A Living Myth RWBY X Child!Dragon Faunus! Male! Reader

Side Story Chapter 8

Last one guys, then I swear we're on to Volume 6. Thank you for being so patient with me.
I own nothing.
Bonus Ch 8: Challenger
(Y/N) blinked slowly, absorbing what Hodar had just said. That...that couldn't be true. Could it? This had to be a misunderstanding. It just had to be! There was no way his grandfather-had just tried to kill him. He ordered the guards to kill him.There was no other explanation, this was the only answer.
"He...ordered you to open the gate?"
The older dragon nodded. "Yes, the alpha summoned me in the morning and told me to open the gate for 5 minutes to allow a large party of his scouts in." He looked down at his hands, shaking. "The next morning, Genesis tore down my door and dragged me to the palace. They accused me of arranging the murder of your family. I...I'd never! I loved (M/N)! I tried to explain myself, but Acris charged me and nearly rip my eye out. Then he told me no one would believe me, that it was my own fault, that jealousy caused it, and that I should be grateful that he wouldn't kill me. When he was done, they threw me out, and your uncle promised to settle the score one day. I...I was so horrified. They all chased me off and I came here. I could look at myself! I had to be punished, so I..."
Hodar's wings flapped as he bent his fingers to flex his claws. (Y/N)'s eyes widened in horror this time.
"You...you clawed out your own wings?"
Hodar swallowed loudly. "It's what they did to (F/N) and what we thought they did to you. It was only fair."
"What happened after?"
"They alpha acquitted me, saying that they acted too rashly and that there was no evidence. Then, when the scouts who I let in that day disappeared, I decided it was best to live out here, away from everyone."
"But it wasn't your fault!"
(Y/N)'s heart cracked as he finally realized the truth. It all made sense, the ominous feelings, the hollow soul, the nightmare, and now the scouts who had vanished. Of course he made them vanish, it was the only way to insure they wouldn't reveal the truth.
Acris had ordered the murder of (Y/N)'s family.
The boy let out an anguished wail that echoed across the forest. The bird fled at the sound and punched a nearby stone. His grandfather had murdered his parents and had tried to kill him, and the monster had gotten away with it. It made him sick. I beast as terrible and heartless as the Grimm paraded around as a loving and protective alpha. And worst of all, his blood ran through his veins. (Y/N) didn't know whether to scream or cry. We did fate love to torment him? Why was it so unfair!?
He sunk to his knees and his fingers gouged the earth.
"I'm sorry." Hodar whimpered. "You have every right to resentment."
His pain stopped for a moment. It was almost laughable. Hodar had been as much a victim of Acris as he had, the poor soul to take the fall, yet here he was, apologizing to him.
"You're not the one who should be sorry. You didn't do anything wrong."
He looked back, and saw Hodar's face brimming with tears. But now, his eyes didn't look so broken, they looked...relieved.
"I...I only ever dreamed someone would say that to me. I thought I'd beg your mother and father for forgiveness on my deathbed, but I never thought it would be you."
The boy took a deep breath, and thought back to something someone had told him.
"I know they wouldn't want you to blame yourself for all this. No matter how hard we think about it or how much we want to, we can't change the past. But we can change the future."
Hodar smiled at him.
"You sound just like her."
He smiled back. "I'm glad."
Both males wiped their tears and took a second to regain themselves.
"You know, I'm kinda surprised everyone automatically assumed you were guilty. I could tell you were harmless the minute I saw your soul."
"You...you can see my soul."
He rubbed his head sheepishly. "Oh, I'm an early bloomer."
"N-no, how do you have that power? Almost no one has that power!"
(Y/N)'s eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about? I thought it was like the most basic thing a dragon could do?"
"Maybe a few hundred years ago, but now, only a select few can do it now. The only other person I know that can pull it off is Aerith!"
Huh, so that's what all that fuss had been about. It must've also spooked Acris too, knowing (Y/N) could catch him in a lie. Regardless, that wasn't what was important right now. Only one thing mattered now.
"We have to tell everyone the truth."
Hodar looked at him like he had just suggested they go dancing with Grimm.
"What? We can't! Acris has too much power and influence!"
