To be or not to be is not the question… but The Answer

As always, I do not own Persona 3 or RWBY bless those mad geniuses.

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"thoughts"

"Speech"

'words with implied meaning'

Regular text

"Persona speech"

"Persona thoughts/social link"

~ Ch 3 ~

~ We? Who is this we you speak of? ~

~ 0 ~

Minato put his left hand on his waist leaning on his left leg tilting his head slightly. "Well, I think you have a better idea as to why I'm here than I do then."

Ozpin nodded before taking a sip from his mug and held his other arm out cane in hand two fingers extended out to Glynda. "The letter with the blue envelope if you would Glynda." She nodded and handed him a blue letter that she pulled from the folder under her scroll.

Ozpin gave Minato a firm look and handed the letter over slowly. Minato accepted it with a quiet thank you to the older man and then began to read.

"Dear Wizard, I am sending this contraption known as a letter to you because I do not own a device known as a scroll. Funny how to me that is a piece of parchment don't you think, ah but I'm rambling."

"A dear friend of mine, Minato Arisato, will be making his way to you shortly and I give you the option to decide how to best use him. He is very strong and I do say that from experience… he can hit very hard. I've seen beasts tremble at the pure unbridled power he possesses. Of course, I do not mean to exaggerate so feel free to, as you would say 'throw him to the wolves' to test him. I have full confidence he will obliterate any opposition."

"When he has proved himself to you, feel free to make him a teacher, assistant, attack dog, student or whatever you deem prudent. For mental health sake, be wary he asks a lot of questions if given the opportunity. Have a wonderful day."

Elizabeth

P.S.

… he can be very unyielding if you upset him or do not respect his beliefs.

Minato finished reading the letter and made a rather distasteful face at having been as good as signed over. "Elizabeth, I swear when I get my hands on you." He sighed letting his shoulders drop. "At least she gave me an out." He looked up at the two teachers raising an eyebrow at the threatening glare he received from the woman Glynda. Looking back at the letter he re-read it and didn't see anything that would garner suspicion.

"So?" Minato asked in a monotone voice seriously wanting to avoid conflict.

The two teachers looked at each other and back to Minato. Ozpin took another sip from his mug turning to face the cliff. "I won't ask if we can trust you."

At his words Glynda opened her mouth to retort but Ozpin held up the hand holding his cane, silencing her. "He could have done much more damage if he kept to himself." He sighed. "But you decided to seek me out as well as had a letter arrive beforehand."

Minato nodded conceding the obvious point. "Not to mention I don't get to choose what I do while I'm here" he said in an annoyed drawl.

Nodding Ozpin took a sip from his mug before responding. "So it would seem. Instead I'll ask you this."

Minato watched the headmaster as he looked out over the emerald forest and walked up next to him taking note of how a few stones began to float ever so slightly around him. "Do you believe in destiny Mr. Arisato?"

A small frown came to Minato's face as he glanced to the side silver meeting brown. "I believe that question no longer applies to me anymore, and hasn't for some time."

The silence that followed Minato's response was deafening. So much so the warm summer breeze that passed by was like a wave crashing against stone. Ozpin sipped his mug once more and then took a deep breath. "Well destiny is a fickle mistress."

Minato raised an eyebrow.

Ozpin gave an exasperated sigh. "Why can't she believe in me for a change?"

Minato's frown turned into a grin. "Because she's a bitch like her sister Fate and their brother time. Even though they have different names, they deliver us all to the same end."

Suddenly both men burst out in hysterical laughter causing Glynda to jump, dropping her scroll in surprise at the sudden outburst. "What in the world?" She picked up her scroll with a huff striding up to Ozpin, cuffing him on the back of the head.

She attempted to do the same to Minato who easily stepped under her hand and took a couple of steps back still smiling; that is until a rock kissed his nose giving him a perfect view of the cloudless sky.

Rubbing his nose, he looked down at Glynda narrowing his eyes at the smug smile on her face. "I win." She said coyly before she turned to walk towards the launchpads a swagger in her step and a sway in her hips. "Boys." He heard her say just before she left earshot.

Minato raised an eyebrow and looked at Ozpin as he turned while fixing his glasses. Despite the outburst his face was the picture of calm, minus the slight twitch in his upper lip. He fixed Minato with a serious stare and took a deep breath. "Tell me, how is your landing strategy?"

Minato lifted a hand and made a so, so gesture to which Ozpin smiled and walked away gesturing for him to follow.

~ 0 ~

Minako was not in a good mood. Her day had started out nice with a good night's rest, which she was surprised to have gotten having slept on a hard floor in a room full of people. She'd had a great breakfast, if a little strange when a ginger haired girl started shouting about going after someone and then yelled something about pancakes.

The highlight of the morning had been weapons maintenance with her new target er friend, Ruby Rose. The girl, true to her word loved weapons. In less than five minutes she corrected several miss-calibrations and replaced a faulty spring as well as cleaned out the flying wire motor in her weapons.

Minako was impressed and found new value in keeping this girl even after obtaining the persona from her. The only thing she'd had to do was divulge exactly what her weapons were, which wasn't all that bad. They were trick weapons. Twin blades that connected and extended into a gladius. They also tripled as grappling tools to help with zooming around a battlefield… or pulling victims in closer for a critical blow.

She sighed looking up to her right. Her mood started to rapidly go downhill from there. The source of her souring mood was the Blue haired boy a few people over from her.

She watched him and took a sharp breath when he looked right at her. His silver eyes eating away at her nerves, it was like he could read her mind just by looking into her eyes.

A shuddered passed through her and she turned to face the forest with a scowl. There was a red tint to her cheeks. She hated him, he set her on edge and Orpheus had been telling her to be wary of him since she forged the social link with him. She'd pulled on his power to try and see what persona he held but something had forced her out of his soul.

She grit her teeth and crossed her arms. "He knows I tried to do something." She glared at him out of the corner of her eye. "He most likely doesn't even have the slightest clue what, but what was it that forced me out?"

She started wringing her hands as a thought crossed her mind. "It couldn't have been his persona could it? No. I'm the only one with this power." Her extensive research on the topic had said as much. Then again. There was that day those two men in suits with badges had been looking for her at the library she frequented. Specifically the computer she had used. "Thank god the library didn't have sign in codes or cameras on the computers."

Shaking her head she continued to watch Minato for a few more seconds when she was tapped on the shoulder.

"So Minako, whose team are you aiming for?"

Minako blinked and turned to face Ruby, her brain changing gears from her personal life to her manipulation skills. In all honesty, she hadn't put much thought into it having been more focused on forging social links.

Now that she thought about it, If the rumors were true Pyrrha Nikos would make an excellent partner. "Or even that Schnee Heiress, she must have gotten training from the best tutors around Remnant. Maybe I could try and learn from them if we were on the same team."

Glancing at Ruby she noted how her eyes gleamed with the a very similar silver to Minato's and a sudden aversion to being on the same team came over her.

"Well I was thinking Weiss Schnee or Pyrrha Nikos if I couldn't get on the same team as you". She said with a smile so fake it looped back around to real.

Ruby rubbed her left arm behind her back and tapped her foot on the square beneath her while looking down. "Actually, I was hoping to get on a team with my sister Yang."

