

Yang stepped up to the front of the pack and held her arms at her sides. Her hands weren't balled into fists, but she was tense. "What's this about?" Yang's tone of voice suggested she knew exactly what was going on.

"All of us here know of your contributions to this effort, and what you lost, but not very many see it our way. Despite what we know, your actions after the loss of your dragon are inexcusable. You killed dozens of defenseless soldiers trying to surrender in your rage. This crime cannot go unpunished." Ruby reached for Máni Bláto, but didn't grab her weapon. She would not support an execution order on her sister, and she would ensure that never happened.

Deynor gestured at Yang. "Once you leave Alagaësia, as long as I am alive, you may never return." Ruby let her arms relax. Considering how long Yang was going to live, that 'punishment' was the equivalent of Yang getting a slap on the wrist.

Yang shrugged. "Okay then. I guess I deserve that."

"Indeed, you do." Deynor sat back in his throne. "Now, Shadeslayer, what is it you plan to do with Shruikan?" Ruby straightened and held her hands behind her back. She calmly explained her plan, and her own reservations behind it. Deynor's face grew darker as Ruby continued. When she finished, King Deynor stayed silent. He shifted in his throne. "This is a great risk to be taking. Are you sure this is the best path?"

"There is no such thing as the 'best path.' This is just the one that could have the most positive results."

Deynor relaxed in his throne. "I have no say in how you lead the Riders. If you choose to take this risk, I cannot stop you, and I will not fight you."

Ruby bowed to the King. "Thank you. Now if you'll excuse us, we need to put this plan in motion."

"We are agreed. But I implore you, do not leave tonight. There are rooms set aside for you all in the city." Deynor smiled. "The people want to celebrate those who overthrew their oppressor. There will be a feast in the courtyard tonight. The entire city has been invited."

"I look forward to it," Ruby forced out through a fake smile. She turned around and walked toward the exit. She stopped by Weiss' side and put a hand on her partner's shoulder. I need to take Saphira with me. You going to be okay alone in here?

Weiss blinked. As long as Deynor doesn't take me to that place, I should be okay.

Ruby nodded. The walls here are thick, and there's a lot of rock around here. But I'm sure if you need her, Saphira will hear. Ruby looked up to said dragon for confirmation.

Saphira snorted. If you get into trouble, I will not be happy, and will not allow you to leave my side for the foreseeable future.

Weiss smiled up at her dragon. Oddly, I'm okay with that.

Good luck. Ruby patted Weiss' back and left the throne room. Everyone but Weiss and Deynor followed her out. When the doors to the room closed, Ruby faced everyone. "Okay, so it sounds like we have until the feast to do whatever we want."

"I think we're going to check out these 'rooms' that Deynor talked about." Jaune said. "Something tells they they're a bit more than that."

"And then possibly tour the city," Pyrrha added. "It would be nice to finally see one of the cities here without having to worry about looking over our shoulders."

"Ren and I might be taking it easy." Nora rubbed the back of her neck. "I know the elves strengthened what they did to heal my scar, but I'd rather not risk it. I'm definitely getting this checked out when we get back to Vale."

"Do you need us to come with you?" Velvet asked the head Rider.

Ruby was about to speak, but Aaron beat her to it. "No, but I'd like someone to look after Viki. She doesn't need to meet Shruikan."

Viki's head dipped. "Is he really that bad?"

"It's not his fault, but yes." Aaron squeezed Viki's shoulder. "He would not like you, and I doubt you'd like him."

"Okay." Viki walked to Velvet's side, and from there to Vert's. She always was more comfortable around the dragons.

Ruby faced her sister. "And you?"

Yang hesitated. "Well, I don't think I'm exactly welcome in the city, and I won't be able to do anything with Shruikan, so I think I'll wait for Weiss."

Ruby nodded. "I understand." She looked to those who weren't going to Shruikan's room. "Well, see you all later." She turned down the main hall and walked toward the massive golden doors at the end. From her spot it looked like the decoration had changed in the Urgal section, but she was too far away to be sure.

So, Cerise began, you're looking forward to the feast?

"The food yes, the rest…not so much." Ruby let her shoulders slump. "I mean, I get that people are happy that we helped them, but it's not like we were the only ones to do anything. That…and I'm tired of all this attention. I can't wait to get back to Patch and be just like everyone else again."

"You'll be able to sound like yourself too." Aaron smirked. "No such thing as the best path? That sounds more like something Oromis would say."

"My mom, actually." Ruby rubbed the back of her neck. "Best, perfect, any of those types of things don't exist. You can have records, but those are made to be broken."

Aaron cocked his head. "That sounds about right from the little bit we've talked."

Another mind pressed into Ruby's. If Shruikan becomes a problem, Umaroth started, we will assist you in whatever way is necessary.

Can he know of your existence? Nalia asked.

I would be surprised if he does not already. We are too strong to not be noticed by a dragon of his size.