"So what?" He growled. "We do nothing, wait to be hunted down, and let that monster continue to lead the dragons? Screw that! Someone has to stop him! I can't let him get away with this anymore! For my parents, I have to make sure he can't hurt anyone else. Besides, my family. Who knows what he'll do to them."
"(Y/N) it's too risky. He'll have his men ready to strike down the second you step foot in the city! Besides, even if you manage to get in, no one will listen."
"Maybe, but I have to try. Everyone, including Zack, needs to know the truth."
Hodar sucked in a breath nervously. "Maybe, I could find a tunnel to sneak you into the palace, but there are too many guards for us to take on alone!"
"Then we'll need help."
"Who!? You can't go anywhere near the city, and everyone hates me!"
He thought hard. There had to be someone who could help them. Someone willing to listen. It hit him.
"Aerith."
"What?"
He turned to the older dragon.
"Hodar, you need to go to Aerith. If she can see souls, then maybe she'll believe you!"
"I can't! She'll probably think I'm mad!"
"Then just bring her back here, I'll tell her."
"Even if she doesn't think I'm crazy, there's no way she'd trust me enough to follow me out of the city and back here!"
(Y/N) groaned. There had to be a way to convince Aerith, or at the very least prove Hodar did speak to him. He stared at the ground, trying to figure out something, when he noticed a daisy by his shoe. He smiled.
"I know what you can tell her."
(Timeskip)
Treecaster was in chaos, yet again, only now it wasn't out of joy. (Y/N) was missing and his family, both blood and found, were tearing up the city looking for him. Aerith paced the shop, trying to figure out what she could do. Tifa and Cloud were there as well.
"We should be out there looking." Tifa said, frustrated.
Cloud shook his head. "The guards are combing every inch of the city. We'd only get in their way."
"How do we even know they're in the city. Hodar could be strangling him in the middle of the forest for all we know!"
"I'm also worried about Zack." Aerith finally said. "He'll kill himself if anything happens to (Y/N)."
Her boyfriend had burst into her home with Qrow not an hour ago, frantic and on the verge of tears. Qrow had to explain that (Y/N) was missing and that the guards claimed they saw Hodar lurking around the palace. Aerith had tried to console Zack, but he kissed and ominously said.
"I should've taken him out when I had the chance."
He told her he was going to lead the search parties before bursting out. Qrow stared behind and told her to stay out in case (Y/N) came back. After they left, she called up Cloud and Tifa for backup to come up with a plan.
"I don't think we should underestimate (Y/N)," Cloud spoke. "I saw him. He's got a lot of fight in him."
"But he's so young." Tifa argued.
The door suddenly opened.
"Zack, is that-?" Aerith words died as Hodar emerged.
"Aerith."
Cloud and Tifa were on him in a heartbeat. The blond dragon had him in a headlock while the ravennette growled.
"Where's (Y/N)? I swear, if you hurt one hair on that kids head, I'll-,"
"He's safe!" The man yelled back. "I know where he is, and I can take you to him!"
"Like we trust you!" Cloud spat at him. "Aerith, go get Zack."
She moved towards the door, but Hodar called out.
"Please Aerith! You have to trust me! If you don't, he'll end up like his parents!"
Tifa punched him.
"Don't you dare talk about (M/N) and (F/N)!"
"I didn't kill them. I made a mistake and I'm trying to fix it. Aerith please!"
The pink dragon looked at him intently. His soul was clearer than she had ever seen. Honesty and sincerity bloomed from it, but everything made her doubt her own vision.
"Hodar, I want to believe you, but how can I?"
"(Y/N) told me to tell you something."
"What?"
"He said." He locked eyes with her. "I'm the white dahlia, and Acris is the Devil's Trumpet."
Aerith's eyes widened. Hodar wasn't anywhere near them when she told (Y/N) what that had meant. Tifa glanced at her.
"Aerith, what is he talking about?"
Her gaze sharpened.
"Cloud, let him go. We need to follow him."
(Timeskip)
(Y/N) sat perched on a rock, calmly waiting for Hodar to come back. He tensed as he heard multiple footsteps approach, but he relaxed as he realized they were friendly. Hodar emerged from the forest with Aerith, Cloud, and Tifa. The females ran at him.
"(Y/N)!"
They greeted him with a hug while Cloud assessed the boy from a distance and gave Hodar a side glance.
"So you were telling the truth."