A 'yo' was heard a few people down. Minako looked around seeing aforementioned blond and her eyes widened at the perceptiveness of the girl. Giggling a bit she turned her attention back to Ruby who looked shyly up at Minako. "That's fine Ruby, like I said I have other people I'll be watching for."

Her response made the young reaper smile more confidently as she held up a peace sign. "Cool."

~ 0 ~

Yang had come to the decision that she didn't want the responsibility of helping keep track of Jaune, not that she disliked him or anything. It was just that she couldn't see herself spending her time helping him out.

She was a seventeen year old college girl training to be a huntress. She didn't want to waste her time playing babysitter. She looked over at Ruby. well not for some guy she'd just met anyways.

She continued looking at her sister who was talking with her new friend Minako when she heard her name. "Yo!" She shouted waving at the two.

When she didn't get her sisters attention a pang of jealousy hit her. She'd been thinking about how she ditched her yesterday to get her to make friends, which had actually worked.

She was proud her baby sister had made not one but two friends and what's more was they seemed like they'd be good for her. It was just that she didn't consider how little time she'd spend with her now.

"I've gotta get on the same team as her, to hell with everything else." Yang looked over to Jaune who was standing right next to Minato. He'd told her he wasn't a student so she had no idea why he was standing on a launch pad except that he must be taking his self appointed task of watching Jaune seriously.

"Well if he's that determined, he can watch Jaune himself and find a different 'guardian angel'. Ruby's my priority. I won't lose her like I almost. Like we lost mom."

Yang grimaced shaking her head and pushed the old memory away. "Come on girl game face." She grinned and took a stance turning her head to face the headmaster who began to speak.

~ 0 ~

A gentle breeze blew by as Ozpin looked at all the students present. He noted that with the addition of a late applicant there were an uneven number of students. Even if more than half wouldn't become official students already that still meant one person wouldn't get an opportunity by default. "Well, I suppose this will be an opportunity to get them to take this more seriously."

Clearing his throat and stepping in front of the row of applicants he gave them an expressionless stare and began his instructions.

"Now in a few moments you will be practicing your landing strategy after completion of reaching the valley safely you will make your way to ruined temple situated at the far end of the forest by a ravine." He took a sip from his mug and continued his instructions. "There you will find relics, it is your mission to take one and bring it back here."

He paused and let the teens converse. He heard a few snickers at the simplicity of the task and smiled at their naivete.

"You will have only 8 hours to accomplish this task and there will be no ride you must find your own way back to school. That includes climbing back up the cliff."

He closed his eyes anticipating the response to the next bit of instructions. "As you know, hunters work in groups quite often and as such you will be receiving a partner. This person will be as such for you remaining tenure here at Beacon. It is imperative that you work well with this person. That being said, you will be partnered up with the first person you make eye contact with once you touch the forest floor."

He was interrupted by a loud outburst from the mass of students behind him and grinned but quickly hid it behind his mug.

"Quiet! Continued outbursts will be verbal acknowledgement of disqualification." Glynda shouted cracking her crop.

The students grew silent. "Thank you Glynda. Now, two more things. not everyone will make a pair so it is in your best interest to partner up as soon as possible and not hold off for anyone in particular or you will be, as they say. The odd man out, quite literally."

A wave of concerned whispers washed across the students as what the headmaster said sunk in. No being picky or you might not make the cut was the clear message.

"The last thing. To even out the odd roster one of your colleagues is not a real applicant and if you are teamed up with them you will be asked to leave the school and try again next year. However if you are partnered with the mole you will be first on the waiting list in the event someone leaves or graduates early. good luck."

Glynda stepped forward and held up her scroll eyeing the students as they got into ready positions. "Now if there are no questions we will begin."

~ 0 ~

Jaune bit his thumb nervously. The last thing the headmaster had said scared him.

"One of your colleagues is not a real applicant and if you are teamed up with them you will be asked to leave the school and try again next year… good luck."

Had he been found out so soon? But How? And why? It wasn't fair. He hadn't even gotten to officially become a student and it looked like all his dreams were dashed.

A hand rested on his shoulder startling him. He flinched looking to his right. To his surprise he'd been standing next to Minato. "How did I miss him before?"

Scratching his nose he greeted the older boy. "Oh hey Minato, nice day huh?" Minato looked back at Jaune with a piercing gaze.

"Uuuuuuh?" Jaune felt a relaxing feeling spread through his body and his nerves calmed down a little. Was it just him or were Minato's eyes glowing slightly?

Minato's brow rose and he looked up at the sky noting a storm coming in. What Jaune thought was a conversation filler was his subconscious telling him to be wary of the weather, and with good reason. "Messiah you truly are a fascinating persona, very weak but versatile and unwavering."

Jaune looked at Minato's hand which was still on his shoulder and laughed nervously. He pushed Minato's hand away and sighed giving him a pained look. He wasn't one to just trust people but he would feel even worse than now if someone else lost out on their dreams because of him. "Hey Minato."

The boy blinked waiting for Jaune to continue.

Jaune rubbed the back of his head nervously. "It might be a good idea to avoid me if you wanna be a student here."

Minato gave Jaune a deadpan stare and then turned to face him completely. "And whys that?"

Jaune looked surprised at the question expecting him to just accept what he said and move on with whatever it was he was planning on doing. "Well it's because I'm the one who isn't a real student. I.

He sighed, his voice becoming a whisper. "I faked my transcripts to get in here and I'm sure what the headmaster said earlier was about me so."

Minato laughed startling Jaune as he turned to face the cliff again. "Jaune, he wasn't talking about you… of that I'm sure." Minato said, his face the picture of calm and reassuring. "By the way. I'm not actually a student."

Jaune's jaw dropped finally putting two and two together. Minato was older than he was which begged the question why he was at initiation. Now with what Ozpin had said it was obvious now.

"Your th."

Minato cut Jaune off, grabbing his shoulder and turning him to face forward. "Also I wouldn't go around admitting that you faked your way in to anyone else. Remember sometimes you need to learn to just not give a fuck. It doesn't matter how you got here just how you stay."

Jaune looked dumbfounded at the response. His jaw went slack and his eyes went up to the right thinking about what Minato just said. "Wait. What?" Jaune was about to turn back to Minato when a heavy hand smacked his back making him stumble partially off the square he was standing on.

"Don't worry Jaune, just keep your legs straight when you hit the water."

A look of fear spread across Jaune's face. He was about to ask what that was supposed to mean when a sudden feeling of weightlessness came over him while the blue haired boy got smaller and smaller as he sailed through the air. He could have sworn that his placid face grew a small crooked smile.

"Okay note to self, stay away from that guy." Jaune thought as he flew through the air… he screamed when his sanity finally caught up with him.

~ 0 ~

As the young spartan flew through the air she contemplated her predicament. She hadn't thought about who she would team up with and had instead focused on her internal struggle. She'd come to vale hoping to avoid being noticed and held up on a pedestal, which had worked to an extent.

Thanks to the talk she'd had with Weiss' friend, or was he her boyfriend? She'd discovered that her desire to not be known was a bit narcissistic and self centered.

She wanted to avoid people that knew who 'The' Pyrrha Nikos was but hadn't thought about just what that meant. Minato was definitely not your average man but seemed to treat everyone as equals, you didn't matter unless he thought so.

