Just so there's no complications, Jaune's family are Couer Al'Aran's creations. I've asked permission and everything.;)

On to the next chapter!


Chapter 2

"Thank you Coral. I feel a lot better now. And… don't worry, I'm not gonna run away. Not if I have to leave you anyway." Jaune could safely say that Coral was his favorite sibling, favorite person even. She was always there for him, if right now was a testament to anything, and she cared a lot more than anyone else, even his parents. At least, that's the way it felt. He never had many friends. Any to be exact. It wasn't that he wasn't nice or good looking, but every time he looked at some peer of his he just never had the courage to go up and talk to them. The same happened the other way around, he would be approached with some kind words, but he always would end up alone by the end of the day, whether it was because of his own words and awkwardness or by his sisters' over-protectiveness. He didn't really mind though, his sisters were always nice and even if they didn't all hang out with him, Coral always did.

Coral.

"Thank you Jaune. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have a great big hero to put in my story!" She was smiling. Always so beautiful. Her words were always kind and heartfelt, even if she could be a little weird sometimes.

"Oh that won't be a story for much longer. I'll get stronger. Just you watch, I'm gonna apply for Signal."

-/-

"Damn it! Damn it! Why does fate have to be so cruel?"

"I'm sorry Jaune, I thought for sure you would get in."

"It's not your fault Coral. It's mine. It's my fault for deciding I wanted to be a hunter too damn late. I trained my hardest, but what can you really do in just six months. Not to mention the fact that Dad refused to train me." Jaune slammed his fist against the tree. He worked grueling nights and days, honing his body, building up muscle. All so he could get into Signal. So he could become a Hunter.

The Signal exams were difficult to say the least. He did alright on the history section, but once he got to the practical part of the exams, he just couldn't do it. He became strong enough during the six months, but it just wasn't enough to make up for his lack of experience swinging a sword. After all, there was no way his father would let him anywhere near Crocea Mors and every time he got his hands on a wooden one, his parents would just confiscate it. When his turn came around, and they asked him to choose a weapon, he chose a wooden sword and shield.

He obviously didn't have any experience with it, but he knew from the moment he dreamt up this dream that he wanted to be a typical knight in shining armor. For whatever reason. Maybe it was the fairytales he grew up on, he didn't know. But when the spar between him and another girl came along, he couldn't keep up. Her name was Yang… was it? Whatever it didn't matter. He lost. It was even more embarrassing that she beat him with her bare hands.

He felt even worse because of Coral. She had helped him prepare for this. She would come up with a training regimen for him, she would prepare homemade meals for him with lots of protein and everything, and she would even give him motivational speeches. The speeches were the worst. At least now. At the time he loved them, as they actually did encourage him to push himself harder, but now they bittered the defeat he just suffered.

"Jaune, don't give up." Coral tried sorrowfully.

"What do you mean don't give up? I mean, what am I gonna do now. I'll never become a Hunter." Coral flinched, taken aback by his pessimistic attitude. He noticed too. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."

"No, it's fine. And don't apologize. It's fine. But don't give up, cause if you work really hard then maybe you can get into Atlas Academy o-or maybe even Beacon!"

"But what can I do in four years? I mean, all the other students will have 4 years of actual combat training."

"I guess that's true, but I've been reading up on aura and semblances."

"What will that do?"

"Well, according to this book I read you can unlock someone's aura by chanting some spell. And aura also makes you stronger!"

"I guess it's worth a shot. Alright, give it a go." She took a deep breath before turning to face him directly in the eyes and then placed her hand on his shoulder, feeling him tense under her strong grip and warm touch.

"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee"

Jaune felt… strong. He could feel the energy coursing through his body. He looked at his arm, only to see the cut he received from a local bully had disappeared, before focusing back on Coral. She was smiling. And then she was falling.

"Coral! Oh God. HELP! Somebody call an ambulance!" He caught her before she hit the ground and instantly felt the vein on her neck.

Okay. She's okay. She's still breathing.

Jaune picked her up, carrying her bridal style, not even feeling her weight. Whether that was because of his aura or simply the adrenaline rush he didn't know, or care, for that matter.

He ran through the forest that had become their private spot for matters like these. He could feel his heart pounding. Something like this had never happened before. Something where someone he loved had been injured. Not even his dad had ever come back with anything more than a couple of bruises or shallow wounds, nothing major. He wasn't sure if this was major or not, he didn't know much about aura at all to be honest. But the fact that she was unconscious worried him to no end.

Damn it! I should never have let her unlock my aura without doing more research.

He ran through the trees, cradling her in his arms, running head first into branches even. It didn't even hurt. He didn't even realize that he had started to cry; tears were dripping out of his eyes, falling back onto the muddy ground as he sped ahead. Some landed on her face and he couldn't help but think how pretty she was. Lustrous blonde hair, free flowing with a well-proportioned body and a cute face. And he knew how pretty her eyes were, even if he couldn't see them right now, he knew. They were also blue, like his, but were softer and of a lighter shade, from their mother.

He rushed out of the woods and appeared on the south side of Ansel, as he was not aware of which direction he had been running, and called out.

"Does anybody know a doctor? My sister needs medical attention!" He shouted loudly, screamed even.

Multiple houses curtains were pushed aside. He just stood there, in the middle of the street frantically looking around for anyone who would come to help. He saw lots of people peek out there windows, as if they weren't sure of what to do.

"Anybody. He-"

"Bring her in here, I'm not a doctor but I practiced field medicine when I was in the military." It was an old man who cut him off, perhaps in his late thirties or early forties, to invite him into his house. He looked like your typical average citizen did, a little rugged and about 6'3'', and wore a t-shirt along with a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved jacket. Jaune didn't even hesitate to rush toward the voice.

