ARC KNIGHT
NIGHT 00
PROLOGUE [REVISED]
They called him many names, most of which being insulting or derogatory.
From the Darkness to Vengance, criminals everywhere feared his name. He was the shadows of the streets, the shallow breathing behind you, what goes bump in the night. Who he was under the mask wasn't important, as the last thing his victims saw were cold blue eyes and woven black fabric.
He had been shot at, stabbed at, and on occasion exploded, but still he is a constant as constant as death itself. He cannot die, because behind his mask lies an idea. And ideas, are bulletproof.
He was the night, he was justice, he was fear!
Or… You know. Maybe not.
Trying to roll away from the attacks were unsuccessful, something unsurprising in a four versus one back alley brawl, though I felt more like a punching bag than a contestant.
"Can't we talk this out!?" I tried to reason through my grunts of pain as another boot connected with my back. In the end, I settled for curling up and trying to protect my face and stomach instead of my pride. "I'm sure you are all amazing people! With great parents, friends, and family!"
"I'm an orphan!" I felt a vicious kick connect with the back of my head.
"Friends?!"
"People don't like me!" It sounded almost like a sob as another kick rained down on my pathetic defenses.
"Maybe that's because you're a DICK!" I screamed back, lashing out with a foot that only met air.
This time, it felt like someone had performed a drop from the top ropes as a boot slammed down onto my shoulder, grinding against my hoodie and basically destroyed Aura.
"So not cool!" Another voice chastised me.
"Don't be an asshole!"
"Rude!"
Wow. I'm somehow the bad guy here?
Eventually, the onslaught ended as they left to find other people to kick the crap out of, though not before taking my wallet. It was fortunate that my scroll was tucked away in the inside pocket of my hoodie, or I would have been locked out of the dorm. Again.
Unfortunately, with my wallet went fifty lein, a year's worth of coupons (Most expired) and a Grimmlock Card. To make matters worse, that card was a mint condition Ursa Ultima, the last of it's kind. It was worth, like, five hundred lein.
"Farewell, my child." I breathed, wishing the card the best of luck. "But just remember… I will find you."
It's not weird.
There is a science, and it dictates that having a father-son bond with an inanimate object is perfectly healthy.
Climbing to my feet slowly, I kept an eye on the alleyway entrance. I wasn't sure what I was going to do if they came back, but I knew it was going to be kick-ass.
"Maybe I'd unlock my Semblance?" I mused, inspecting my hoodie. It looked almost exactly like my usual hoodie, which was where the genius came in. No one would expect it! I was partially regretting the decision to leave my armor at home, but I figured it would be too much of a giveaway. There is indeed a limit to other people's obliviousness, and it's higher than mine.
Pulling off my balaclava, I ran a hair through my grimy blonde locks. The night had begun with my falling off of a roof, and ended with me getting the crap beaten out of me by a bunch of douche bags. It wasn't exactly uncommon, unfortunately.
Exiting the alleyway, I hailed a cab and took an airship back to Beacon. Why there wasn't a ski-lift to Beacon remains a mystery. Wouldn't it be more efficient? But then again… Maybe having the future of Remnant riding on a ski-lift might not be a great idea…
Debunked?
Upon exiting the airship, I proceeded to Debunk all over the inside of a trashcan, violently projectile vomiting a poison worse than any other poison known to man into the can and ignoring the looks of the few passersby returning at this time of night. Motion sickness; also not weird.
I would have said that too, had I gotten the chance. Instead I settled for thinking it, as I usually do.
Wiping my mouth, I trudged slowly to the dorm building and prepared to enter the dorm room of team JNPR. I'm the J in that team, and therefore the leader. It was pretty sweet.
The door opened silently, and I glid into the room like a ghost thief, being as careful as physically possible for one of my grace.
The R of our team stands for Ren. He's chinese, which gives our team a huge advantage over other teams. Unfortunately for me, he was a Chinese ninja, and it was hard to get anything past him…
Hold up, if ninjas are European or Japanese or whatever, then is calling him a Chinese ninja racist? Like, don't Chinese people hate being called Japanese? Am I a closet racist?!
Hold please.
...
The internet has the coolest way of calming people down, while also making them wish for a martian invasion. Basically, I'm not racist. Why? Because the internet said so.