It was a very selfish way of thinking but after spending the better part of a night and her morning contemplating that way of thinking, was he really? After all, attention and respect are gained and given at the pace of the grantor not the grantee.

"Maybe I should speak with him if I get the chance. It's definitely worth knowing more about his views."

The scream of a girl suddenly passed over her and she looked around to see who it was that needed help but she couldn't see anyone. She shrugged assuming they were afraid of heights and focused on her own position.

A determined look came to her face and she pulled out her shield Akouo as she fell past the tree line. "I'm going to try and find Weiss. If they're close my chances of seeing him increase… and I think he'd be a good friend." She crashed through a few trees and landed on the forest floor pulling her spear out and shifting it in to its rifle form scanning the area for grimm.

Seeing nothing and hearing no suspicious sounds she relaxed putting her weapons away. She sighed looking up and saw a few others fly by on their way to the ground Weiss was among them. Grinning she plotted her course and headed off.

After walking for a couple minutes she looked up to the sky trying to determine the direction she had to go. To her dismay she could barely see the sky. Sighing she wiped some sweat from her brow. Looking back down she saw a large clearing with plenty of sunlight and jogged over hoping to get a better grasp on her location.

In the middle of the clearing she saw small lake that seemed to be pretty deep if the black at the center was anything to go by. She had Walking up to the edge kneeling down and looked into the water. It seemed safe to drink and she cupped her hands downing a few mouthfuls.

While looking into the depth of the lake she thought about her home back in Mistral and the life she'd left behind. It had been comfortable and luxurious sure, but it just wasn't what she wanted. She looked at her reflection in the water and contemplated just why she was putting herself through all this.

"Why did I leave Mistral? I know it was uncomfortable with being treated like the invincible girl but… why did I feel the need to run?"

She didn't have an answer for herself. She was just a seventeen year old huntress in training, granted she was smart for her age and well learned but, she was no philosopher or psychologist. She just wanted friends to like her for who she was not what she was.

A small voice spoke to her and her reflection in the water seemed to come to life. "But Pyrrha the invincible girl is part of who we are. No amount of running will change that." A wave of anger and self-loathing came over her and she dashed her hand against the reflection causing the water to become murky with silt.

"I know that!" She shouted at no one. Her shoulders dropping as she slumped to the ground, a knot forming in her throat. "…I know that." she repeated in a melancholy tone a few tears coming to her eyes.

She took a deep breath and wiped at her tears. She couldn't be weak right now. She was in the middle of initiation and a lapse in concentration could be dangerous. She opened her eyes and looked back at the water, watching the silt settle. After a few seconds she could see her reflection returning… only she was sure she didn't have blue eyes.

~ 0 ~

Cold. Cold wet and dark were the three things that Jaune could describe about his surroundings. He was far from calm but he kept still knowing freaking out under water would deplete his oxygen supply. He couldn't believe it. Not only had he been shot off a cliff about two-hundred feet above the forest floor but he'd landed in a lake. Yes a lake!

If Minato hadn't told him to keep his legs straight he's sure he would have died from the impact with the water. He might have been inexperienced in combat but he was far from stupid. At that height and speed the surface tension would make the water act like concrete.

He'd put his legs together hand kept them straight but it had still hurt like a bitch and he couldn't feel his left leg. He was almost sure it was sprained or broken. That on top of Crocea Mors along with his armor dragged him down towards the bottom of the lake.

He was terrified. Was he gonna die like this? Some stupid casualty in initiation? It made his stomach churn and if he hadn't been under water tears would be filling his vision. He didn't know what to do. No one was around to help him. He was on his own.

He was doomed. "Even if I managed to get out How am I gonna complete initiation? Not to mention just surviving with a hurt leg."

He felt his right foot meet the bottom of the lake. Yup his left leg definitely had no feeling in it. He just sat there at the bottom of the lake. "This is it. I'm such a failure. I never should have left home."

Looking up he could barely see the surface. He wondered if this was what the light at the end of the tunnel people described was like. The faces of his family passed through his mind. They'd be devastated to learn he'd died.

A feeling of guilt came over him. Was he actually gonna give up without even trying? How much of a wimp was he? He'd grown up being coddled and spoiled. He never had to work to hard for anything in his life before. Maybe this was why his father had refused to train him and his family had started to distance themselves from him?

His fickle attitude and lack of drive. Hell he'd walked into this thinking it wouldn't be to hard and now he was gonna die.

Confidence. That's what his father had said. All he needed was confidence. Look where his confidence had gotten him.

"Jaune. You need to learn to just not give a fuck sometimes."

That boys words rang in his head. He didn't know why but they pissed him off. What the hell was that supposed to do!? Was he just telling him to give up? To let things go?

He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists trying to take a step forward, his feet sinking into the silt a bit.

"Screw that!"

He pushed off the lake bottom reaching up. His lungs were already burning and he couldn't use his left leg.

"I don't wanna die like this."

He grabbed at the side of the lake digging his fingers into the silt and mud feeling bone shards and shells cutting into his soft hands. He winced, gasping and losing even more precious air.

"I'm not dying here. Not like this!"

He kicked his right leg and pulled his hands out of the mud thrusting them back in like he was climbing a ladder. He felt his hands getting cut up like Swiss cheese and he could see the blood being diluted by the water as he bled. The cold temperature and the blood loss made his hands numb but he fought through it as he put one hand over the other kicking up off the side of the lake.

"Oum damn it this hurts."

Looking up with a pained expression he was almost to the surface but his heart almost stopped. There was something waiting at the edge of the water. He saw it lash out and disturb the silt.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck! Why! I was almost there." Gritting his teeth he felt the last of his breath leaving him and he saw darkness encroaching on his vision.

He shoved his foot into the wall of mud and pulled his left hand out drawing Crocea Mors from its sheath in a reverse grip.

"Fuuuuck!."

~ 0 ~

The young spartan looked into her reflection trying to figure out why her eyes were blue. Leaning forward she got so close her nose almost touched the water. Then she saw something move.

"AHHH!"

The surface of the water broke and she felt something grab her. She pulled back expecting the grimm to pull her into the water but to her surprise it pushed back. That stacked on top of her own reaction pushed her off balance and she tumbled backwards on top of her shield and sword.

"RAAGHHH!"

Pyrrha's eyes widened at the sight in front of her. There straddling her waist and soaking wet, blonde hair covering half his face with one visible cobalt eye and a sword raised to strike her was a boy. Not a grimm. Not even an animal, but a boy. The same boy she'd seen being sick on the airship yesterday.

She blinked. Her emerald eyes widening at the solid thunk of his sword landing right next to her face.

The boy was breathing heavily and gasping for breath but he had her dead to rights. Her heels were stuck in the mud her waist pinned by his own weight. His knees were under her arms at her armpits stopping her from maneuvering past raising her hands in surrender.

One of his hands was beside her head and the other was gripping the handle to his sword. She was stunned. Someone had just bested her. Whoever he was had just beaten Pyrrha Nikos.

To her surprise the boy fell over spreading out. His chest heaved and he spluttered coughing up some water.

She blinked a few times sitting up. She was in shock. If it had been a grimm she'd be dead. Looking to her left the boy had rolled over and was actively throwing up quite a surprising amount of water and silt.

