Author's Note:

Thanks for the kind words and reviews guys. Didn't think that many people were interested in this story. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how wrong I was. Here's hoping you all will take this journey with me together.


Jaune Arc: Einherjar

Chapter 2:A Brush Against Fire


After the Storm stills it's wake,

May All be blessed,

So the Fate, and the Fallen can find rest,

Your will, the water reflects, so all will know

Your hands brought the morrow

~An excerpt from "Lost in thoughts: revelation version"


"Jaune!"

He never thought hearing the sound of his own name would ever be as sweet as it was now, her warmth and strength enraptured him, and those slender arms trembled ever so slightly as they closed around him. A mane of red buried itself against his shoulder, he could feel her hot tears soak into his sweater.

Where there had been an arrow now lay his normal chest, and the death wound had been replaced by a crying Pyrrha. An odd but overwhelming sight.

He had never seen Pyrrha cry until today.

And he vowed he would never let it happen again.

"Ow." Of all the words to pick it just seemed appropriate. He had only been deceased for minutes and yet somehow the feel of his living body already felt alien to him, all the aches and pangs of life returning to him. The arrow was gone from his chest but he could still feel the lingering pain of it, like a phantom plunged into his heart.

Not to mention Pyrrha's tight hold on him.

"Oh! S-Sorry." The red haired member of team JNPR heard his cry of discomfort as she loosened her embrace, sniffling back the tears, apparently feeling slightly embarrassed by the ordeal.

He couldn't help but give out a small chuckle. Sigrun really did it. He was here. Now. Alive. And the girl that mattered most in the world was kneeling right in front of him.

"... Hey." He smiled.

"... H-hey…" a stuttered mixture of laughter and relief escape from the green-eyed girl as she sniffled back her emotions.

Every fiber of Jaune's being commanded him to raise a hand and place it upon Pyrrha's cheek, wiping away the stained tear marks. "...I'm back."

Another awkward laugh. "Y-yes, I could see that… but… how?"

The rumbling of their metallic cocoon snapped both of them out of their own world.

"We'll talk later. I promise." There would be another time and place, not now. After all, he had all the time in the world again. "Pyrrha, are you okay?" he asked with concern.

She opened her mouth to answer but paused briefly. "I… yes, for the most part thanks to you." She than glanced downwards where her feet were, an arrow shaft was protruding from her heel.

"Pyrrha!" he knelt closer to her, inspecting the horrid looking wound.

"It's okay, Jaune. I can- Argh!" a pained expression came up on her beautiful face as she tried to stand.

He held her steadily in place. "'Okay' my butt! You can't even stand!" He was seriously considering if he should pull the arrow shaft out. He decided against it. He barely knew how to treat an arrow wound much less one that was in such a delicate spot.

"Really, I'm-"

Another boom.

Another layer of what protected them being shedded.

This was bad.

When he asked Sigrun for help he never imagined she meant to bring him back. Now he was back to square one facing off against one of the most powerful and dangerous beings he had ever known. And here he was missing a piece of his weapon and with an injured Pyrrha to protect.

Jaune was no betting man but even he knew his odds were slowly becoming more abysmal by the minute.

Wait!

Sigrun!

He glanced around. If the Valkyrie maiden had the power to bring him back from the brink, surely she could help even out the fight. Heck, she might just win it for them!

But no matter how he searched, he found neither hide nor hair of the Valkyrie. Or of Isara and Gandry.

Damn it.

How was he suppose to get them out of this by himself?!

Whatever. If there was one talent he was proud of, it was his ability to go with the flow of things.

Like his mom had always said, Jaune Arc thought better when he was on his feet, with danger nipping at his heels.

"Listen, I don't think this cage is gonna outlast another blow from Cinder."

Pyrrha nodded in agreement.

"You still got some strength left to use that semblance of yours?"

"Always." Her determined green gaze never even faltered for a second; he realized how much loved that part of her.