"Do you think you can help her? We were in the forest where she just fell unconscious." Jaune rushed through the open door and set her on a table in the living room where the man had cleared some papers off of with a swipe of a hand.

"I can try and diagnose what the problem is, the name's Mack by the way." The older man replied.

"Jaune. And thanks for all the help by the way." He brought up a chair and placed next to Coral and sat down. He clasped her right hand with both of his and closed his eyes, praying. Not that he really even believed in God, but he sure as hell hoped that if there was a God, he would help her.

So he sat there, wallowing in guilt, watching as the Mack took her pulse. He knew it was his fault. He'd hurt his sister. Even if it had been unintentional.

"Grab me that flashlight will ya? It's in that room over there, should be on the desk."

Jaune nodded, and stood up. He walked over to the room that Mack had nodded his head to, opening the door and walking inside…

"I don't see the flashlight, or the desk. Are you sure th-" He spun around and his jaw fell in horror. He had been locked in. In a room with no windows either, just one exit, and it had been locked. And barred as he figured out as he threw himself as hard as he could against the wooden door.

"AHH, don't touch CORAL!" Jaune screamed at the top of his lungs. How could he have so foolish? He left an adult alone with Coral, even if it had just been for a second. How could he even believe the man was ex-military? How could he believe he was even proficient in medicine? Why would he need a fucking flashlight anyway, it's the middle of the fuckin' day!

Jaune screamed again. Even louder this time. There was no response. He could only imagine what horrible things that thirteen year old Coral was enduring right now. What was it all for? Rape? Ransom? It was all so frustrating. And all his fault.

The worst part of all, was that he could do nothing. He just had to sit here while his own twin was used up and spit out. It was devouring him. The guilt, that is. Knowing that it was his fault, with which his own twin sister will probably die! And she was trying to help him. Trying to help him become a hero. If this was anything else he would burst out laughing. Ah, the irony.

He looked around the room, searching for anything that could be used to break open the door, and if he couldn't find something for that, he would look for something to take his own life. After all, a life without his dear sister wouldn't even be worth living. Or maybe, it was a life where he was the cause of it all.

He had been locked in this room for hours and there was nothing that could break him out. Just a couple of chairs and a bunch of empty boxes. Nothing.

"Coral, I am so sorry." He wept. For the second time today he shed tears. And then something hit him. Something triggered.

Jaune rose from his position on the floor and walked towards the barred door… and opened it. Or rather, he blew it away. The wooden door broke from its hinges and flew towards the window, shattering it and sending both the door itself and millions of sharp and rigid glass shards out and onto the grassy backyard.

"The hell?" Mack turned around, carrying the knife that had no doubt been used for some sick game he was playing with Coral, and lunged. Straight at Jaune. The knife inched closer as Jaune turned to face his assailant. Mack was grinning. In a sick, twisted, and infernal way. It was like he was enjoying this. Actually there was no doubt that he was enjoying this. Jaune hated him. He had never really hated anyone before, but he hated this man.

So Jaune smiled back.

The knife, just centimeters away from Jaune, recoiled. It simply bounced off. Something flickered around Jaune, like an invisible white forcefield. Mack was taken aback as if he struck a brick wall and no doubt had some sort of injury from the force he applied. He cursed once more.

Jaune was still smiling as he walked towards the other man.

"So, you got some tricks up your sleeve. Damn you! Guess I got no choice." Mack fled. Or, at least that was what Jaune thought as he headed for the door. But Mack didn't flee. He stopped just a few feet from the where Coral lay and held the knife out. Right over her heart. Her loving, pure, carefree heart.

"Don't move or I swear I will kill her!" Mack screamed. He was panicking and shaking all over. But if provoked, there was no doubt he would do it.

Jaune's smile fell.

He was worried now. Even with his new profound power Coral was helpless, and there was nothing he could do to prevent her heart from being pierced. Except negotiate.

"What is it that you want in exchange for my sister's life?" It was Jaune who spoke this time, with not a hint of fear or nervousness. But inside, he was as nervous as hell. He was mentally having a panic attack, trying to move the knife with just willpower alone. It wasn't working.

"Oh, I dunno? Even if I give you this bitch back, the police will just come after me and I'll be in deep shit th-" Mack was cut off. He fell forward, like it was a force from behind, onto Coral. The man's knife fell onto Coral, but the lack of force did not allow the tip to pierce her skin. Jaune ran up to the man, who was now on the floor, and felt his pulse. He was alive, but knocked unconscious.

He immediately turned his attention to Coral. She looked horrible. Her sundress that was radiant earlier that day was now almost torn to shreds, revealing most of her body. Her undergarments were still intact, though there were small cuts all over her pale skin, no doubt from the knife that had threatened to kill her.

The knife was laying right above her left breast, soiled in darling Coral's own blood. Jaune reached his hand over and grasped the handle and felt how the blade felt in his hands, before turning his attention to the unconscious man lying on the floor.

"This is for Coral you son of a-"

"Jaune." Coral cut him off and Jaune paused, instantly. He lost his grip and let the knife fall to the ground, letting of a slight clang, but that didn't break the eye contact that the blond twins had been holding.

"Coral." There was worry in his voice, but the relief was unmistakable.

"Don't do it. He's not worth it."

"But Coral he could have kil-" Her sky blue eyes were enough to cut him off. And so he obeyed. He slipped his left hand under her legs and the other under her upper back and held her in his arms.

"You are a hero. You're my hero." She spoke with a smile as she used what little strength she had to lean up a little bit, and lightly kiss him on his left cheek.

Jaune smiled.

He turned towards his right where the window he broke had been and tried to find his—and her-savior. There was a figure far off in the distance. A shadow in front of the blazing sun, too far off to see the more intricate details. All he could make out was a billowing cloak and a… scythe?


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