The older dragon nodded, as Tifa held the boy at an arm's length.
"Everyone is worried about you. Zack and your sisters are tearing up the city to find you. We have to get you back!"
(Y/N) dug his heels in.
"I can't. If I go in there now, he'll kill me!"
"Who?" Cloud asked.
"My gr- Acris."
Tifa's eyes widened.
"What are you talking about, (Y/N)? Why on Remnant would your grandfather want to kill you?"
"It's the truth! He sent his guards after me! If Hodar hadn't stepped, they would've killed me!"
"Hodar saved you?"
"(Y/N)," Aerith finally spoke. "What do you mean your grandfather is the Devil's Trumpets?"
The boy looked down somberly.
"It was all him. He's the one who killed my parents and made Hodar take the blame."
The three newcomers stared at him, in complete disbelief.
"That's not possible!" Cloud argued. "There's no way the Alpha would have a citizen killed, much less his own son and daughter in law!"
"Did he tell you this?" Tifa asked, distrustfully glancing at Hodar.
(Y/N) grimaced at her.
"Yes, but it's all true. It's the only thing that make sense!"
"It also explains your nightmare." Aerith said gravely. "Hodar was the purple hyacinths and the white dahlia because he was guilty but innocent, and the Trumpets were trying to warn you."
(Y/N) nodded. "They were wrapped around a broken crown. They were trying to warn me about Acris."
"It also explains the red dahlia. I thought it was strange, but now it makes sense. That type of dahlia represents betrayal."
"What are you talking about?" Tifa butted in. "Are we seriously going to believe Alpha Acris had his son murdered?"
Aerith gave her a stern look.
"I believe them. Their souls don't lie, and to be honest, there was always something about the Alpha's soul that bothered me."
"Me too." (Y/N) agreed. "It's not normal, it looks too hollow."
"So what now?" Cloud inquired. "Even if we believe this, which I'm still on the fence about, we won't be able to get (Y/N) anywhere near the palace without someone trying to kill him! And even then, Acris could have him imprisoned. Doesn't help that (Y/N)'s sisters and friends are with them!"
"Cloud's right." Hodar said with a nod. "We're not enough."
"I have an idea." The boy said confidently. "If I can just get the truth to my uncle and the rest of the Fated Four, I might be able to convince them. But we need more fire power....wait," he turned to the bartender. "Tifa, you're a scout. How fast can you get from here to Mistral and then back?"
"All the way? A day at least, and that's if I'm going full speed."
"I can cut that in half." Cloud stepped up. "What are we looking for (Y/N)?"
"Friends."
(Timeskip)
Easy to say that Team RWBY was on the verge of a mental breakdown. When they gloomily woke up, (Y/N) was nowhere to be found. At first, they thought he had run off, but when they ran into Angeal and Zack, the older dragon admitted he and (Y/N) had talked during the night and the boy was going to speak with his grandfather. When they asked the Alpha, he said (Y/N) had never arrived. That caused a spike in panic, not helped by a nervous looking guard admitting to seeing Hodar lurking around the perimeter of the palace and getting into a fight with some guards.
That may as well have set off a bomb.
The palace was immediately put on high alert and told to search for the missing prince. Zack and Yang were immediately bloodthirsty and were adamant about finding Hodar. Everyone split up to search the city: Ruby, Angeal, and Oscar; Yang, Blake, and Genesis; Weiss and Sun with Sephiroth; and Qrow with Zack, mostly just to keep him in check.
They searched the whole day, but (Y/N) didn't turn up. Everyone convened back in the throne room with a large search party and the council on standby to discuss their next move.
"We've searched every inch of the city." Genesis reported. "I think we can only assume Hodar took him into the forest."
"That's bad, it could take days to find them." Sephiroth pointed. "Assuming there's anything left to find."
"I wouldn't underestimate (Y/N)." Sun retorted. "He's a lot stronger than you think."
"I'll lead our best trackers in." Zack said firmly, digging his claws into his palms. "When u get my hands on Hodar, I'll-,"
"Keep your head straight, Zack," Angeal warned. "We don't know if Hodar did this."
"Who else could have?" Yang asked.
"Hmm..." Acris said noticeably.
Qrow, who was leaning against the wall, was the first to call him out.
"Something you want to share with the group."