"Good. When I give the signal I want you break this open. I'll face and distract Cinder. While that's going on I want you to es-"

"Jaune!"

"I'm not going to let you argue with me on this Pyrrha."

"And I'm not going to let you face her alone."

"I'm not losing you to her!"

Why couldn't she understand?! He was just trying to protect her!

"Nor I you!" she yelled out her concern. "I'm not. I'm not going to lose you again. Never again."

Suddenly his frustration melted. He could not hold onto it, not when he could hear the pain in her voice. No man could stand for that. Shamed by not even taking her feelings into consideration, he bowed his head.

Only to have it lifted by her gentle hands caressing his face, forcing him to meet her gaze. "I don't need you to die for me, Jaune..." she said gently. " I need you to fight with me."

Idiot.

He was a freaking idiot.

Pyrrha didn't need a White Knight. She never had.

She needed her partner.

Jaune took her hands from his cheeks into his own. They shared a nod, and both know the other understood without a another word being said.

As much as Jaune didn't want to eventually he had to let go of Pyrrha's strong hands.

The young blonde combed his hand through his hair. "Okay," he agreed simply. "Okay… New plan."


Cinder Fall was a patient person.

A very patient person.

It was her many machinations and meticulous scheming that had gotten them this far after all. But even she was getting tired of toying with the Nikos girl.

It was fun at first. That foolish blonde boy leapt to his doom to save his teammate and the look that she had seen on Pyrrha's face was priceless. She could still visualize that scream and visage as if it only happened a second ago. She only wished she had her scroll to record such agonizing ecstasy.

But after a while her sobs and wailing were just beginning to sound like useless prattling to Cinder.

The fight in the Invincible Girl had vanished, and the now broken warrior seemed to have decided instead to hide herself behind layer upon layer of metal debris.

A futile effort of course. With her newfound powers, Cinder was going to kill the Nikos girl eventually. Pyrrha's death was not part of the plan she had come up with, but the more she thought about it the more it made sense. The death of the Invincible Girl of Mistral would be a blow to many of the students and faculty of Beacon Academy. It would be a blow they would not be able to recover from.

Not in time anyway.

And wasn't that the overall goal to begin with?

Fracture and break man apart.

What better way than to start than with humanity's favored daughter of Mistral?

She smiled a devilish grin as she continued to pummel the barrier before her, increasing each blow exponentially.

"Little Red, Little Red, let me come in." She smirked.

Not long after her those words left her lips the metallic bubble exploded into thousands of tiny pieces, pushing her back a few feet.

She had to erect a fire barrier around her to melt the incoming debris.

She was so caught up in the moment she did not even realize a flurry of a shadow making a mad dash towards her. A slash to her right distracted her thoughts while a kick to her abdomen caused her to buckle, her hand had barely blocked the blow.

"Not by the hair on my chinny, chin chin." A ghost had emerged before her, his voice brimmed with confidence. "...Okay, that was pretty lame, even for me."

"You?!" She couldn't believe this. "How?!"

She was sure she plunge the arrow straight into his heart.

SHE SAW HIM FALL!

And there he was, standing before her like it had never happened.

"Does it matter? All you need to know you will never ever touch Pyrrha again. Not while I'm around."

She roared angrily, as her fists glowed and burned with flame.

We shall see about that.


Oh boy.

She's mad.

She's really mad.

In hindsight maybe it wasn't a good idea to taunt someone who had the power to burn you alive. Oh well, no use in crying over spilled milk now. It was worth it. For two seconds and a half Jaune actually felt cool for a change.

Now all he needed to do was live long enough to be able to tell the tale later.

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted what he was looking for. The blonde warrior made a desperate dive to avoid Cinder's follow up barrages. Landing hard he rolled over with his build up momentum catching what he needed in the process, bringing up the broken yet still viable shield of Crocea Mors. The familiar weight of his old friend felt great to hold once again. He used it to deflect a good portion of Cinder's attacks.

