A new chapter? Without a disgusting amount of time between updates? This must be a sign of the apocalypse! Or, you know, an unfortunately necessary (in-universe) info dump. That's an option too. I at least tried to make it interesting, though the scene where they realized their parallels to the original Nephalem has been delayed.

- X Blake X-

Blake watched Ruby walk into the room, walking over to Jaune and unwrapping the bandage around his arm. Energy slid out of her fingers, digging into his arm and causing tendrils of flesh to slide from the edges of the wound, healing it with nothing but a light scar to show for it.

Oh… so she would have been able to heal Dad's wound. Dang.

"Ruby," Winter said, "what's a Nephalem? You called us that…"

Ruby worried her lip, before going over to the Scroll and flicking it on. The projector sprang up as she grabbed the stylus, "The Nephalem are… they're… we're what humans, and Faunus I guess, were supposed to be. A long, long time ago."

"What?" Blake asked, staring at Ruby. What was that supposed to mean?

"At the start," Ruby said, tapping the color wheel that appeared above the stylus and picking an almost fluorescent white, she began to sketch a man. Broad chested, with muscles heavily defined. Ruby was putting her interest in biology to good work, "There was One. Anu. And he was everythin'. Light and Dark, Happy and Sad, Angry and Scared, Magic and Flesh, Order and Chaos. But he didn't want to be that, so he ripped all the bad parts out and threw them away. But he didn't get it. I guess even someone that big and powerful can miss it."

Blake shared a look with Jaune and Winter, before opening her mouth to ask Ruby what she was talking about, Yang suddenly said something, "This is about what Kalan taught you, isn't it?"

"The Balance, the Great Cycle of Being," Ruby said, switching the stylus to a black color and beginning a new sketch, "You can't have Light without Dark. You can't have Order without Chaos… and you can't have Good without Evil. And so, the Balance forced itself back to fix what he had broke."

The beast she drew has seven heads, each different from each other, leading to the same lizard-like body, with great wings stretching to surround Anu.

"What's that?" Jaune asked, teeth almost bared.

"Tama- Tarth- Tathamet," Ruby stumbled, over the name, "if the new Anu was Light, Order and Good, then the Dragon was Darkness, Chaos and Evil. They fought, the tilting of the Balance going on for an infinity that wasn't."

"So finite," Blake said, dryly.

"Might as well of been infinite," Ruby said with a shrug, before wiping away her mural and starting a new one. One that sent Blake's stomach rolling.

In hindsight, it probably wasn't surprising that the girl who used skeletons as manservants and didn't flinch from fighting Grimm knew how to draw surprisingly realistic gore.

A spear of silver pierced Tathamet's chest, a mortal wound. But Anu hadn't dealt it without loss. One of the dragon's claws were wrapped around Anu's head, blood exploding from it as the other wrapped around the body. Anu's spine dangled in the air, completely separate from his body, "and then the fight ended."

"Still don't know what this has to do with Nepha-whatever," Jaune said.

"It wasn't over," Nora said, suddenly, "It was just the beginning."

"Yeah," Ruby said, "How'd you know-?"

"I saw something last year," Nora said, "and it was… it was weird. What happened next?"

"Next," Ruby said, wiping away her pictures again and pacing, "Next… the Balance continued. Anu's spine became the Crystal Arch, and the High Heavens came from that. And with it came the Angels, fragments of Anu. The strongest were-"

"Tyreal, Imperius," Nora said, "and three others?"

"Malthael, Itherael and Auriel," Ruby said, "Justice, Valor, Wisdom, Fate and Hope. And a host for each, but Balance must be maintained…"

"Something came from Tathamet?" Winter said, eyes sharp.

"Yeah. One for each head, for each evil," Ruby intoned, eyes staring up at the ceiling, "Diablo, Baal, Mephisto, Andariel, Duriel, Belial and Azmodan. Terror, Destruction, Hatred, Anguish, Pain, Lies and Sin. And a Legion for each. So began the Eternal Conflict, which continues to this day. And like all things in this reality, it waxes and wanes. The Demons have attacked the Diamond Gates of the High Heavens five times, and Imperius and Tyreal have both led the charge into the Burning Hells. And we, we are a mistake in their eyes."

