A/N Hello again and welcome to the second chapter of Arkos Adventures. This took me a lot longer to write than it should have and for that I apologize. However, the next chapters will come out quicker but will probably be shorter or just about the same length as this chapter. So without any further adieu, sit back, read, and enjoy!
CH:2 Testing the Link
Ren, Nora, and the WBY of RWBY were all gathered at their usual lunch table enjoying a brief lunch after sitting through an extremely long exam on the quantum mechanics of dust-or something like that-when the usual gossip side of Yang made itself present.
"So what is the deal with your teammates Ren?" Yang asked before stuffing her mouth full of a pizza-burger-hotdog concoction she was eating.
"What do you mean Yang?" Ren replied stoically after wiping his mouth free of crumbs with a napkin.
"You know what I mean. How can you forget that night? It's only been 3 days, there's no way you can't be thinking about it even a little." Yang pressured with her mouth still half full.
After handing her a napkin which earned him a glare from the blonde bruiser he folded his hands and began to speak as calm as ever.
"I do not find any amusement in gossip as you do. However I do know what you mean, and I would have to be completely honest and say that everything is the same as always. Other than them sleeping in the same bed due to Nora's *ahem* decision they act normal."
"So they are acting like it really didn't happen then?" Weiss added leaning in.
"It would seem so." Ren replied and stood to deposit his now empty tray. "Anyway it's something for them to work out themselves. Oh and here they come so please refrain from speaking about it."
As Ren had said the duo walked up to the table with a exstatic Ruby behind them. They took their respective seats, setting down their trays and began to exchange greetings with their friends before eating.
"Hey guys how'd your exams go?" asked a bubbly Yang before she took another bite of the monstrosity she called food.
"Awesome !" Ruby responded with glee. "I'm sure I aced that leadership and tactics finals."
"I also feel that I did exceptionally well in my finals also." Pyrrha added with a bright smile. "What about you Jaune?...Jaune?"
Jaune wasn't even aware of anything going on around him at that point. Instead of a tray of food for lunch, the space in front of him was occupied by a stack of books and papers that including the one he had his face plastered in, had a topic related to aura useage of differing types.
"Vomit-boy does know that the only exam we have left is in our combat class with professor Goodwitch right?" Yang asked confused with the boy's intent to study when all of the knowledge based exams were over.
"Well considering that all of the books are somewhat about aura and that those papers are definitely in his handwriting; he is probably trying to pick up some tricks he could use to help him in a fight. However I don't know how much that will help since the exam will be partners fighting together against another pair." Ren interjected with his usual well thought out intellectual answer.
Jaune by this point had picked up on their conversation and was listening to Ren with his face still plastered in his book.
"You are correct in your first assumption Ren." Jaune stated as he closed his book and set it on the pile smirking the whole time. "However, this will help us fight together hence why i've been studying it for the past couple of days."
"I'm sorry for doubting you Jaune, but how is this going to help us fight?" Pyrrha Queried raising an eyebrow at his expression.
"Well you see there are very little cases of people who share souls like us. Most people are able to unlock their aura on their own. I however couldn't and that lead to you doing it for me. So in turn there are advantages that we have over other people." Jaune explained.
"Like how we both can use two semblances to a degree?" Pyrrha inquired.
"Precisely." Jaune Agreed. "That is why i've been doing this research. I mean if we can do that there should be more things we can do that can benefit us. Then it hit me. What if, now stay with me on this, we could link ourselves together. Don't even think of it Yang." Jaune added glaring at a Yang whose mouth was hanging open being cut off from speaking her mind.
"With the research i've done," Jaune continued, holding up a paper riddled with notes and crossed off portions. "I'm sure that we could use this to improve our instincts when fighting next to each other and convey ideas quickly through a thought based system. I've even had Goodwitch look it over, and she believes that it is a plausible theory but without testing she isn't completely certain that it would work."
"Any repercussions that would go with it?" Pyrrha asked. She was still on the fence about whether or not it was a good idea or not, however she trusted her leader and if he said it was safe she would fully follow his decision.