Although he had managed to hold off Cinder's initial assault, he soon lost sight of the cunning woman; he had brought up the shield over his eyes after all. His eyes scanned desperately for his opponent.

He never thought to look up. At the last second he heard her above him, and glanced up to see a grinning Cinder with black bow notched and drawn, letting loose a whisper of death headed his way.

It never found it's mark. A loud plunk sound resonated in the air, a circular bronze shield levitated above him, deflecting the projectile with ease and stopping it right on its track.

Jaune was now made very aware of how close he had cut it. A sense of relief filled his body. He really didn't want to die again from the same method. That would just embarrassing and lame.

He set his sight back on what had saved him. He could recognize the familiar sight of Akouo from anywhere. Pyrrha's shield had time and time again been there for him when he needed it.

Jaune turned around to see Pyrrha concentrating with one hand as she moved the shield with him. "Thanks, partner!"

As much as he loved how in sync he was when he fought with Pyrrha, her timely intervention definitely caught Cinder's attention.

He could see the woman propel herself towards the injured girl.

In a split second he transformed Crocea Mors back into its sheathed form as he took hold of the other shield still floating in the air and hefted it with all his might. "Pyrrha!"

She caught the shield just in the nick of time, the bronze shell of Akouo took the brunt of Cinder's heavy axe kick. Sparks flew as flame collided with metal.

Pyrrha buckled briefly from the heavy blow, before renewed vigor gave her the strength to fight back against the terrorist of Beacon. With a loud roar she threw Cinder off of her shield causing the woman to flip right back down to the ground.

Jaune saw it as a perfect opportunity to attack. Cowardly though it may be to strike a foe from behind, this was a battle, not an honorable duel. Lives were at stake.

He raised Crocea Mors over head ready to cut Cinder where she stood. He expected no resistance when he brought the blade down so you could imagine his surprise when she turned and guided his hands futilely sideways causing him to roll over and land on his back with a thump.

The sudden pain of colliding with the ground knocked the wind out of him but she wasn't finished. She kicked him hard across the chest. The attack, coupled with her newfound strength, caused him to skid quite a few meters in pyrrha's direction.

A wicked smile crept right on back her face as she tossed his ancestral sword aside like it was garbage.

The red haired maiden next to him held out her hand and Crocea Mors answered her call as it returned back into it's rightful owner's hand. Jaune took a cautious stance, with sword and shield in hand, in front of Pyrrha, ready to defend both of them.

As much as Jaune fully wanted to win against Cinder he was running out of ideas. She was strong enough before, but the powers she was displaying were way beyond he had ever witnessed, let alone faced. He had no way of knowing how much more she could dish out at them.

And an opponent you couldn't read or predict was a dangerous one.

Pyrrha must have felt the same way, her fingers dug deep into his shoulder, not wanted him to leave her sight.

Which was fine by him.

He never planned to leave her side again.

Their stout image of them together must have seem perverse to Cinder because she looked at them both with disgust.

"Fine. You want to defend your girlfriend so badly? You can die together with her!" She lifted her arms up and wide. "You think Fire is all I've got? I am a force of nature now!" Dark ominous clouds began to whirl overhead, the distant sound of thunder rumbled in the wind.

"Jaune…" Pyrrha whispered his name with caution.

He could feel it too without her warning. Whatever Cinder was planning next, it definitely was big.

The night sky crackled with energy and danger. It felt like they were in the eye of a storm. A deadly and malicious storm.

In the middle of the maelstrom was a cackling Cinder, clearly infatuated with her stolen power. She lifted a single hand in the air for a moment, before bringing the same hand down, her finger pointed directly at them. "Die… worms."

With those words the heavens above answered and delivered a divine bolt of lightning. It struck at them with the wrath of nature now being delivered upon two young hunters.