Anyways, while I oil the hinges of the front door before leaving for the night, and stay as quiet as possible, it's usually a general waste of my time anyways. I can get a couple feet into the room before tripping over bullet casings, the occasional bag of sugar, or an oddly and probably misplaced Zwei. How the little guy gets into my room? I'm starting to think someone is putting him here on purpose.
A certain someone...
"Yo!" I shouted as my foot caught on something, and I tumbled face-first into my nightstand.
God damn, crapping douche-it crappity crap!
I could have moved at any time I wanted to, but I instead settled for lying face-down on the floor, trying to ignore the throbbing of my forehead.
Eventually, I decided it was safe to get up, and found my team still sleeping peacefully. Even Ren was undisturbed by the noise.
I am unnoticed, for shadows make no sounds! I am out of your sights; real, but unseen to the very eyes that search for me! I AM-
"Jaune?"
-SCREWED!
Dropping back down to the floor as quietly as possible, I could see two bare feet slowly touching the ground on the other side of the room from under the bed.
Pyrrha?
"Hello?" She called out again, and I swear I could feel my breathing stop. This was it, the gig was up. It's not my time!
"Hm. Must have been Zwei… Again."
Or it could be someone breaking into the dorm and about to make off with all of our valuables! Stop me, Pyrrha!
After another moment, I could hear the rustle of covers as she crawled back into her bed, and a light snoring soon afterwards.
Another moment passed as I didn't dare to breath, and I could feel the few braincells that I had dying in horrible agony as they were crushed by injustice.
Apparently, Ideas are not immune to asphyxiation. The more you know.
I let out the breath slowly, and got back to my feet. Removing my boots, I put my stuff in their respective locations before changing into my onesie.
Instantly, I could feel my troubles washing away as the tidal wave of love and care that was my onesie comforted me.
Instead of immediately falling asleep, I stared at the roof, as deep in thought as I could go. About knee depth? Ish?
I thought about many things, such as what was for lunch tomorrow, and exactly how many times I could be punched in the genitals before I could not have children, but one thought floated to the top above all others.
Why the hell did I think this was a good idea?
ARC KNIGHT
The sound of metal grinding against metal rang out over the rooftop as the spear slid along my shield, leaving a mark. I had no time to worry about the heirloom as I leapt backwards, ducking behind my shield as gunfire rang out and bullets clashed against the metal barrier.
"I thought we weren't doing anything with guns yet!?" I half asked, half accused as Pyrrha's spear, now a gun, continued to fire.
"The Tournament is in a few months, Jaune!" Pyrrha shouted over the gunfire. "You're getting a lot better, too! I'm sure you'll be fine in melee combat, but we need to practice your defense at a range!"
It made sense, but one thing above all bothered me.
"And what if I was crap, and hadn't blocked?"
She didn't answer, and she was suddenly in my guard.
Pushing her away with my shield, I ducked under her spear, before leaning backwards and allowing the butt of the weapon to pass by my face as she brought it around to try and clock me.
Leaping backwards, several more hits rebounded off of my shield as I held my ground, before suddenly feeling my legs being swept out from under me.
My back met concrete, and I laid there for a moment; dazed as I stared into the sky.
Ouch.
Eventually, Pyrrha leaned into my happy-place with a concerned expression on her face.
I accepted her hand and climbed to my feet, brushing my armor off and taking a seat on one of the chairs we had set up.
"You're getting better." The girl complimented, giving a nod of approval. It wasn't exactly a "You're awesome!", but I take what I can get.
"I've been working on it. There is one thing I've been wanting to ask you, though."
She said nothing, which I assumed was the go-ahead to keep talking.
"I was wondering if you could teach me any unarmed combat moves? You know, karate, or some… Other… Martial arts thing."
She frowned. "Oh."
Oh?
"Er, I mean… Why?" She looked confused. "You have already become… Adequately skilled with your sword and shield. Don't you think it's a bit late to be switching weapons?"
I sense it. While she does not show it on the outside, she is suspicious. Gotta shake her off my tail.
"Well, I'm not exactly going to be ditching Crocea Mors for a pair of boxing gloves." I joked, giving my best fake smile. From the look on her face, I was going to need to practice it a bit more. I probably looked like I was having a stroke. "I just wanted to know because… Uh, if I ever get disarmed, I'm pretty useless."