"The only problem that I can think of is that without practice, in theory we would not be able to distinguish what thoughts we would want the other person to hear." Jaune recalled from his notes.
"I don't see a problem with it then, I don't have anything to hide, how do we do it?" Pyrrha asked.
"Just sit still, it may take a bit though, aura manipulation isn't really my thing." Jaune responded closing his eyes and began to concentrate. All present at the table leaned in to see what might happen save for the two partners who were attempting the connection.
Jaune thought fit for him first to activate his aura and draw some into a pocket in his chest. Once he gathered an amount that he felt was relatively large enough to use he began to stretch it out straight towards where his partner should be. Using it to probe around till he could find his target, the line of aura that he sent out slithered back and forth like the head of a snake ready to strike once it's target was found. Slowly but surely Jaune stretched his aura until he began to feel a warm sensation begging him to move closer and establish a connection. As if it had its own free will, Jaune's aura struck out quickly and sunk its fangs into a reserve of similar aura and latched on. Upon impact Jaune felt a new surge of emotions, thoughts, and impulses that were not his own. Knowing that he established a connection he opened his eyes with a smirk and toned down his aura to where it was just a thin invisible line connecting the two partners.
While this all was happening both teams could only stare as a snake made of Jaune's aura came out of his chest and after a few seconds of growing, struck out instantly and penetrated Pyrrha's chest without a problem. Pyrrha had a similar reaction to Jaune with a wave of new things that did not belong to her surface in her mind.
"Feel any different?" Jaune asked with a knowing smirk as he already knew what she felt and was thinking.
"You could say that." Pyrrha answered simply while sporting a soft smile. "I don't see how this will help us fight together though."
"Oh you will see, if my hypothesis is correct then it will improve our skills greatly. However we do not have much time left for lunch and I have yet to get food. So i'll be right back." Jaune replied casually while getting up and running to procure food.
Once Jaune returned with his food both teams resumed their conversations about exams and who they wanted to fight against in their next class. When the lunch period was about to end both teams stood and began to walk to the locker rooms to get changed into their combat attire except for Jaune and Yang who straggled behind the group.
"What'cha need Vomit-boy?" Yang asked casually.
"Just a quick favor." Jaune replied instantaneously.
"Like what?" Yang murmured lowering her voice so that their teams couldn't hear them.
"I need you to hit me once we leave the locker rooms from behind." Jaune whispered.
"Why?" Yang pondered raising an eyebrow.
"To test the link Pyrrha and I have. Feel free to go full force i'm positive I will be fine...actually on second thought, don't use Ember Celica and we will be fine. Also, wait until Pyrrha is next to me and we begin walking or else it might spoil the test.
"Can do." Yang said with a salute. "One thing I excel at is hitting people."
With that said they sped up to catch their teammates and head into the locker rooms to get changed.
'Yes, Yes YES!' Yang thought as she was getting changed into her combat uniform. 'I get to hit Jaune! I actually got permission to hit him from himself! How am I gonna do it though? A cold cock? Sucker-punch? Jab, kick, dropkick, high kick, body shot, headshot what am I gonna do?' What was that one condition again? Oh yeah...make sure to use Ember Celica. Man he must want to get hurt.
"Yang what's going on? You've been sitting there half dressed with an evil smirk for five minutes now." Blake queried, worrying for her and her friends safety.
"Well, i've been asked to do something fantastic." Yang sang while lowering her voice and motioning for Blake to do the same.
"And what would this be?" Blake whispered leaning towards her partner.
"Jaune asked me to hit him when we get out of the locker room, and for the life of me I cannot think of what to throw at him." Yang replied going through combos in the air in front of her.
"Why would he ask you to do this? Blake muttered rubbing her temples trying to halt a headache that she knew was bound to come.
"I don't remember, something about testing something I think. I really wasn't listening." Yang murmured scratching her head.
"Fine, just no Ember Celica." Blake ordered.
"But, i'm sure he said I could." Yang whined.