Instinctively Jaune held up the shield half of Crocea Mors, a stupid move, he knew. Crocea Mors had failed him once, what made him believe that the ancient shield in his hand could protect him and Pyrrha? He didn't know. But he had to try. There was no way he was going to fail twice. Not in front of the girl he...

He braced himself for the sizzling pain of the forked lightning. Within moments the power of the bolt exploded against his shield and by all intents and purposes should have destroyed Jaune where he stood.

But it didn't. Jaune had taken the full blast of the lightning bolt and was still standing, not a scratch on his person.

An act which awed the girl behind him and infuriated the woman above him.

"Amazing…" Pyrrha called out breathlessly.

"HOW IN THE HELL ARE YOU STILL STANDING?!" Cinder shouted with fury.

It was the same question Jaune was wondering himself. He felt flabbergasted of how he had pulled it off until a familiar voice echoed out in his head.

It's going to take a lot more than a little rain to stop us, lad.

Gandry.

He looked around, hoping to find the visage of the tall plated warrior.

Look down, boy. At your own hands.

And so he did. His eyes opened wide trying to take in what he was seeing. A ghostly silhouette of the giant's armored hands overlapped over his, as if he was the man inside the armor itself.

The vows we take are few and simple, Jaune Arc. It is the crux of our existence. First is to honor and guard your Valkyrie with all your being. The last is to never let the mortal world see you for who you are, for the affairs of the Nine Realms are no longer our concern. But there is a third unwritten vow all we Einherjar take to heart.

Jaune could feel the power explode within his muscles. Like he could lift a mountain.

We take care of our own.


(Minutes before)

Sigrun stood careful watch as she observed her newly risen Einherjar in action. He was probably the oddest she'd ever acquired therefore required careful observation. Perhaps a demonstration of what he was capable of would ease her curiosity.

"Aha… He's not a stray dog or anything like that, my lady. You don't have to stare at him so hard. You know what they say, If looks could kill..." Isara rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, clearly embarrassed for her own lady Valkyrie, whose gazed seemed fixed upon the awkward blonde boy.

"I don't think that's what that phrase means." Gandry amusingly pointed out.

"Oooooh," Isara opened her mouth, clearly now engrossed in the scene taking place. "Look, look, his hand! His hand is on her cheeks!" The younger Einherjar squeaked out with glee. "How bold! How… naughty!"

Sigrun couldn't help but smile at her guardian's reaction. Isara always was a helpless romantic. Perhaps it was one of the reasons why the tiny girl was one of her favorites.

Nevertheless.

She did not choose to ignore one of her sacred vows just so that Jaune Arc could act out his romantic fantasies with the attractive girl.

A bargain was a bargain. Eventually, she would collect her payment. For now she wanted to see what he could do. What made him worthy to be one her chosen.

And so they would observe. Out of sight and out of mind.

What she had witnessed… she could only described as a dreaded sense of disappointment.

"He had an opening there." Gandry called out one of Jaune's mistakes. "Annnnnd there."

It was worse than she thought. He had the training, but not the natural talent. He had the right ideas, but his reflexes were too slow. He had the heart… but he lacked the strength to act out his will.

"Too soft," Gandry continued his assessment, shaking his head.

"Too slow." Isara had now joined in the conversation, laughing as she did so.

Perhaps she had been a little too hasty. She did not want to think that his pleas were what moved her heart, she was convinced she was above such reproach but what else could it have been? It surely was not his skills. Although she thought for sure there was something in him that called out to her.

… Was she mistaken? Had she chosen… poorly?

Was Jaune Arc really so… weak?

No, perhaps it was that… this Cinder was just too strong.

This was not a fight. This was a slaughter.

Sigrun sighed inwardly. As the Valkyrie of victory she was proud of the fact that her chosen Einherjar were champions in each and every single one of their own right. Each stronger than the next.

As she continued to watch and observe, she felt as if that proud legacy was slowly but surely becoming a distant relic of the past.