She stood up and brushed herself off watching the boy curiously with a worried expression. "Why was he in the lake?" Looking over she tilted her head then her eyes widened. Had he been down there since he landed. "Did he land directly into the lake! He must have shot straight to the bottom. How did he get back up without drowning it must be at least over fifty feet deep to get so dark."

Looking over at the boy she noted his armor and the sword. "He's way to heavy to have swum up that far in a couple minutes." That's when she noticed his hands. They were raw and cut up with blood flowing generously onto the grass around them.

"He must have climbed up the side using the water to jump up by feet at a time. But why isn't his aura healing him?"

Jaune coughed a couple more times and then fell back on his heels taking a deep breath. "I th-thought. I was hugh was gonna die." He dropped onto his back taking gasping deep breaths, his chest heaving.

"Hello." Pyrrha said in a nervous tone. She didn't know who he was but since they were most likely being watched the eye contact they had made meant they were partners.

Jaune turned his head looking at the redhead with an expression she couldn't quite read. It made her feel uncomfortable. Like she was being judged.

To her surprise the boy nodded towards her. "Jaune. Jaune Arc." He struggled to his feet favoring his right leg. You are?

Pyrrha was surprised. Was he being serious? Did he really not know who she was? She put a hand on her chest forcing a smile. "Pyrrha Nikos." She tilted her head and gave him a skeptical look as she stood up as well. She had to be sure. "Don't you know who I am?"

~ 0 ~

Something inside Jaune snapped. He didn't know what but he knew why. Ever since he was a baby people always coddled him. Treated him like some stupid kid. Honestly it made him feel like shit.

Then there was all the praise for accomplishing the smallest things. The only person who had ever treated him like a normal person was his paw paw, but that old man had died when he was very young.

Ever since it was awe Jaune this, and poor Jaune that. He was sick of it. His father always told him all he needed was confidence but he remembered that night he overheard his parents talking about how he just wouldn't make it by himself.

Well he decided he'd show them he'd show them all. He stole his dads sword Crocea Mors and emptied out his saving account. He packed a bag of clothes bought a one way ticket to vale and never looked back.

When he got here he'd seen some scary shit Like that man and woman by the port town the train had dropped him at. Then he'd found a information broker and met with a crime lord to get his transcripts.

Once he'd gotten to Beacon he tried to make friends but everyone had already had friends that came with them from their primary schools. Out of the two friends he'd made one was just being polite and the other ditched him.

The only person who'd helped him, given him good advice and made him feel like he had a chance was Minato and he didn't even think they were friends.

Clenching his hands and wincing at the pain he glared at the redhead and let out a frustrated breath.

"No. I don't know who you are. Should I?"

The girl looked confused. "Um. Well. I though."

Jaune turned to face her his glare intensifying. "You thought what? That you were some special person that everyone should know? That I'm stupid for not knowing your name? Huh! Well news flash. I don't have a freaking clue who you are now get over yourself!"

Pyrrha blinked, a few stunned tears coming to her face. She'd never seen someone react like that to her. It made her feel like trash. Did some people actually feel that way about her. "Do I hold myself on a pedestal?"

A voice in the back of her head whispered to her. "You did leave Mistral to avoid your own fame. Then again really? How famous is a rookie championship winner? Despite winning 4 times your not as good as a fully trained huntress. You wouldn't be here otherwise. Not to mention this boy wouldn't have caught you off guard."

Pyrrha bowed deeply, her hands in front of her. "Please forgive me. I didn't mean to upset you or imply anything. I just… I'm sorry."

Jaune watched her skeptically. He didn't feel like he'd done anything wrong but he regretted lashing out when he saw her tears. "Fuck. Now I feel like an asshole for making her cry."

He sighed his shoulders sagging. "No. I'm sorry for lashing out."

Pyrrha looked up a surprised look on her face. She wiped away a few tears letting out a breath. "Why. Why are you apologizing?"

Jaune rubbed the back of his head but winced pulling his hand back and looking at his hands. They were pretty bad. He looked up at the girl and shrugged. "It's not your fault. I've been having a really bad day and I thought I was gonna die a couple minutes ago." He looked back at the now calm lake.

He looked away embarrassed. "Sorry. I hope you can forgive me."

Pyrrha looked at the boy and a warm feeling spread through her chest, her shoulders relaxing. "Mmm." She nodded happily her emerald eyes sparkling. "Of course."

Jaune bowed low like she had, trying to be respectful. "Lets start over. The names Jaune Arc. Short sweet roles off the tongue. Ladies love it."

Pyrrha burst out laughing at the situation. She was gonna need some time to sort through all this latter.

"Pyrrha Nikos, and it looks like we're partners." She said holding out her hand as well. She was about to take his hand when she looked down frowning. "Why haven't you used your aura to heal yourself?"

Jaune looked at her like she'd spoken a different language. "What now?"

~ 0 ~

Blake was fuming. She liked to think she had good control of her emotions but the mood she was in attested to the contrary. Her thoughts had been filled with the argument from yesterday. The boy with the blue hair had torn down all of her arguments like it was nothing, and done it reasonably. Hell he even told her things she didn't know and offered solutions.

She grit her teeth and sliced a thick branch clean off a tree with Gambol Shroud. "What right does he have to, to"…

"To tear apart your ideologically flawed arguments?" a small voice in the back of her mind betrayed her.

"They're not ideologically flawed! It's not right. You can't treat people that way. It's discrimination!" She shouted at the empty forest causing a few birds to fly off.

She growled and put her weapon away trudging off. "No matter what he said about capitalism and stuff, the laws are skewed to discriminate against Faunus. He probably practiced those lines to shut up people like me who talk about unfair work conditions."

The voice in her head whispered to her again, "But was he not right that you can leave if you so desire? Even if life becomes exceedingly difficult you must be the one to make that choice and struggle or comply and live with the unfairness of it all. Either way the road is a long and arduous one, don't you think?"

Slowing to a more sedate pace Blake sighed and looked up at the sky through the trees, her eyes watching as a gray cloud drifted closer in her direction the sky darkening a bit even though it had been clear not an hour earlier.

She closed he eyes and continued walking with a more determined stride. She opened her eyes and they burned with a new determination. "Maybe I should ask him what he would do? Not just how the system functions. I wonder what his answer would be then?"

A small smile came to her lips at a sudden epiphany. "Maybe he avoided telling me what to do so I'd think about what he said instead of brushing him off and labeling him a racist." She folded her arms. "Even though I kinda did that anyways." Shaking her head a small laugh came to her lips. "He certainly got on my nerves enough to keep the whole thing in mind. He's much cleverer than I thought. I'll definitely need to have an actual conversation with him."

A new spring in her step and a fire burning in her eyes she continued on. She was determined to get through this and have a very long conversation with… him? "Oh Oum." she face palmed. "What was his name?"

~ 0 ~

Minato was slowly making his way through the forest. He'd patted Jaune's back on the cliff to change his launch trajectory to land in the lake he saw from the cliff to make sure the boy didn't die. He knew he'd faked his transcripts from looking into his memories. It wasn't ideal to continue to baby him so he was gonna let the kid work for his misguided dream.