"Nephalem?"

"And humans," Ruby said, breaking from the trance she seemed to be in, "There's someone who can explain this part better than me. Kalan?"

As if it were a magical word, shadows began to billow out of Ruby's cloak and swallowed them. Before anyone could say anything, motes of light appeared, forming a giant constellation above them, around them. It held a base similarity to the monster Ruby had drawn. A dragon, but…

"Hello," Blake locked up as it suddenly spoke, Lugh appearing on her shoulder, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, little Nephalem. I am Trag'Oul, and yes, it is easier for me to explain this."

-X Yang X-

Yang Xiao Long was proud of her name, which meant something to the effect of 'Sunny Little Dragon' in old Mistralan. Who wouldn't be proud of a name like that? Dragons were cool, they were huge, and they were scary.

Yeah, two of those things fit Trag'Oul so much. He was big, and he was scary. And as Yang stared up at the dragon with wide eyes, she was left with as many questions as answers.

The questions. What was this thing? How did Ruby meet it? Where were they? If this was Ruby's beloved Kalan, why was he teaching her?

Answers… ok, maybe there weren't quite as many answers, but it did answer why Dad and Uncle Qrow had never found him, or why he never introduced himself. And, probably, why he knew weird stuff to teach Ruby.

It was that, that gave Yang the sinking realization that the story Ruby had just been telling wasn't some random myth. That it probably really happened.

"There's no need to fear me," Trag'Oul said, his voice unnaturally soft and kind for a creature that was so big Yang couldn't find where he ended, one eye locked on to her, before he spoke, "And it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Yang."

Yang met the star that made up his eye, a brief flash of a beautiful blond woman clashing with a scorpion Faunus, grabbing him by the tail and spinning him above her head.

"Hi?" Yang squeaked, staring up at the dragon.

"Hello," Trag'Oul said, before his eye raked across the gathered group, "To all of you. It's amazing to put faces to names."

Everyone was in tense silence, staring at the dragon. Well, everyone except Ruby, who was grinning up at Trag'Oul without a care in the world, "I need you to help explainin' the Nephalem to them, Kalan."

"I see," Trag'Oul said, "What have you explained so far?"

"The Eternal Conflict," Ruby said.

"I see," Trag'Oul said, a clawed hand moving forward. None of the heat that should have been from a ball of fire so close to them so close radiated. Instead, Yang felt something deep in her rumble, followed by a falling feeling as she stared into the flames, "Then I will enlighten you on how the Nephalem came to be. It began millennia into the Eternal Conflict, with the angel Inarius, child of Justice, who despised the war that had consumed every waking moment of his existence"

In Yang's mind, the image of an angel appeared, clutching two swords while golden wings hovered trailed behind him. Then from the shadows, a strange woman stepped out, wrapping her arms around him and rested her horned head on his shoulder.

"And then he met Lilith, daughter of Hatred, Queen of Succubi who appeared to hold the same feelings as him," Trag'oul continued, "together, they gathered like-minded Demons and Angels and stole the Worldstone, the eye of Anu and used it to create twin worlds, Sanctuary and Remnant."

"What…?" Winter breathed, mouth falling open.

"And Inarius and Lilith lay together, spawning the first Nephalem, Linarian," the man who appeared then left Yang staring. He was too perfect, far too perfect. Like some unseen hands had molded his face like clay, with hair as black as pitch and a familiar cloak wrapped around his body, "or as you would better know him, Yang, Rathma. My first student, the first Necromancer."

"I know him," Winter said quietly, before meeting Jaune's eyes, "We know him."

"Yeah," Jaune nodded.

"What!?" Ruby twirled, "How!?"

"He was there the day at the fair," Jaune said, "The day we met…"

"Rathma was that close, and I missed him?" Ruby whined in despair, head falling forward. One of Trag'Oul's hands (paws?) reached out, patting her on the head.

"He took care of you, when I was out. Put you in a coma to conserve your strength."