"I just agree we shouldn't narrow our suspects just yet."
"I agree." Oscar said, but Ozpin was speaking to him behind the scenes.
"Something about this isn't right. He's hiding something." The former headmaster spoke to his reincarnation.
"I know. Angeal said (Y/N) was going to talk to him last night. What was it about?"
"Something wrong, boy?" Acris narrowed his eyes at the farm boy.
"I'm just curious what (Y/N) wanted to talk about last night."
"Angeal," (GM/N) looked at the black haired dragon. "You said you talked to (Y/N) last night. Did he tell you?"
Angeal sighed, but nodded. "He was going to convince the Alpha to let him leave, and try to convince him to have us rejoin the outside world."
"Why on Remnant would he do that?" (GP/N) inquired.
"Something about needing to make the world safer, so he could face a friend and his parents."
"Pyrrha." Ruby said somberly.
"Who?" Zack asked.
"She was a friend of ours at Beacon." Weiss explained. "She was killed in the Fall. (Y/N) hasn't forgiven himself for what happened. He's convinced he could've changed things."
Everyone looked upset by the revelation, except Acris.
"So, he'd do anything to try to make up for what happened. Perhaps he's just run off, being stubborn about not wanting to stay where he's safe."
"No, he wouldn't run off like this!" Blake insisted. "There has to be an explanation."
"There is!" Zack growled. "It's Hodar! Why are we hesitating?"
"Because Hodar isn't the only one with reason to hide him." The Alpha stated, looking firmly at Ruby. "Wouldn't you agree, Ms Rose?"
"What?" Ruby was cut off guard. "What are you talking about?"
"None of you seemed to agree to the separation. It would've been easy for you to hide him and then leave after the search parties failed."
"Are you seriously accusing us?!" Yang challenged.
"It makes sense to me."
Unfortunately for the girls, the crowd seemed to agree with the Alpha, though the Fated Four didn't seem entirely convinced. Qrow stepped up.
"I find it suspicious he disappeared when he went to talk to you."
"What are you implying?" Acris seethed.
"The kid was gonna tell you something you wouldn't like, and knowing the little fire breather, he wasn't gonna take no for an answer. You sure you didn't see him last night?"
"How dare-!"
The Alpha was cut off as a guard bursted into the room, huffing for breath and looking very beat up.
"Alpha Acris! Intruders! In the palace! They're being led by-,"
He was cut off by the doors being violently swung open by a familiar looking hammer. Everyone stared in shock at the sight of Nora standing there, alongside Jaune, Ren, Ghira, who had two guards in a headlock, Tifa, Aerith, Cloud, and most shockingly of all, Hodar. None of them looked happy.
"What is the meaning of this!?" The Alpha roared.
"What are you guys doing here?" Sun asked, genuinely confused.
"(Y/N) called us for help." Jaune explained as the boy stepped out from behind them.
"(Y/N)!" Everyone cried in relief.
The girls almost ran to him, but noticed something was off. Firstly, (Y/N) was armed and his gauntlets were in blade form. Secondly, he was livid, his face contorted and his tail lashing violently. They had only ever seen him in that kind of rage back at Haven. He walked past them. His grandparents and uncle wanted to approach, but Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith stopped them. The boy then stood before the throne of the Alpha, glaring daggers at him. Acris didn't seem to care.
"I'm glad you're safe, grandson. You caused a lot of worry for-,"
"Shut. Up." He growled.
Everyone gasped. A few dragons muttered about rudeness as Jessica called.
"(Y/N)! Don't speak to your grandfather like-,"
(Y/N) cut her off. "That monster is not my grandfather!"
There were more gasps as Blake looked to their friends and her father.
"Guys, what's going."
"(Y/N) told us everything." Ghira explained. "You should let him tell it."
Acris glared down at (Y/N), but the boy was not afraid.
"Young man, you will not take that tone with-,"
"I don't want to hear another word of garbage out of your mouth, old man. You are going to tell them all the truth, or I will break your jaw and tell them myself."
"What's gotten into him?!" Zack asked Aerith while glaring accusingly at Hodar. "What nonsense did you put in his head."
"Zack, he is doing what has to be done." Aerith said firmly, making sure she was between her boyfriend and Hodar.
"Aerith, what is the meaning of this?"
