Red and orange hues typically made for a beautiful skyline.
In contrast, the desert landscape held a feel of melancholy, weapons strewn about, and a meniscus smog covering the sky.
Jaune walked through the barren landscape, the desolate and lifeless field spanning past the horizon.
There were weapons that looked like they belonged on displays, some that looked like they were close to breaking, many held a presence that felt palpable.
The gears in the smog-ridden sky turned and irritated him with their noise.
Continuing onward, he saw a man - with his back turned to him - standing on a hill, the only hill. He had dark skin but his hair was like snow. He wore a red coat with what appeared to be a black combat suit.
"Hey, mister, who are you?" Jaune said.
BREAK
Archer looked out at Unlimited Blade Works once more, gazing out at the world that he had come to realize was the embodiment of all that he was. He continued to think of his world, and heard a voice call out to him; something that shouldn't be possible in Unlimited Blade Works.
Archer's eyes widened, never before had anyone entered his realm without his volition. He turned, his pace slow, eyes the color of steel widening as he took in the form of the small boy standing before him, his mind going a thousand paces a second.
He blinked twice, noticing that the boy was asking him questions. He had questions of his own for the boy. "Are you a hero, mister?" the small child asked.
At that, the man's heart churned. "Ah…"
BREAK
Jaune woke with a start, where was Archer? maybe it was all just a dream?
As he went through the mindless routine of making his bed then brushing his teeth his mind was filled with thoughts of Archer and what they talked about. Conversations that spanned so long he lost track of the time he spent amongst the field filled with weapons.
They talked of what it meant to be a hero, to save, and to be happy. 'He would have to ask dad, he was a hunter and he knew everything!'
BREAK
The father to 8 otherwise known as Nick Arc was having a good morning; his family was eating with him, his wife was happy. All in all, it was shaping up to be an idyllic day. Then his son came down.
As soon as his son came down he sensed it. He had aura, something which shouldn't be possible. He had shown no signs of awakening it on his own and he had forbidden anyone from unlocking it. The boy hadn't even left his sight for 3 days!
"Hey dad, I had this weird dream where I saw this cool guy and there were swords everywhere and he told me that I shouldn't be a hero because my life will end up like his!" With a great breath, his son continued "Also what does it mean to be a hero? To save? To be happy?"
'What, a man in his dream? These questions, his aura this shouldn't be happening' He shared a look with his wife.
"Jaune..son when did your aura awaken? Did anyone do it for you, I won't be mad just let me and your mom know."
To his frustration, his son was only further confused. "Wait I have aura? Does that mean I can be a hero? A hunter now?" Jaune exclaimed
BREAK
As Jaune's head hit the pillow his head swam with the thoughts of the events of the day. His mom and dad looked were so sad. Jaune was ashamed to admit he was happy, though. 'Finally, I can be a hunter but I don't wanna leave mom and my sisters to go on a trip. It makes them sad and I don't wanna see anyone sad.' He fell asleep to the sounds of gears grinding and the smell of smog.
Once more Jaune found himself looking at the weapons, but this time he didn't stand among them. He stood on a grassy field with a clear blue sky above him. He was curious, what happened to Archer? The field of weapons called out him and his sense of adventure.
"So, this what you are, how fitting.." Archer drawled
Jaune turned around and exclaimed "Archer there you are what is this? What happened? What did you do?"
Archer narrowed his eyes and spoke "I did nothing, what you stand on is you, your very soul embodied, just as Unlimited blade works is all I am," He took a breath before speaking again "On a different note, do have the answers to the questions I asked?"
Jaune scratched his head before answering. "Yeah, my dad told me that I should do what makes me happy! and I wanna be a hero, I know what happened to you might happen to me but that's ok I'll have saved people like you!"
Archer closed his eyes and sighed " So then, I see that you are unable to see past your selfishness; this path will only end in suffering for your family, your friends, and for you."
As Archer spoke weapons materialized in his hands. Jaune looked distinctly nervous as he spoke: "Hey..what are you doing with those swords?" Archer walked forward as he spoke, "I'm going to end you since you can't be reasoned with."
BREAK
As Archer neared the boy he threw Kanshou and Bakuya his two most used swords, the boy was untrained and the swords would attract to each other and behead him before he would be able to act and hopefully this nightmare would end. With the death of the child whose naivety and idealism reminded him so strongly of himself.
As the black and white swords neared Jaune who could only watch as his impending death came, there was the distinct sound of swords clashing. As the swords, which he know knew were Kanshou and Bakuya left Unlimited Blade works and entered his world, his world saved a copy and he was able to see the history and forging process of the blades.
Archer's eyes widened as he saw his swords get deflected by copies 'it's …like my unlimited blade works, but will it be able to handle larger amounts' he thought. "So..the world that embodies you is similar in nature to my own, that should foretell the future that awaits you, will you back down?"
Jaune looked at Archer with a guilty expression "I.. I can't, I don't wanna live a life where I won't be happy!"
Archer merely looked up "your world might be able to stop two of my blades, what of two hundred?" As he spoke numerous swords manifested above him and shot toward Jaune. Jaune looked up with defiance "I don't care if it's two swords or two hundred I won't be stopped by you or by anyone else!" As he proclaimed his declaration his own swords repelled the invading armaments.
'I have to do something I can't just stand here and let him keep attacking me, dad taught me how to hold and use Crocea Mors, if only I had it, I can practically feel it by my side' Jaune thought. He felt a familiar weight in his hands as his family sword appeared into his hand.
He knew what he had to do. Jaune ran forward while the sounds of swords clashing echoed above him and a yell proclaiming his charge.
BREAK
Archer watched as the boy traced a sword unknown to him 'not anymore, Crocea Mors huh' He traced his trusty Kachou and Bakuya and waited until the boy reached him 'i'm going to show him that all that resolve won't let him win' he thought.
As Jaune reached Archer he swung his family's weapon as the man parried it he felt something resonate within him. It was like remembering a long forgotten memory, like a whisper of what used to be. 'Archer is going try to catch me from the back! I can't let him I have to block it!' Jaune thought.
Archer twitched as his sword parried the sword of the brat. The brat was getting his memories and battle experience to augment himself! 'damn this might just devolve into a pointless conflict if he keeps gaining my experience and memories' Archer thought.
Archer jumped back and threw bakuya above Jaune and charged forward with Kanshou. As he locked blades with Jaune his Bakuya came circling back and in the path of Jaune's back. Jaune broke from the clash of their blades and slide stepped letting Bakuya once more reach it's married other. Archer caught the sword in his and released his stance.
"So, you're getting my experiences and memories when our blades meet..do you realize yet that your future will mirror my own?" Archer spoke.
Jaune took a few deep breaths before replying "So what! so what! even if I mirror your life I'll still have helped at least one person and that's enough for me!" Jaune yelled.
Archer looked at the child with apathy "Perhaps beating you into submission is the way to make you learn…"
The sound of sword meeting sword in violent clash was heard for hours.
AN: I have to give massive props to TrollerBear and dakeyras, without them this chapter would not be nearly as good and polished as it is. They also have good stories check them out to be even more unproductive!