He'd waited behind a tree for the boy to come to the surface. Making sure to stay out of sight from anyone who came by. The blonde girl Yang and Minako had both passed by earlier. At different times and in different directions but he had a sneaking suspicion Minako was hunting for the blonde.

To his mild surprise Jaune hadn't even tried to get out of the lake. He could sense the boy was still awake. Had he simply given up? His question was answered when he sensed the boy start to climb his way out of the lake. He was in pain but he needed the pain to learn. To grow.

He would have helped him out but the girl Pyrrha came by and stopped at the lake. It was surprising to see how Jaune through shear willpower and drive, literally dragged his way out of the lake and took the girl down. He was mildly impressed. The girl was supposedly a championship fighter and she never lost. Or so her soul had told him.

After seeing everything work out between the two he'd headed off to the destination of the relics Ozpin had instructed them to obtain. Although his task was as a dis-qualifier. He hoped he came across Minako before she found herself a partner. She wasn't fit for a school environment.

To many impressionable minds around a manipulator like her would not turn out well. If he'd caught her a year earlier maybe she wouldn't be set in her ways. But as a fresh college student he doubted anything short of traumatic would change her.

After walking for a couple of minutes a clap of thunder sounded throughout the forest causing the birds and other forest life to scurry about. Minato watched closely as they fled for shelter. Surprisingly some predators ran beside prey. His eyes narrowed and he looked up at the sky.

It was steadily getting darker with the clouds rapidly converging on the forest. He sniffed the air and a grimace came across his face. The clouds were moving far too fast for a non-windy day and the updraft would cause tall trees to at least sway… but nothing. There was also a distinct lack of ozone in the air.

Whatever that cloud was bringing wasn't a rain storm. At least not yet. The clouds were hiding something. "That boy, Jaune is perceptive if he detected that. Even subconsciously."

Just as he stepped through a bush a growl met his ears making him grow quiet. He turned to see what it was expecting a wolf or wild dog of some sort. It had to be a rabid animal to not run with the others. He looked to his right where the growl came from. "Or it's an eight foot tall Black wolf with red eyes and a bone carapace." He sighed tiredly.

"Wow. You know what I'm not even surprised anymore. I've been through to much shit to care if its this or a Leviathan."

A few more creatures similar to the first but much smaller crept in through the brush surrounding him. They weren't as armored but they looked lighter and more ferocious. Judging by the way they all watched him and then looked to the larger one they seemed to have some kind of pack mentality. That or they were intelligent and waiting for the more powerful one to act.

He sighed leaning back with his left and on his upper back, taking in every detail from body structure to muscle mass and the armor location as well as height, reach and… He smiled. Though he had noticed the similarities to shadows he noted how these creatures lacked a soul or emotions. They were empty. When he looked into their eyes he found an insatiable hunger to consume everything.

An old poem came to the front of his mind as he looked in to the abyss that was these creatures being.

"We fear the light but we seek it thus, we despise the dark but it is our nature, we want what we cannot have and we are that which we lack, to consume is to satiate, to satiate is to ruin, to ruin is to start anew, to start anew is to repeat the cycle, we are what we are, no more no less, we are the beginning and the end, there is no escape, for that which is borne from nothing shall return to nothing."

"Well I suppose I should kill you right." He looked around and noticed how all of his exits had been blocked. "Well at least they think they've blocked all my exits. He noticed the glint of a security camera up in a tree. We should put on a nice show for the people watching.

"Yes lets." The voice of the god of death rumbled. A chilly mist began to swirl on the ground around Minato's feet expanding to fill the clearing.

Let's leave them wanting more. He took a low Japanese katana draw stance that he'd learned from Kazushi and shamelessly altered to fit the new weapon he'd grown fond off since he stopped the fall. Call him biased but using Lucifer's blade right now probably wouldn't be the best idea.

A long, thin, straight navy blue sheath appeared in his left hand and he held it at his waist where a katana would be. The only differences from the styled he'd bastardized was instead of holding the sword back against his hip and gripping close to the hilt for a quick draw he held it close to his belly and gripped the handle in the middle. The second difference was instead of leaning on his hind leg with his chest facing to the side and down he leaned on his front leg keeping his back straight.

~ 0 ~

Off to the side just outside of the clearing in a bush a pair of amber eyes widened. "That stance." She clenched her teeth gripping Gambol Shroud tightly.

Yesterday she thought the boy had looked familiar. It turns out she was right, but who he reminded her of was not who she thought originally. The similarities between the young man in front of her and her old mentor and partner Adam Taurus were uncanny. Everything from the weapon to the clothes and even the colors. Where Adam wore black and red that complimented his hair this boy wore black and blue to compliment his hair.

Her eyes widened as a blue glow emanated from his eyes and seemed to resonate through his clothes down to the case in his hand which must have been a straight edge sword.

Unbeknownst to the spectator in the bush, the two up on the cliff and Minato himself, a certain silver haired, golden eyed attendant was having a field day causing as much mayhem with her new scroll and had accidentally hacked into the school's camera system broadcasting the live footage from the forest all across remnant.

~ 0 ~

"Oh Dear, this is an interesting turn of events." She smiled and chuckled to herself. "Igor would you care to watch your favorite guest put himself in a deliciously more complicated and convoluted predicament than he thought he bargained for?"

The old man sitting on his favorite velvet couch turned to his attendant and grinned from ear to ear. "Why dear Minato? Excluding the bet it has been some three years since he has visited us." Igor stood and walked over to Elizabeth. "I do believe this will be interesting."

"Turnabout is fair play my dear Messiah, you'll wish you'd visited more often."

~ 0 ~

Minato let out a breath, a small smile creeping to his lips as he closed his eyes the velvet blue glow emanating from them spreading to his sword. He felt the cool flow of power as he let his own energy course through his body. "I love this feeling, this is why I take bets and limit myself to a mortal body." He closed his eyes again and took a deep breath as the wolf like creatures charged him. "There's no better feeling than power coursing through a weak shell, or pain after being indestructible."

In one fluid motion, he drew the sword from its case in a flurry of leaves. A wave of velvety blue light cut through the air sweeping across the area in every direction, instantly eliminating the grimm but leaving the surrounding forest untouched.

~ 0 ~

Blake was wide eyed, her hand dropped to her stomach where the wave of energy had passed through her. It had felt strange but she didn't feel any wound and looked to see that indeed there was no injury. Her gaze turned to the trees around her and saw no damage to them either. "But how?" She looked around in shock. "The grim are… gone."

They weren't dead and disintegrating on the ground. No. They'd just vanished when the blue energy had touched them. Thinking on it, the attack was similar to Adam's but while his cut through everything indiscriminately and only in a straight line; Minato's was omni directional and only affected the grimm.

She tore her eyes away from the unharmed surroundings and looked up to the Blue haired boy she'd talked to yesterday with a gaping mouth and wide eyes. That was an alpha beowolf and nine average beowolf, gone… in an instant. Now she was no slouch and taking out that many wasn't hard by any means but it would take her maybe a minute or two.

The guy in front of her however had done it in the blink of an eye and she had no doubt that if more had been present they would have been dealt the same fate just as quickly.

A glint caught her eyes pulling her from her thoughts and she looked at the boys right hand.