Pyrrha chuckled. "Useless isn't exactly the word to describe you without a weapon. You've still got your leadership skills."
Right. Those.
How the hell do I keep doing that, anyways?
"Right. I guess. But still; better safe than sorry."
You're blowing it, Arc! Think harder!
"I'm not exactly skilled in hand to hand combat either, Jaune." The Amazoness apologized. "Maybe you should ask Yang?"
Oh? Hah! God no. That would be painful. A fate worse than Chess. Er, death.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea." I admitted, shaking my head. "It's not that she scares me, but…"
"It's alright." Pyrrha patted my shoulder lightly. "I'm fairly sure Yang scares everybody a little bit."
"Except for Nora?"
"Except for Nora." She confirmed. "She is truly fearless. Maybe that's all you need? Just, ask her and see how it goes?"
"I'm not too scared to ask." I said, taking a sip from my water bottle. "I'm terrified that she'll agree. I've seen what Yang does to people when she's angry, Pyrrha! I will be at constant risk of bodily harm, as well as testicular manslaughter! Especially testicular manslaughter!"
"Don't you think you're over reacting? Perhaps just a bit? Also, 'Testicular Manslaughter' is not a medically recognized nor legally recognized term… What did they call it in the law-suits?" She mused the last part to herself quietly, but not quietly enough.
…
Well, I'm… Yeah, I no longer feel safe.
"Well, it's been great talking to you, Pyrrha." I announced, getting to my feet. "It's been a pleasure. Uh, minus the bit, uh, about the law-suits though."
"Where are you going?" She asked, confused.
"To bed. I'm bushed."
She furrowed an eyebrow. "It's only seven."
Right…
"I've had a long day, and… I didn't get much sleep last night."
Wait… No…
She's suspicious again! I can see it in her eyes! There has to be a way out of this.
"Was that you that made that loud thump last night? It sounded a bit too heavy to be Zwei." She frowned. "How does that Corgi keep getting into our room anyways? It ate my cashew collection. All of them."
Not good.
"Pyrrha… This is my burden to carry, and mine alone… I must go, my completely platonic friend!"
"Away!" I turned and made a dash for the parapet, one arm extended forwards in a fist like superman, before I dove over the side.
ARC KNIGHT
Alright… First step of operation Soaring Skylark is complete.
As time seemed to slow, I realized something that is applicable to almost any situation similar to mine.
Gravity doesn't wait for step two.
Somehow managing to get my feet under me, I landed hard on a window-sill, and heard the cracking of wood as it prepared to drop me to my death.
Turning and leaping into the room, I landed on my face as the sill dropped the other four stories and probably landed on someone.
"I meant to do that!" I promised as I staggered to my feet, one finger held pointing skywards as I straightened my armor with the other.
It was only then did Cerulean Blue meet Lilac Purple as I froze on the spot, the girl seated in front of the small bookshelf did the same, the novel in her hands forgotten.
"Y-Yang?" I stuttered, still discombobulated from the fall. This lead me to blurt out the first words that came to my head as my inhibitors tried to fix themselves, and failed.
"Is that Blake's porn? Anything good?"
ARC KNIGHT
"That was the wrong thing to say."
"Indeed."
"Have you come to finish the job?"
There was a pregnant pause as Yang folded her arms, seemingly lost in thought.
"Nah. Just remember; Tell anyone, and you die."
I would have put a hand over my heart and sworn up and down, had I not been in a full body cast. The words had barely left my mouth when Yang got to her feet and lumbered over to me, before pushing me out the window with a lazy shove. If I had seen correctly, she had been fanning her face with the other as she yawned. Perhaps it was more appropriate to call it a casual shove?
"I'll… Probably not tell anyone?"
Her glare made me raise the priority of the promise.
I'll more than likely not tell anyone.
Heh.
ARC KNIGHT
I was all in all unsatisfied with the original first chapter, and have rewritten it in my free time, namely in between writing the halloween chapters and trying to do something with Gordian Knots. At least one of those is going somewhere, am I rite? Hah, joke about me not finishing shit. I love those. Anyways, you can expect a few more of these on the way. I'll probably put the original chapters up under a different story, just in case some people liked it.
Providing quality since...birth, totally since birth,
-Caecus Discord.