"That's not how coma's w-" whatever Blake had been saying was cut off by Ruby's wail.

"I missed him twice!?" Ruby said.

"It's alright," Trag'Oul said, "I'm certain you'll meet him eventually. Now, let me get back to my story, Rathma."

Ruby nodded, leaning against the dragon's body and pulling her cloak tight while still looking depressed.

-X Tai X-

Tai sat down at the terminal with a sigh, rubbing his eyes before typing in the number of his home. After a minute, Kali picked up, "Hello?"

"Hi," Tai said.

"Is something wrong?" Kali asked.

"Yeah," Tai said. There was little point in beating around the bush, "I wanted to tell you, before the news reported it or something."

"Reported what?" Kali asked.

"Things… got rough, an hour ago," Tai said, "there was a brief hostage situation on the cruise."

"What?" Kali blinked, "a hostage situation?"

"Yeah," Tai said, rubbing his arm, "It was… it was about Ghira. I think. They were demanding Winter come out, and said that 'their people started it.'"

"I… I see…" Kali said, "how many-?"

"None," Tai said, shaking his head, "They were… they weren't trained at all, and didn't have their Aura unlocked. I took down three of them in less than ten seconds. We're going to make a brief stop at an outpost to drop them off so they'll be sent to Vale."

"That's a relief," Kali said, "So why are you call-?"

"Because by the time I got there, Jaune, Winter and Blake were attacking them."

Kali was silent for a long moment, staring at him. Finally, she spoke in an almost hissing voice, "I'm sorry?"

"Yeah," Tai said, voice dark, "I know it's very little, but Blake did the least. She just had Lugh grab a gun."

"Why were they fighting?" Kali snarled, "What were they thinking!?"

"I don't know," Tai said, "but that's not where it ends."

"What?" Kali snapped, "how did it-?"

"Ruby, Ren, Yang and Nora were fighting Grimm," Tai said simply. Kali's eyes softened immediately, scanning Tai's face.

"They're alright?" Kali asked,"You're alright?"

"I'm fine," Tai said, "and they're not hurt, luckily. But I'm thinking about getting off when we land. I'm not exactly in the mood for a cruise when they just did something that dangerous. It's part of the reason I called, do you want me to bring Blake?"

"I think that's a bit drastic," Kali said, "They're kids, Tai. What they did was dangerous, but they're probably not ever going to have a chance to be on a cruise like this again."

"I just…" Tai lowered his head, "I don't want them to do something like that again."

"Then make that clear," Kali said, "but don't deprive them of being able to enjoy this."

"Ok," Tai said, eyes lowered, "thanks for the advice, Kali."

"Any time," she smiled, "now, I should probably head out, visiting hours at the hospital end soon and I need to drop some stuff off for Ghira."

Tai hung up with a sigh, before pulling up a second number. Now to tell Jaune's parents…

-X Jaune X-

"Alright," Jaune said from where he was standing behind Winter, uncrossing her arms and running his hand through his hair with a sigh, "So, even if we believe all this, you said this Inarius guy made it so there were no more Nephalem. What are we then?"

"Nephalem," Trag'Oul said, simply. Before Jaune could give a confused sigh and continue the motion harder, the dragon continued, "The Worldstone was… shattered last year, and with it, the enchantments binding humanity, and that includes Faunus, Blake, have died. In every man, woman and child lay the inherent potential, because when you follow the bloodlines far enough back, you would still find the Angels and Demons."

"Then why just us?" Winter asked.

"I don't recall ever saying it was just you," Trag'Oul said. From atop his back, something that confused the ever living crud outta Jaune since he shouldn't have had a back like that, Ruby called out.

"I think that Gretchen girl was one!" Ruby said, arms held out to balance herself as she walked along Trag'Oul's spine with a stuck out tongue. Dried blood covered her left arm in trails, and Jaune almost opened his mouth to ask about them only to be cut off.