Acris had a stoic look on his face, but (Y/N)'s eyes were sharp. The old man knew exactly what he was talking about and he was panicking on the inside.
"What truth are you talking about, boy?"
"Tell them, who killed my parents."
The tension was so thick, it could be cut with a knife. Everyone stared at the Alpha, unsure of what was happening.
"What are you blabbering about, boy, hunters killed your parents!"
(Y/N) drew his lips into a snarl. "LIAR! YOU HAD THEM KILLED!"
The silence was deafening. Zack and Jessica were utterly horrified, Genesis and Sephiroth didn't know what to think, Angeal had an unreadable expression, the girls, Qrow, Oscar, and Sun were floored, and everyone else looked panicked. Acris looked as though he wanted to strike (Y/N) dead on the spot. He then turned his gaze on Hodar.
"I was wrong to not punish you for your crime. Now you've turned my own blood against me with your lies."
Hodar neared his teeth, the first time in while anyone had seen a look of defiance on his face.
"I won't be your scapegoat anymore, Acris. I'll regret what happened everyday for the rest of my life, but I will make things right. You won't hide in your lies anymore. That is how I'll atone!"
(Y/N) stood up straight.
"You have nowhere else to hide, coward. Admit it!"
"It can't be true!" Zack yelled and he ran to his nephew. "(Y/N), listen to me. He would never hurt your father and mother! Don't listen to the lies you've been told!"
(Y/N) looked at his uncle, his face softening in pity. "It's the truth, uncle. He's the one who's responsible."
"Listen to your uncle, (Y/N)." Acris jeered. "Why would I kill my son, my heir?"
"Because he threatened to challenge you." Angeal spoke up. He also looked furious.
Zack looked at his mentor in disbelief. "Angeal?"
The black haired dragon tightened his fist. "I should've seen it. (F/N) wanted us to leave, but when you accused him of insubordination, he said he'd challenge you. I should've known that something was wrong when (Y/N) disappeared last night when he wanted to say the same thing. It all makes sense now."
"Acris." Jessica whimpered. "You never said anything about (F/N) challenging you."
"Because it was a stupid argument. He wanted us to leave the safety of our home to help the outside world. How selfish of him."
"(F/N) was most selfless among us!" Angeal roared back.
"So you dare question the honor of your Alpha, Angeal?"
"Not just him." Genesis stated as he and Sephiroth stood beside their comrade. "(F/N) was a brother to us. We would've proudly served him as the Alpha."
"Confess." (Y/N) demanded.
"Father, tell them it's not true!" Zack pleaded.
Acris closed his eyes.
"Everything I do, is for the safety of this kingdom, even if it means making...sacrifices."
Zack's eyes widened as Jessica gasped tearfully.
"So it's true." Ren spoke.
"(F/N) was a threat to this kingdom, I did what had to be done."
"He was a threat to you!" Weiss corrected.
Everyone from the outside was now ready to rush the Alpha. The guards stood ready, but they looked hesitant.
"You killed them." (Y/N) hissed. "And then you tried to kill me! Your lackeys would've murdered me if Hodar hadn't saved me!"
The guards eyes widened in terror as the civilians looked at them in horror. Zack looked at them with an empty expression.
"Is this true?"
The guards couldn't look at him. One spoke.
"Forgive us, Prince Zack, we were following orders and protecting Tre-,"
Zack launched at him, striking him in the head and sending him flying into a wall. The guard slumped, unconscious, while others backed away in fear. Zack' face was streaming in angry tears.
"Acris, you bastard!" (GP/N) yelled. "You slaughter our children!"
"Our own son Acris," Jessica seethed with tears. "My baby. How could you!"
"I did it to protect us!"
"Liar!" (Y/N) screamed. "You did it to protect yourself! That's all you care about! You did it to keep your power!"
Acris snarled at the boy.
"What would you know? You've never been a true dragon of Treecaster! You don't know what it takes to protect our way of life!"
(Y/N) let out a powerful roar that rattled the room. It was a different roar than his usual ones. It was the same one he had let out against Cinder and Haven. Angeal's face dropped to disbelief.
"Does-does he know what he just did?" Genesis whispered.
"What? What's going on?" Yang asked as Acris and (Y/N) locked eyes.
"Is that your answer, boy,"
(Y/N) roared again, now getting into position. Sephiroth nodded.