A single edge blade four feet long from pommel to tip made of adamantite. It was polished to a mirror finish with an odd angle at the top and eight inches of wicked serrated blade just above the guard which was the shape of a butterfly with electric blue wings just barely wider than the blade offering no real defense, and a platinum guard. This connected to the navy blue handle about ten inches long that had a platinum pommel with a XIII engraved on it filled in with black.

"What is that blade made?"

~ 0 ~

Call him sentimental but Minato had modeled it after his friends weapon of choice. "You know Thanatos. Where did you get the idea for this sword.

"That my friend you will find out in time. For time delivers us to the same end."

"Fair enough."

The blade was sheathed and Minato sighed letting the sword hang in his left hand. He ruffled his hair and readjusted his tie. "It's rude to stare you know." He called out over his shoulder loudly.

Blake's eyes widened. "How did he?" She stepped out and cleared her throat "I apologize. I didn't mean to come off as rude. You just seemed to have everything under control and to be honest it was pretty amazing."

Minato took note of what she said. "So if it's so impressive she was stunned either she's weak or I over did it."

"Does it matter if you hold back or not?"

"Makoto never Specified. He did say that I had to refrain from anything on the level of destroying continents or instantly winning fights with sheer power. Which would be just about all of my strongest abilities.

Pushing the god of death from his mind he turned and gave his eavesdropper a crooked smile his eyes closed as he waved. "Well, my name is Minato. Minato Arisato. Nice to meet you again."

Blake watched and quirked a brow at his continuance to keep his eyes shut even as a bemused and upset look crossed his features.

"Blake Belladonna." She said quickly, walking up to him. An uncomfortable embarrassed blush spread across her face at having completely missed such an obvious social que.

Minato turned around and started walking off laughing quietly. "Why don't you tell me what your thoughts on my fight while we get away from here. More are bound to show up."

Blake looked around and nodded. She mentally slapping herself after a thought check. He wouldn't be able to see her. She responded with a quiet but firm "Sure." Her blush dying immediately upon remembering where she was. She widened her sense of perception. Even a small lapse in attention could be very detrimental to her chances of passing initiation.

She followed Minato as he silently maneuvered his way through the underbrush and foliage. It was insane. She almost lost him within the first couple of minutes and he never looked at her the entire time they walked. "How is he doing that? His clothes are bulkier and looser than mine and he's making less noise than I am."

~ 0 ~

Weiss sighed looking longingly in the direction Minato had landed in. She'd been meaning to find him since Pyrrha and her had that conversation about how he made her feel so confused.

When she'd found out he was leaving as soon as he could her mind had gone blank and then a sudden wave of anger flared. She almost chewed out Pyrrha for something that wasn't even remotely her fault. What Minato had said about not having a right to be mad at others for accidents had passed through her mind helping her keep her emotions in check though.

From there she'd apologized for the near outburst and made up her mind to speak with him and, and... "I have no idea why I want to speak with him." She lamented quietly.

"It all started because?" Thinking back on it she couldn't think why. He'd just sat next to her and lied down to take a nap which had sparked her disposition to correct another person's etiquette. She'd been pleasantly surprised when he'd prostrated himself and apologized for his rude behavior.

He'd gone on to introduced himself quite nicely as well. Then he'd even spoken with her when she went to find him and… She reached in to her pocket and felt the slip of paper from the airship. "He humored me and didn't even make a big deal out of such a ridiculous request." She blushed remembering asking how he kept his skin so smooth.

The last time they had an interaction his defence of her and her families company had been surprising but then he berated her for being, dare she think it, obnoxious. From that point on she had been dwelling on what he'd said. In truth It wasn't much but only family had spoken to her like that and never before had she put herself in such a double standard. Or perhaps she had and just never realized it.

After all that had happened he even picked a spot close enough to her to wish her good night but not close enough to make her uncomfortable. "Did he do it on purpose or was it coincidence?"

His crooked smile and small wave before he turned in had sent a tingling feeling through her stomach. It wasn't butterfly's, she'd felt that plenty of times before. She'd gotten used to singing in front of crowds and that feeling was present a lot before she got used to it. No. This was a new feeling. She couldn't place it exactly but whenever she thought about Minato she felt it again. This uncomfortable squirming in her gut that made her feel nervous; yet it wasn't entirely unpleasant.

"AGGGGG! Weeiiissssss. Where are we going?"

Weiss' face twitched and she grew a frustrated grin on her face. Looking over her shoulder she spotted the young girl she'd run in to earlier. She put her head in her hands and groaned. It was the same girl she berated yesterday. Not only had that made the initial interaction awkward. Remembering what Minato had said and how she had let Pyrrha off this morning she reluctantly apologized to the young redhead but made it transparently clear she wasn't happy with the setup.

To her genuine surprise the short redhead had wholeheartedly accepted her apology and even said they should be friends. The thought of being friends with this loud young girl who seemed to be a total spaz, wasn't heartening. She relented after about five minutes of constant berating though just to get her to drop the topic. In retrospect if they were going to be partners for four years it would be beneficial to be on good terms as opposed to just there.

As the two continued to make their way to the temple ruins they came to a clearing. Just as they reached the center a multitude of howls rose from the dark treeline around them.

Ruby pulled out crescent rose and deployed it in scythe form. The weapon was much too large for the girl but when she disappeared in a flurry of rose petals and a beowolf cried out falling to the ground in two pieces she supposed it would work if the girl could do that.

As Weiss readied herself putting her right foot forward and assuming an advanced fencer's stance. She dashed at the beowolf directly in front of her when a swirl of red appeared out of nowhere and bisected the Grimm.

"AHHH! Move you dunce!" Weiss shouted, panicking. At the last second, she managed to stumble stopping her advance but her rapier struck the ground sending a streak of flame past the tree line igniting brush and several trees immediately.

Weiss looked up in shock at what she'd done and back to Ruby who seemed to be bashfully rubbing her left leg with her right.

"Sorry Weiss." the young reaper replied.

Weiss was about to bite Ruby's head off for not paying attention and causing her to start the fire, Minato's words be damned! Just then a loud crash was heard. Both girls raised their weapons looking around quickly at the remaining beowolves when a few alpha beowolves trudged out from the tree line. Some with singe marks on them.

Ruby winced. "Oooh ouch." as she breathed in through her teeth. "Weiss, they don't look very happy."

The Heiress pinched the bridge of her nose and groaned, "This day can't possibly get any worse."

Off to her side the short red head screamed at her for jinxing them just before a large shadow loomed over them.

They both looked up and Ruby squeaked hiding behind Weiss who just watched as a large black feather floated down and a quiet whimper left her lips.

~ 0 ~

It had been about an hour or so since the two had met up and they started making their way to the main objective.

Contrary to Blake's first impression to Minato of her being a smug rights activist who liked to start arguments she was actually very quiet. He was thankful for that because talking would have made avoiding eye contact harder than it already was.

He kept up his steady silent pace and smiled when he heard Blake huff in annoyance her breath coming in short gasps. Her feet dragged through the underbrush as she leaned against each tree she passed.

"Do we need to take a break?" Minato asked in an indifferent tone.

Blake took a deep breath and nodded. "Ye… yes. Whew. Yes please."