"I said no Yang." Blake barked, ears twitching in annoyance under her bow.
"Fine kitty cat as you say, ruining my fun." Yang sassed sticking out her tongue.
"Get dressed Yang, and don't call me that." Blake growled.
Once both teams were dressed and back in the hallway they began walking to class. Jaune simply turned and nodded his head to Yang before taking his place next to Pyrrha. Yang with all of her violence based *knowledge* thought 'Well he did say to surprise him with it, surely he wouldn't expect it this early.'. After motioning for Blake to take a step away from her so she could perform her task Yang balled her right fist and cocked it back. With a bright smile on her face and a gleam in her eyes, Yang sent a punch right at the back of Jaune's head. Time seemed to slow as her fist got closer and closer until it came in contact with-.
Pyrrha was having a fast paced conversation with Nora trying to get the girl to calm down before she threw a temper tantrum about not being able to have pancakes for dinner. Suddenly she felt a strange twinge in the back of her head, something was telling her to throw her left arm out behind Jaune with her hand outstretched. Pyrrha not being one to ignore her instincts did so and when she felt her skin come in contact with something she immediately grabbed it and used her strength to stop it from moving any further.
Turning her head to look at the projectile she saw that she had a hold on one of a surprised Yang's arms. The rest of the group noticed what happened just a second later and were just about to start to grill Yang on what she was doing before Jaune started to laugh.
"A little anxious there Yang?" Jaune chuckled while removing Pyrrha's death grip on Yang's wrist. "Well it worked anyway so thanks."
"What worked?" Asked an annoyed Pyrrha.
"The test." Jaune answered simply.
"What test?" Ruby inquired munching on her last cookie from lunch.
"The test to show how it will improve our fighting skills. Remember at lunch I said it needed to be tested? Yang just helped me, simple as that." Jaune replied motioning for the two teams to keep moving.
Pyrrha had a skeptical look on her face as she looked at Jaune. 'Why would he put himself in harm just to test it?' Pyrrha thought as she turned back to look at the path in front of her.
A/N Any sentences from here on out that are italicized if they have a J or P at the beginning are thoughts being shared through Jaune and Pyrrha. Anything else is just personal thoughts or emphasis.
J- 'Because it was necessary to test it correctly. Besides my aura was about to flare up before you interveined anyway.'
The sudden outburst caused Pyrrha to let out a small squeak and physically jump in surprise, making her receive weird looks from her friends except for Jaune who just smirked and let out a small chortle.
J- 'Remember, until you can figure out how to put a barrier up I can hear your thoughts as if they were my own.'
P- 'Why can't I hear your thoughts then? You are just as new to it as I am.'
J- 'I already had some theories from when I was working this out earlier and I ended up finding out how to. It does take a bit of constant concentration to do though, but I'm sure with practice it will be second nature to us.'
P- 'And I guess you are not going to give me tips huh?'
J- 'Nope. It'll be better for you to figure out on your own. Just give it a little practice and soon you should be able to figure it out.'
P- 'Figures. Using my own training tactics against me.' Pyrrha turned her head to smile at Jaune but was met with curious looks from the rest of their friends.
"What were you two doing?" Weiss asked returning to a dignified pose.
"I-I don't know what you mean." Pyrrha responded dumbfounded. Were they doing something weird or off?
"You were both bobbing and nodding your heads as if you were having a conversation, but your mouths didn't open and you didn't say anything. It was...disturbing to say the least." Ruby cut it, bobbing and moving her fists about as if they were talking while she was explaining the predicament.
"We were just trying out the telepathy that comes from the link I created." Jaune explained quickly. "Now the last thing we need is another distraction or we are going to be late. Let's get going."
J- 'We might need to learn to control that also' Jaune thought as he made sure to restrain his movements.
P- 'I agree it could lead to some awkward moments if other people saw us doing that.' Pyrrha thought doing the same as Jaune.
J- 'This is a very effective way to talk though. Much faster, and a tad bit fun too. But let's try not to do this around our friends unless we want to say something we don't want them to hear. Makes us seem a bit anti-social.'