However her favorite mountain of a man was quick to reassure her thoughts. "True, he is lacking in some physicalities, but you're not mistaken, if that's what you are thinking, my Lady Valkyrie."

"Hm?"

She could tell her steel plated knight was smiling behind that fearsome helm of his. "...He has it. The heart of one. And in the end is that not what matters most?"

… There must be a ring of truth to Gandry's words. After all, being her oldest Einherjar made him as astute and wise when it came to the judgement of others. Specifically his fellow Einherjar.

"Are you sure you are not just saying that to make me feel better?" Sigrun smiled playfully.

"You know me better than most, my Lady. What do you think?" The armored knight folded his hands over his chest, his signature pose.

"... I think I trust the word of my friend." She closed the distance between them, her beautiful face contrasting his helmeted visage.

"... I… I thank you, lady Sigrun. I am not worthy of such praise."

Even in that armor she could tell her genuine praise made him flustered. A warrior Gandry might be, but his feelings and emotions were always unguarded when it came to her, making him susceptible to her teasing.

Truthfully she found it endearing and sweet, although she would never admit it out loud.

Her old, iron giant.

Her Gandry.

A quiet moment fell between them.

She had to do something to dispel such awkwardness. Luckily her bodyguard was always one step ahead of her.

Gandry coughed, his booming voice echoing behind that visor of his. "In any case. Think of him like a mass of clay, Lady Sigrun. By himself he is nothing, worthless, and without shape…"

"Ouch," Isara continued her color commentary, clearly more interested in the scene happening before her rather than the conversations they were having. The three of them witnessed Cinder's powerful kick which sent the blonde boy skidding across the ground, painfully. "He is definitely going to feel that in the morning."

"But... in the hands of an artist, even a lowly mold of clay can be made into something that would make even the gods weep."

The three of them bore witness to Jaune's resolve. The young man stood directly in front of his red haired friend, ready to face the elements themselves. His nerves like steel, his eyes burned like fire.

"...Well that lump of clay is about to get hit by lightning," Sigrun stated simply, with no malice nor concern.

"... Ah, I suppose this is where I come in. You don't mind do you, my Lady?" She glanced at her close friend and guardian, he was busy rotating his shoulders like he was preparing for battle. "I know the rules enough. But the boy is a brother now. And you know I deeply care for my family."

She nodded, already knowing what he planned to do. "Yes. Of course you do. Well I know once you make up your mind it is almost impossible to change it."

"Apologies, my Lady Valkyrie. I'm just a selfish man like that."

"...Just go." She sighed. They've done this dance for so long she was used to it.

"Thank you, lady Sigrun."

"Oh is Gandry going to fight? Can I go too?" Isara piped in her request.

"I appreciate the concern, little one," Sigrun eyed the elder Einherjar as he patted the young girl's head with a gauntlet hand, careful to not hurt her but enough to ruffle her hair. The scene could have passed for a father doting on his beloved daughter. "But I'm the one who is going to hear about it from the council of Valkyries later. I'd rather not involve anyone else if I could."

"Aw, no fair. You and Sigrun always get to have fun!" She huffed in place.

"Trust me, Isara. Fighting this Cinder… this monster… will be far from fun."


Well, What are you waiting for, lad? You're a huntsman are you not?

Jaune was still having problems processing what was going on. "Wait, hold on! Time out! I still have no idea what just happened!"

Pyrrha looked at him in confusion. "Jaune this is no time to be talking out loud to yourself!" She pointed at Cinder who was readying another attack.

Brace yourself, lad! Same posture as before. Dig in those heels, shield out, steady that hand!

Jaune's body reacted faster than his mind could comprehend. Shield hand raised high it was ready to face Cinder's attack head on once more.

Once again the forked lightning struck down to smite his shield, and again the burst of energy would explode upon contact, leaving behind only a sizzling smoky mist along with an unharmed Jaune Arc.