Slowing to a stop and leaning against a large tree he acquiesced, putting his hand on the handle of his sword. Blake fell to her knees and sat on her butt leaning back, greedily breathing in large gulps of air.

She looked at Minato while her breathing regulated and started to wonder just who he was. He stood and moved much like her old mentor Adam had. Hell he even had a similar fighting stance and the uncanny color scheme. That was to say nothing of the clothing. It was just shocking.

Her mind wandered to the hour long trek they just had and she smiled at him impressed. "He's something else with the pace he keeps. Oum, he's not even winded. Fucking stamina freaks."

She observed how he relaxed his body but kept his hand on his blade. His hand held it in reverse grip to draw the blade out quickly as a way to block any surprise attacks. The position would also allow him to finish drawing and stab in one move. His head was leaning against the tree which would give him the advantage of hearing heavy footfalls from the trees vibration or something in the tree top.

Blake shook her head and assumed he was very well trained to be confidant enough to relax but still keep himself at the ready. "He's a lot like Adam in that respect but. Adam would have never been as objective with the way things were." Blake's eyes widened at remembering their conversation. She'd been so concentrated on his similarities to Adam and trying to keep up that it'd slipped her mind.

Looking him over she contemplated asking him what she'd planned on asking earlier.

Minato patiently waited for Blake to get her breath back. They had after all gotten more than three fourths of the way there and it wasn't even two hours into initiation. He was impressed with her ability to keep up all things considered.

Thinking back to his time in Tartarus walking down a straight flat hall had seemed like running uphill backwards. His body was conditioned beyond belief and the time displacement had worked to strengthen his soul and made his muscles denser allowing him to maintain his lithe body build.

Thinking back, he'd spent every night in Tartarus that he wasn't building a social link or recovering from a cold. Most of the time he went alone dragging Mitsuru or Fuuka along which had led to a lot of strange looks from the other S.E.E.S. members.

Eventually Akihiko had told everyone to train harder when he'd shrugged off an attack that would have taken any of the others out. Oh the glares he'd received the next few days.

He was pulled from his reminiscence of the past when he heard Blake clear her throat in an unflattering way obviously trying to get his attention. "Yes." He responded turning his head just enough to be polite and show the corner of his mouth smiling While allowing his hair to still cover his eyes.

Blake looked at the tall boy before her and stood up having caught her breath. She walked a couple of steps closer and folded her arms shifting her weight on to her right leg. "You remember me, from yesterday right?"

A slight nod was her response.

"So you remember what we talked about then?"

A light chuckle left Minato's lips causing Blake to feel offended. She was about to retort when Minato spoke.

"I recall you speaking with Weiss when I rudely interrupted, and for that I apologize. I have a disposition for pointing out holes in arguments, I'm very analytic and couldn't help it. Sorry."

Blake deflated, her mouth opened then closed several times before she let her arms fall to her side. "He just apologized for what he said even though he wasn't wrong. He even gave a point that I hadn't thought of but definitely was a valid point. The conversation wasn't his." She was about to thank him for the apology when a thought crossed her mind. "But I wasn't part of Weiss' and that other girl's conversation either. Hmm?"

"You shouldn't apologize, I jumped into their conversation as well. If your guilty for that then so am I."

Minato's smile turned into a smaller warmer one when she finished speaking. "She really is the High priestess then. All answers are found within. you just have to look." Minato stood straight and continued walking. "Well then Ms. Belladonna I should thank you for realizing that without having it pointed out."

Blake smiled and a warm feeling welled up in her chest at the compliment, her confidence rising. She was sure she would get a good answer from him but she wasn't sure if he was a racist. The odds of that were low If he thought that way due to his open mindedness and willingness to acknowledge his own flaws. "So. what would you do in that situation? How would you change it?"

Minato thought for a second. "Forgive me for answering a question with another question, but what exactly do you mean."

His response was not what she expected. She was about to respond when she found herself unable to define exactly what it was she meant. "If I say the working conditions then that would be to ask the company or petition for a change more than likely. If I ask about the law he'd probably say become a politician."

She looked up watching his back and watched the way he walked. So care free and relaxed yet guarded and ready. It was like he was confidant nothing would or could hurt him and yet, he wouldn't stand by and let himself get attacked.

"If I ask about the company he's the type to say buy the company and change the rules." She thought hard for a few more seconds while Minato stopped walking and just stood there. She finally came up with the only question that made sense. She was worried about asking it because if he was racist he would reject her and not give an answer but… if he wasn't.

She looked up at his half turned head and saw the curious smile on his lips but she couldn't see his eyes. Closing her own and taking a deep breath she asked the question. "How would you get equal rights for Faunus and how would you go about doing it?"

She opened her eyes watching him expectantly.

Minato paused and smiled inwardly. "So, this is a racism thing then… well."

"Me, I wouldn't do anything."

Blake's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "Was he really a racist?" Before she could respond he continued.

"In all honesty, there's nothing I could do. Change like that doesn't happen immediately nor over the course of a generation. Anything I start will either end with me or be warped by my successor."

Blake looked at the back of Minato's head. His words rang true thinking back to the white fang and how Adam had changed it. She looked down at her hands and listened as Minato continued.

"If I try hard enough I'll sow the seeds that'll become the mindset and beliefs of those who strive for the same thing I did. Over time principle will become dogma and belief will become bastardized rules. Ultimately what I start will no longer be what it started out as. Even if others use the same name, In the end nothing changes, it's all pointless."

Blake's hands clenched and she grit her teeth looking up at Minato with a fierce blaze in her eyes. "Are you saying that we should just give up! How could you! the Faunus are people too and deserve to be treated equally!" She was seeing red. This guy had seemed to be so open minded and had even gotten her to reflect on her actions. How could he say something like that?

Just before she could get another word out his calm relaxing monotone voice continued. "Ah, but Blake you asked what I would do. Who is this we you speak of?"

Blake looked at Minato in confusion.

"If you're willing to work with others then that question would be; What would we do to get equal rights for Faunus and how would we go about doing it.

Blake felt all of her anger leave her. It was such a simple response and yet not wrong. She tried to get mad on the technicality of just one word but, one word could be the difference to the meaning of a conversation... "or the beliefs of a group" the quiet voice in her head whispered. She looked up at Minato and blinked. "So how would we go about doing it?"

Minato shrugged and continued walking at a slower pace. "Well I'd start by finding people with the same principles and ethics as me then convince them to support my cause."

Blake scoffed and thought about how well that worked out when recruiting for the white fang.

Minato caught the scoff and shook his head. "Blake, recruiting people with the same overall view as you is detrimental to your cause. Your group is only as smart as the dumbest person in it. To avoid that you have to recruit people who hold the same principles as you and have a moral code they follow that won't be a detriment."

Blake pondered that but didn't quite get it. "What do you mean?" she asked in a curious tone. Her bow twitching slightly.

Minato caught the slight movement and having noted no wind earlier sighed again holding his forehead with his right hand. "So, there's a deeper reason than just wanting equal rights. It's personal."

Looking up and putting his right hand on his hip, he figured explaining politics to an idealistic seventeen year old wouldn't be that easy. He didn't want her to think on it and come to a biased conclusion.

He cleared his throat. "Like I said you need to recruit specific people who can help you even if they don't believe in the cause."

Blake blinked and tried to see how that worked.