P- 'Agreed.'
When they finished speaking telepathically they were finally in the training center sitting in the stands outside of the arena. They had gotten there just on time and professor Goodwitch seemed annoyed that they cut it close to being late.
"OK, so now that all teams are present we can start the combat exam. For this exam two teams will be pitted up against one another and partners from each team will fight a two on two fight. The rules are simple. First, anything is allowed. Second, pairs can choose to forfeit during the match. Finally, pairs aura meters will be combined. When the combined aura gets into the red zone the fight is over." Glynda cast her eyes around her group of students who were all ready and eager to show their skills. "Now, let's see who will be in our first match." Glynda finished pointing her riding crop at the screen and team names began cycling, slowing until they chose the first two teams.
"First up is team JNPR and RWBY. Miss Xiao Long and Belladonna will face off first against Mr. Ren and Miss Valkyrie. Miss Rose and Schnee will face off against Mr. Arc and Miss Nikos."
The two teams faced each other wondering if it wasn't just chance that they fought against each other. Both teams where the best in the class of first years by a long shot, so putting them against anyone else wouldn't give them the best chance to show off their skills. Ren, Nora, Yang, and Blake all walked to the center of the ring and began their own warm-ups before the fight.
The battle lasted longer than most people would have thought. Ren was fighting Blake, and Nora with Yang. Their opponents shared the same style as them, with Ren and Blake dashing around while jumping in and out to strike at each other, while Yang and Nora Would trade large hits to each other and used their flares and grenades to cause massive explosions throughout the arena. Ultimately it was Yang and Blake who won, with Blake eventually dispatching Ren and Nora was not able to finish the fight two versus one.
"This match is finished." Goodwitch proclaimed when Nora's aura meter fell into the red zone. "All four of you are good solo fighters, but in the future I would like to see you all fight together with your partner and perform combos with them. Next group please."
The last four members of teams RWBY and JNPR move to the arena receiving and giving good lucks and well dones.
J- 'This will be a little difficult. They are both fast and have great teamwork. Plus Weiss has her glyphs and dust.'
P- 'We just have to do our best and thats all they can ask of us.'
J- 'You sound like I meant we were going to lose.' Jaune turned and smirked with a gleam in his eyes. 'We have our own tricks up our sleeves remember? Just trust what your instincts are telling you and we will be fine.'
P- 'That doesn't mean it still won't be difficult.' Pyrrha smirked back at him. 'Ready yourself, the countdown is starting.'
Both sides took their battle stances as the clock on the wall began to count down. 5-Everyone tensed up, ready for the first move. 4-Safeties come off. 3-Weapons extend into their full forms. 2-Goodwitch raises her hand. 1-She lowers it.
"Begin!" Goodwitch proclaimed as the clock hit zero.
Ruby disappeared in a burst of rose petals and Weiss used a glyph to launch herself right towards Jaune readying Myrtenaster to strike. Jaune brought his shield up and blocked Weiss's strike, but that was the plan. As soon as Weiss's attack was blocked Ruby appeared in a flash already swinging Crescent Rose towards Jaunes back trying to catch him off guard. As Ruby appeared Pyrrha's instincts flared up and she threw her shield and blocked Ruby's attack. Ruby's surprise lasted for an instant before she vanished again waiting for another opportunity to strike. Weiss bounced back with the help of a glyph and started to jump around with their assistance occasionally going in to strike at one of her opponents as Ruby came in to attack from behind. Each time the superior instincts of Pyrrha and Jaune were able to defend against the attacks frustrating the female duo. They were reaching their limits though. Defending took more out of them than did the attacks Ruby and Weiss were using.
J- 'We can't last much longer like this.'
P- 'I know, but they keep us pinned down what are we going to do?'
J- 'I don't know yet bu...Pyrrha get down!'