"No doubt, he knows what he's doing."
"What's happening?" Ruby tried to ask.
"Does that roar mean something?" Blake inquired.
Hodar crossed his arms.
"That's not just any roar. That... was a challenge roar."
"Wait," Sun interjected. "Does that mean-?"
"(Y/N) is challenging Acris for the title of Alpha." Cloud confirmed.
The atmosphere shifted intensely as every dragon in the room lowered their wings. Acris rose from his throne, taking the spear from his side, and walked down to meet his challenger. The two Faunus circled each other slowly. The crowd divided themselves into two groups Gand on opposite sides of the room.
"We have to help him!" Nora said, but Zack placed a wing in front of her.
"This is his fight. Alone."
"He shouldn't have to fight alone." Sun argued.
Angeal shook his head. "If we interfere, (Y/N) forfeits the change. He has win this on his own."
"Can he do it though?" Tifa asked. "He's still so young."
"I wouldn't count him out just yet." Oscar said, though the group knew it was Ozpin speaking.
Ruby nodded. "He's right. (Y/N) won't lose."
Acris made the first move, striking with his spear. (Y/N) rolled out of the way and went to attack, only to be batted away by Acris's tail. He rolled to his feet as his grandfather leapt at him. Thinking fast, he dropped to his back and kicked the old man away, winding him. As Acris struggled to recover, (Y/N) was on him, and landed a hard punch to his cheek. The Alpha stumbled back before he snarled at the boy. (Y/N) hissed back and pounced. Acris blocked him with his spear and slashed his claws across his face. (Y/N) let out a cry of pain. If it weren't for his aura, he would've lost part of his face. Acris then kneed him in the chest and tail whipped him, sending the small boy skidding. As soon as he stopped , he pushed off his hands and jumped to his feet. He wasn't getting anywhere at this rate. He switched gauntlets to their blast mode, and fired off two ice dust shots. Acris easily blocked them with his wings, but it was enough of a distraction to let (Y/N) get in close again. He leapt over the older Faunus and nailed him in the back, making Acris lose his balance, before sweeping his leg. Acris went down and (Y/N) activated Yang's charm to boost his next strike, sending the Alpha bouncing like Yang had done to that bandit. The Alpha stopped himself with his spear and looked furiously at the boy. Acris roared and his face became nothing but rage and hatred. He charged. (Y/N) tried to block and weave through his attacks, but they came at him so fast and powerfully that he took heavy blows. Acris then punched him so hard in the gut, he was sent flying through a pillar.
"(Y/N)!" Weiss cried as the boy slumped.
"Come on, (Y/N)." Yang silently encouraged.
(Y/N) struggled to his hands and feet, struggling to breathe. He couldn't let this fight drag on for much long. He arched his back, flared up his wings, and hissed, appearing as big as possible. Acris roared and charged. (Y/N) flew up and slammed his fist with the assistance of gravity dust onto his back. A small crater formed beneath them and Acris took the opportunity to throw (Y/N). The boy was able to land feet first on the pillar and bounce back at the Alpha, send them both rolling across the floor and out into the hall. (Y/N) then kicked grandfather square in the gut and threw a window. As Acris struggled to level his flying, (Y/N) body slammed him, sending them both plummeting towards the draw bridge. They broke apart to quickly recover and land safely.
"You should have accepted your fate!" Acris yelled at him. "At least then you would've died with dignity!"
"I won't be put down by some greedy, selfish old man!"
Acris jabbed his spear forward. "Everything I did was to protect this place!"
(Y/N) blocked the spear head with his gauntlets' blades. "Stop lying! You only did this to protect your own power! You didn't want the dragons to leave because you knew that would mean there wouldn't need to be an Alpha anymore!"
He threw a jab at the old man, who gasped but counted with his tail. This time, (Y/N) held firm and grabbed the spear. The two grappled for it, and glared at each other.
"I should've made sure you were dead."
(Y/N) snarled. "You should have. You tried to destroy me, but you only made me stronger!"