"You were brought together," Trag'Oul said, "not by Fate, for such a thing doesn't hold dominion to those like you, but neither will I say it was by chance. You are not the only Nephalem on Remnant, nor are there none on Sanctuary. Without seeing her, I can't say if Ruby is right about this Gretchen, but I won't say she is wrong either. Whatever the future holds, it will be a trial. The High Heavens and the Burning Hells never discovered Remnant, but both sides will have their goals if they discover it. The Hells will seek to exploit you, as they do all things, while the Heavens will seek to destroy you, seeing you as Demonspawn."

"So they're just as bad as some humans," Blake said.

"And some Faunus," Ruby said, continuing her path along Trag'Oul's back.

"THEY-!" Blake started, before sagging and nodding, "Yeah… yeah… I guess so."

"You are the spawn of Angels and Demons," Trag'Oul said, "You, Nephalem and Humanity alike, have within you the ability to perform great good and great evil. Auriel, Tyrael and Itherael saw past the inherit 'taint', as Imperious would call it-"

"Does it bug anyone else that he's the only one who doesn't end in 'El'?" Nora suddenly asked.

"Kinda," Blake said.

"As I was saying," Trag'Oul continued with a rumbling laugh, "I think that while Auriel hoped that your kind would be for the best, as she so often does, and Tyrael saw it in Uldyssian's sacrifice, Itherael realized that as you were a spawn of angel and demon and realized that you, and you alone, would choose what to do with your powers. He did something no other angel did that day, something that should have gone against everything in the mind of he who reads the Scrolls of Fate… he chose to trust that you would naturally be inclined towards good."

"That's nice," Blake said, "at least somebody thinks we can."

"You should go," Trag'Oul said, "Tai's coming."

The dragon vanished suddenly, leaving the shadows to fold inwards into Ruby's cloak as the door to the door swung open to show Tai.

"We're going to have a long conversation about what happened earlier," Tai said, sitting down and meeting their eyes.

-X Ren X-

Ren calmly met Tai's eyes, breaking the silence before anyone else had time to speak, "I'm not apologizing."

Tai's jaw fell open, before he sighed, "Why?"

"Because if a Grimm's dead, I'm happy," Ren said, not flinching, "if I killed it, I'm happier."

"You could have died!" Tai snapped, before taking a calming breath, "I can't lose you. It's… I've lost a lot, and if any of you died… I don't know what I'd do."

"But-" Ruby started, only for Tai to cut her off.

"I know you're not… you're not normal, but you're still kids. You can still die. Nora could have been thrown off the ship if I hadn't got there when I did. Jaune doesn't have his Aura unlocked. It's… it's not safe."

Ren didn't say anything, couldn't find anything to say. Tai looked haunted, eyes dull before he raked his eyes across them before landing on Ruby, "You cut yourself."

Ruby glanced down at her arm, before looking up at her father and shrugging, "I was using blood magic. The Frailty and Leech curses were stronger that way."

"That isn't-!" Tai started with a growl before sighing, "That still isn't something you should do."

"Why?' Ruby asked, "It's stronger that way."

"But it isn't safe," Tai said, "you could kill yourself."

"I know my limits," Ruby said, "and the leech curse was healing me. I'm fine."

"It's not-" Tai growled, before sighing, "it's… hurting yourself like that normally means something is wrong, little rose."

"But nothing's wrong," Ruby said, holding up her wrist to show nothing but a pale mark, not even enough to be called a scar, "see?"

"It's… it's not like that, Ruby," Tai said, "just… promise me you won't do it unless you need to. It's not normal, at all."

"But I've got an idea for a ritual," Ruby whined, giving Tai a puppy dog's eyes, "can I at least do that?"

"We'll see," Tai said, voice tight.

"Good!" Ruby said, "I'm gonna need chalk, animal blood, bone dust and graveyard dirt!"

…

"What the hell are you gonna do?" Yang asked the question Ren was sure everyone was thinking.

"Summoning a stronger skeleton to act as a bodyguard!" Ruby said, "that way I don't need to do stuff like that as often!"

"O…k," Tai said, "I can get you the chalk when we land, but…"

"I'll get the rest," Ruby said, "Easy-peasy!"

-X AN X-

Thoughts, questions, opinions? Good? Bad? Meh?