"...Why won't you burn, Jaune Arc!" If Cinder looked angry before she was definitely beyond piss now.

Haha! Perfect reaction! We'll make an Einherjar out of you, yet!

Jaune couldn't explain it but he felt stronger than he had ever been. His eyes were sharp, his sense clear, and his mind was clear of doubt. Like he had been in countless situations like this before, which he knew was not true.

Suddenly blurred images began to take hold of his eye sight.

The melodious sound of feminine laughter accompanied a silhouette of a woman carrying a child.

A shadow that clung fervently at his hand, placing a ring of flowers over his head.

A village covered in flames as the night sky rained crimson.

...Easy, lad. Try not to dip into my memories. Listen to my voice and focus.

At Gandry's urging Jaune shook his head hard, the phantom reel that played before him was now gone.

"What was that?"

An uneasy side effect of the melding. Now is not the time to dwell upon it,Jaune. You have a battle to win.

Gandry was right. There would be plenty of time to ask questions later. For now he needed to concentrate on the task at hand. Protecting Pyrrha and defeating the woman responsible for breaking his school.

"Jaune! We need to bring her down from the sky! Otherwise she's going to keep hurling those bolts at us!" As always Pyrrha was one step ahead of him.

"R-right!"

Pyrrha pointed at a massive nearby gear before glancing back his way. "Arkos flying maneuver version two!"

It always impressed him how much more of a capable fighter Pyrrha was then him. It only took her a day or two to remember all the battle plans and stratagems he had come up with for the Vytal tournament

Version two.

That was the move where Pyrrha would slingshot him towards their intended target.

He only had to take a second to look around to know what she had in mind. He made a running start.

"Go for it!" he shouted out loud, readying himself with sword and shield in hand.

And with a wave of her hand Pyrrha lifted and threw the gigantic clockwork gear over, scooping up Jaune as he lept into in the air, slinging both of them towards the floating Cinder.

Cinder might not have been anticipating the bold maneuver but the woman was far from surprised. She answered with a gigantic ball of flame that threatened to engulf the incoming Jaune.

The old him would have jumped off his flying platform at the sight of such danger. But something compelled him to stand his ground. Like there was a hand upon his shoulder that assured him it was going to be okay.

Now! Show me your resolve, Jaune Arc! Show me your worth as a man!

Jaune roared out loud in defiance, with Crocea Mors in hand he swung with all his might. The ghostly form of an armored knight wrapped around him.

And he parted the flames with ease, their orange tails burning nothing.

"What?!"

While Cinder continued to be astounded at the feats he was able to accomplish Jaune was slowly getting used to his newfound capabilities...or should he say to Gandry's strength.

He would not waste an ounce of it.

The team leader of team JNPR made out a desperate cry leaping once more into the air.

Like a bullet he flung himself towards Cinder, colliding with the powerful woman mid-air, causing both of them to plummet down to the ground.

Jaune knew he landed hard from his rough and tumble landing but he barely felt a thing.

"Cinder!" He called out loud.

"ENOUGH!" Cinder tossed out a telekinetic wave of power, blowing everything around her away. Including Jaune who flew back a few feet.

If things weren't bad enough the air rumbled heavily as the thunderous roar of an enormous creature flew overhead.

"...You've got to be kidding me…" Jaune grimaced. "Is that a Grimm Dragon?!"

He was already having a difficult time facing Cinder. What were his chances like against the most fearsome Grimm creature he had ever seen?

"Jaune! Pyrrha!"

"Jaune, you idiot! What did I say about doing things on your own?!"

Two voices called out from afar.

Both did not belong to Pyrrha.

He spotted two valiant figures peering out against the darkness. One, a red cloak that billowed against the fearsome winds, another clad in white, a silver mane that also danced with the roaring gale.

He had never been as happy to see them both then he was at that moment. Pyrrha must have felt the same because they simultaneously echoed each other's words.

"Ruby! Weiss!"