In an unorthodox move, activating Yang's charm again, (Y/N) slammed his jaws down on the shaft of the weapon (it was wood). His teeth broke clean through and followed up with a powerful headbutt, breaking Acris's aura and nose. The Alpha reared in pain, and (Y/N) went in for the finishing move, wrapping his tail around the old man's ankle and yanking hard. Acris fell, and (Y/N) flinched as he heard his wing crack beneath him. As Acris cried out in pain, (Y/N) pressed his foot into his chest, pinning him like a bug. He then raised up his blade. Acris looked at him horrified but had the decency not to beg like a worm.
"Go on, be done with it then."
(Y/N) glared down at him. This monster had put him through hell and taken everything from him. It was only fair for he to reap his vengeance. He swung down, his blade embedding itself beside the old man's head as he looked him right in the eye.
"I am not like you. You're done."
(Y/N) got off him, feeling his own aura break as he walked away. Not a second later, Acris let a cry and charged him. (Y/N) stepped aside as the old man tried to stop. He stumbled and started to fall over the side of the draw bridge. (Y/N) reached out to grab him, but Acris swung at him and grazed his claws over his arm. As (Y/N) pulled back to cradle his arm, the Alpha went over, and a few seconds later, a thump and crack ran out in the arm. (Y/N) just stared at the horizon for a second. He dare not look over to see the broken remains of his foe. He didn't know what to feel. The man responsible for his suffering, the traitor, was dead.
"(Y/N)!" The girls yelled as they ran to hug him.
He stayed stiff.
"Are you all right?" Ruby asked.
He just glanced at where Acris had fallen.
"I tried."
(Timeskip)
The group returned to the throne room. (Y/N) was greeted with hugs by his grandparents and uncle. Angeal looked at him.
"And Acris?"
The boy shook his head.
"He did this to himself." Zack assured (Y/N). "What you did was to protect yourself."
"Seems we have a new Alpha of Treecaster," Sephiroth said.
"Long live Alpha (Y/N)!" Genesis called as the people joined the chanting.
"Long live Alpha (Y/N)! Long live the Alpha! Long live the Alpha!"
"No stop!" (Y/N) yelled over the chants.
He flew over to the throne and looked at everyone hesitantly. He was nervous, but when he looked to his sisters, they nodded confidently. He swallowed back his fear.
"I can't be your Alpha, because I don't belong with the dragons and humans of this place, I belong with my sisters." He smiled at his family. "I challenged my grandfather because I might have wanted revenge, but also because he acted selfishly. He wanted us to stay hidden from the world, so he could control us. He used your fear of a world that would kill, but it's our world too. And the world is in trouble! There are forces that aim to destroy everything we hold dear, and they will not spare us because we hide. The world needs dragons again! The world needs us again! The people of Treecaster must stand together with the world to fight off the threat. But I can't be the one to lead you." (Y/N) stepped down and walked towards Zack. "Which is why, my first act as Alpha is to give the title to my uncle, the rightful Alpha of Treecaster."
Zack blinked at him, but (Y/N) just grinned at him. Slowly, his face warmed into a smile and the two hugged. When they broke apart, (Y/N) started the chat.
"Long live Alpha Zack!"
The crowd cheered even louder and happier this time, and the rest of the group also joined in the chanting.
"You'll have our support, (Y/N)."
"Thank you, uncle."
(Timeskip)
"Sure we can't convince you to stay?" Zack asked as (Y/N) gave a final hug to his grandparents.
They were standing at the forest border where they had come from. A day had passed, and everyone knew it was time to continue their journey. Zack would begin preparing the dragons to venture out into the world to help.
(Y/N) shook his head. "My place is out there, with them."
The two smiled over at the team that stood at a distance. Zack nodded.
"Your mom and dad would be proud of what you're doing. Just know, you'll always have a place here."
"Thanks uncle." The two had one more hug as (Y/N) walked over to the team.
"Ready to go?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah. Let's go save the world."
"Talk about a tall order." Sun joked as everyone laughed.
As the team began to move through the barrier, (Y/N) caught sight of something. Two wispy forms smiled at him tearfully. He recognized them both as they nodded and mouth "we love you, son"
"(Y/N)? You okay?" Yang asked.
He turned to her for a moment before looking back. The specters were gone. He took a deep breath, before smiling at his sister with renewed determination.
"Yeah, never better sis."
Finally it's done! I never expected this bonus stuff to go on for so long! Sorry again for the delay guys, this was way more work than I thought. We'll be back to Volume six next time.