Well, might as well get this over with. By that point, the Riders and dragons made it to the golden doors. It looked like Ruby was right. Instead of the Urgal decoration showing them attacking humans, it showed what looked like a normal hunting party. Nothing sinister about that. "Well, hopefully he's not asleep."

Ruby put a hand on the door and it swung open without any other force. There were even less torches around than the last time. The black mass of a dragon that was Shruikan lay on the far side of the room. He lay curled up, and it looked like he may indeed be sleeping. Then his head burst out from under his wing, ice blue eyes glaring at the newcomers. This time, Ruby rested a hand on her folded-up weapon.

Shruikan raised his head and stared at Ruby. Kingkiller, you have returned. He looked past Ruby and Cerise. You have brought more Eldunarí as well. Where did you find them?

"In a vault under Vroengard." Ruby released Máni Bláto, but kept her hand nearby. "A few hundred of them, including Umaroth."

Shruikan's eyes narrowed and his lips curled back. He growled, but he didn't make any move forward. Ruby thought she felt the two dragons, and possibly more, speaking with each other. Judging by Shruikan's stance, he wasn't exactly happy to be in the same room as Umaroth. That hate had to come from being with Galbatorix for so long, but it couldn't just be turned off.

After a while, Shruikan closed his lips and returned his gaze to Ruby. Is this why you are here? To threaten me if I step out of line?

"Quite the opposite actually. I came to offer you a job." Shruikan continued to stare at Ruby, only now confusion filled his narrow eyes. "I have seen that you still care for the young, so for the time being, I am going to ask you to protect the eggs that we have."

Shruikan's head lowered and his eyes widened a fraction. I don't believe Nalia nor Cerise will let me near their eggs.

"It's not their eggs you'd be guarding. We found over two hundred more on Vroengard."

Shruikan's eyes widened to their normal level and his head rested only feet off the floor. But, that's impossible. I searched that island for weeks. There were only three left unbroken.

"They were buried a mile underground. I don't think you could have hoped to find the eggs through all that rock." Ruby focused on the spot behind Cerise where all the eggs and Eldunarí hid. She modified the spell as she walked over to the spot. When she was done, a pure white egg appeared out of nowhere and fell into her hands. She cradled the egg and the hatchling inside as she walked back to Cerise' head. "Believe me now?" she asked as she caressed the egg.

Shruikan's head raised. His ears and wings stood up, and his pupils filled his entire eyes. Any malice in them from earlier disappeared. I thought the others destroyed them all. I am glad that is not the case. He paused. You would trust me with this duty?

Aaron stepped forward. "That's just it. We don't know if we can." Shruikan's ears and wings drooped. "Your reactions to seeing us and learning about Umaroth are proof that you're not stable. I'm sure you can see why we're skeptical."

What would you have me do? Shruikan's eyes were wide and begging. Maybe there was hope for him yet.

Ruby shifted the white egg to her natural left arm. "If you want to oversee the eggs, you follow my rules, understand?" She tried to keep her voice calm to not disturb the hatchling she was holding. Shruikan nodded rapidly. "In addition to taking orders from me, you will have three direct superiors. Nalia, Saphira," Ruby gestured to both dragons in turn, and both of them stepped forward, "and Weiss. Nalia is in charge of wild dragon relocation and training for both the wild and bonded dragons. As such, she'll need to have access to the eggs at all times. Weiss and Saphira will be searching for new Riders in Remnant and potentially Alagaësia. They will let you know if that number needs to increase. Do I make myself clear?"

Shruikan nodded. I understand you perfectly. No harm will come to any eggs under my protection, nor shall I harm any egg, nor any hatchling, dragon, or two-leg that approaches them with good intent.

Ruby let her shoulders fall. "Good. In that case, we will leave most of them here. When the Riders are set up again, we may separate the eggs for more protection."

That sounds reasonable. Shruikan's ears perked up again. He looked around his room. There is space for them back here. That way, they won't have to leave my sight. He shuffled away from his spot, revealing even more of the throne room behind him.

Ruby exchanged looks with Nalia and Saphira. They both nodded. Ruby walked forward with the white egg in hand. She continued to pet the egg as she approached Shruikan. When she was practically standing beneath him, she met Shruikan's eyes. Again, there was no hostility at all. His mind pressed against hers, and probably only hers. Thank you, Ruby Shadeslayer. No one else would even think about giving me this chance.

You're welcome. Just don't give me cause to doubt this.

As long as you allow me to guard these eggs, I won't.

A few real life things, while I was uploading Nevermore, I was told by silverhawk88 that he commissioned a piece of art for A Rose's Scales. On deviantart, type 'Ruby and Cerise' into the search bar, or the author, 'manu-chan.' This was completely out of the blue and I'm still blown away by it.

Also, not related in any way to RWBY of this fic, my college's football team is going to the semifinal game for the seventh year in a row. (GO BIZON!)