Weiss had decided to jump back and unleash a large burst of red dust right toward them. Pyrrha dropped to a knee as the large inferno came blasting at them. Jaune rushed an knelt down next to her and began to glow a bright white except for his hands that began to glow black. A sphere of white light with black undertones came up around the two just as the inferno came in contact with them. Jaune's body jolted as his aura stopped the attack and he felt relieved for a moment before the sound of gunfire coming from Ruby started up and more dust attacks from Weiss closed in. The female duo were unleashing all they had to break through the defence and win their battle. The attacks were strong, but Jaune's semblance protected them from the dust attacks while he infused Pyrrha's semblance into the shield to stop the bullets from Ruby.
J- 'This isn't going to last.' Jaune thought as he gritted his teeth.
P- 'What are we going to do?' Pyrrha asked as she transformed Milo back into a sword.
Jaune was stumped for a second before he glanced at his scroll to check his aura reserves. It just broke 50% but was steadily decreasing with each passing second. Without a second thought Jaune began to pour more of his aura into the shield dropping his reserves to 35%.
J- 'As soon as I let go rush Weiss i'll get Ruby this is our last chance.'
P- 'Got it.' Pyrrha responded as she got ready to sprint.
'Well here goes nothing.' Jaune thought as he exploded the aura he built up outwards. When he released all of the aura a white flash covered the room and stunned everyone excluding him and his partner. Taking advantage of the brief blindness caused by Jaune the duo ran at their targets
and disarmed them with a kick and pointed their swords to their opponents throats.
When everyone's vision returned they were surprised to see Pyrrha and Jaune standing over Weiss and Ruby who were disarmed.
"This match is finished." Goodwitch signaled as she wiped her eyes with her free hand trying to get rid of the spots in her vision. " Miss Rose and Schnee, your attacks were performed precisely to keep your opponents on the defensive. Good work, however you need to know when to retreat and defend yourselves before the tables get turned as they just did. Mr. Arc and Miss Nikos, you have a strong defense when working in tandem and having the ability to watch each others blind spots. Even when pinned down you were able to find a way to overcome your opponents and win the match. Good work. Both of your teams are dismissed now that your battles are over."
"Good fight guys." Jaune said as they walked back to their teams.
"I thought we had you but that flash came out of nowhere, and when I could see again I was on my back already." Ruby pouted as she was greeted by her sister and Blake.
"That was really my last resort there." Jaune chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "If that didn't work you would have beat us."
"No more talky talky about exams or anything. WE ARE DONE! TIME TO PARTY!" Yang shouted as they walked out of the arena.
"Can we at least change and shower first?" Blake groaned.
"Sure I guess." Yang replied nonchalantly.
After everyone showered and changed into casual clothing they all made their way to the cafeteria. The group was actively talking about their plans for the holiday break. That is except for Pyrrha who wore a downcast expression as she heard about her friends plans and how much fun they were going to have. Jaune noticed her glum expression and diverted his attention away from the conversation.
J- 'Hey Pyr something wrong?'
P- 'No, everything is fine Jaune.'
J- 'I would have believed you if you didn't look depressed.' Jaune thought as he rested his hand on her shoulder. 'You can tell me anything Pyr. I'm here for you.'
P- 'It's just that everyone here has plans for the holidays.' Pyrrha began knowing she wasn't going to get out of this one. 'I on the other hand do not. My parents don't celebrate holidays and I would spend my whole time training or studying there. So there is really no point in me going home for the holidays.'
J- 'I'm sorry to hear that… wou-' Jaune was cut off from his thoughts.
"Hellooo Jaune?" Ruby waved her hand in front of his face to get his attention.
"Hmmm? Oh..yes Ruby?" Jaune replied coming out of his trance.
"We asked you what you are going to do for the holiday break." Ruby responded with a curious face. Jaune thought about it for a second and then smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Oh, nothing much really. Pyrrha and I are just going to spend it with my parents." Jaune announced still wearing his smirk.
A/N Hello all again and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will be posting a poll on my page that will be up until the next chapter. The poll will be about if I should write a prequel chapter for this story or not to give a lead up into the first chapter. Feel free to Review or PM me. Until next time,
Lastchaos