"Blake, if all you do is use propaganda to recruit then propaganda can tear you apart. If you find people who can do good and make real change then persuade them to support your cause. Be it through payment a favor or promising them to help their own cause at a future time. That way your cause is built on a more stable foundation like trust and dedication as opposed to like minded mob mentality or weak solidarity."

Blake's eyes widened as what he said sunk in.

"If you could persuade your greatest enemy to work with you then that's far more effective than having all the like minded people against someone who refuses to give in. After all, wouldn't having an old obstacle move for you or better yet, supporting you than have you climb it be more beneficial?"

Blake's shoulders fell and her eyes fell to her feet. It was a good solution but it seemed so impossible getting someone like the Schnee dust company to stand for Faunus rights. She looked up when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Minato was standing next to her and he was looking up at the sky. She could see that crooked smile he'd had when he first met her but she still couldn't see his eyes.

"Blake, to borrow an old phrase. A wise man once said. To see the world change you must be willing to become the change you wish to see in the world, and to do the right thing is to do the hardest thing you will ever do in your life, but never let the impossibility of a situation daunt you. The bonds you make and the friends you have will be your saving grace, but…"

Blake looked up at Minato in awe.

"…you must change yourself to fit the cause you seek to better. Running away changes nothing."

Blake looked at Minato stunned. She looked down at her hands frowning as she opened and closed them. Looking up at Minato she nodded, her hands clenching in determination. He was right. She had to be the change she wanted to see in the world. Supporting the White Fang wouldn't work. Sienna and Adam had warped it. She had to make her own cause, and her first step was becoming a huntress. "You're right, come on let's go we have a relic to collect." Blake set off at a pace even Minato was hard pressed to keep up with once she started running. He'd never liked running.

Minato was smiling at the girls new found determination and on the inside, he was laughing his ass of at the butchered mash up of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther king Jr. he'd used to inspire her. "She's definitely going to accomplish remarkable things if that's her goal and she can stay true to it."

Just as he jumped up to a tree branch to keep up with Blake he looked forward his silver eyes met with molten gold that had been a dull amber just seconds ago.

"I am thou… and thou art I… From the sea of they soul, I come… Thou shall have the blessing of the High Priestess Arcana."

Minato pocketed the blue card that appeared in front of him just as the world returned to normal and smiled warmly at Blake whose cheeks flushed. She hadn't gotten too good a look yesterday but his eyes were a deep soft silver that gave the impression that they were glowing. She did noticed the dim blue that seemed to pulse in his pupils though.

She turned and jumped to the next branch. "Don't fall behind." She shouted back to Minato with a playfully dark tone. He huffed in annoyance as he jumped to the next branch. "What am I, some kind of ninja?"

~ Authors notes ~

Ladies and gentlemen, I will be taking the majority of this to address a very well written review as well as clarify some things. So if you want answers and structure to any questions you may have continue reading and they may be answered.

Jaune just met Pyrrha but their meeting was very different this time around. She doesn't have the obsession with him not knowing her which in my opinion will allow for a healthier relationship between the two. This does not mean they will end up together nor does it mean they won't I'm just trying to avoid a cliché obsessed Pyrrha.

As for Minato when she discovered he didn't know her she was shown that not knowing her can be a bad thing just as much as it is good, considering him not wanting to get to know her at all.

This as well as her misconception that Weiss and Minato are together and "seeing the problems they have." has opened her eyes to how real relationships work, that they are not black and white with a gray medium but a messy blend of colors and perspective.

This will be elaborated on in later chapters and help her as well as others grow as characters.

Pyrrha and the rest of the cast will still be themselves but I plan on adding the persona social link twist where they all grow amazingly fast and reach a new resolve that will allow them to overcome their past beliefs but still stay true to themselves.

As for the people wanting a harem It is official. I didn't plan on doing one originally. Just because there are social links doesn't mean Minato or Minako will hook up with everyone possible. Like I stated Minako has no real connection with people, she's in it for the social link.

As for Minato, he did get together will all the girls in the game but if you pay attention it was all a complicated game of who to make happy while avoiding getting caught by the others. He needed the power for the social link but he understood what being responsible for your actions meant as well as the fact that people get attached and that you shouldn't play with emotions.

In the game, he's a psychopath that is extremely intelligent. He knows how people work and how to manipulate them to get what he wants, but due to Aigis and death he understands loss and having the ability to choose being taken from you.

He can crack dirty or complicated jokes. He can be rowdy and competitive and he can be a comedic genius. He has a high intellect but can act stupid and childish. He has hyper sensitive awareness. He doesn't feel emotions the same way average people do and so he uses logic to explain how they feel, that way he understands what they feel even though he can't empathize.

All that is possible because he is high functioning. Psychopathy is not a personality its a constant state of mind caused by genetics or trauma.

~ Q & A ~

First of all, making a story about a god in a world where no one can match his power would be a very quick and boring story hence the reason I started it off as a bet between Deities. Note also that bringing Minako in to the story does not pull from Minato unless you mean screen time.

She's supposed to be his opposite not his rival or equal. She's what he would have been without S.E.E.S.

Also she will not have anywhere near as much "screen time" as Minato. She just has to be forced in at the beginning so you can see what kind of character she is and a feel for the personality I'm using for her. Which if anyone wants to know is a typical Sociopath.

Question- This is the universe Arcana Messiah Minato… so why can't he call on all his powers?

Answer- The universe is a living thing and as I wrote it turned its back on him as all living things in the Megami Tensei universe can take their favor and give it as they see fit. unless of course you take it from them because you're stronger.

Now he is powerful enough to do so but Minato isn't like that. He puts profound belief in the ability and right to choose regardless of who you are. (ex. Any demon/ persona can be bargained with if done right)

Also he made a bet and there are stipulations to that bet. Note that at the beginning he had all his persona as he cast Charm and Messiah spoke to him. And I never said he lost his persona I said they didn't answer him which I made clearer in the rewrite, meaning they are refusing to help him.

Having power doesn't mean you can use it. (A king is nothing without his people) The beings manifested are his own creations and interpretations as stated in the game but the real beings can influence them hence Thanatos' obsession with Minato and wanting him to be his friend as stated in the game.

Answer continued- The reason they are refusing to help Minato is because Minako shows potential to use a very similar power and is actively creating social links. She is more proficient and determined than he was and this is causing a divide with the persona. They want to be used and be of use.

Question- there is no reason for him to establish new social links since he is at the universe arcana level.

Answer- Yes there is, he lost their favor so to regain it he must show that he still has the capacity to be the Messiah, he is after all a Psychopath and cannot empathize so the only Persona who still have trust that he will not change are (Thanatos "it matters not if you are good or evil, to me you all burn the same") And Metatron hasn't spoken yet but he is the world and Minato is very objective and points out flaws where he sees them even if it makes him seem contradictory.

Question- you nerfed Minato for no reason since that is what the existence of Minako, his inability to call other personas, and him establishing social links implies that.

Answer- Minato is not "Nerfed"

Even in game you can only use abilities of equipped persona meaning spells aren't from Minato directly.

He still has all his personal abilities such as strength resistance and inhuman abilities he's picked up through his life.

Powers he had to summon other beings to use are currently unavailable through choice not taken away from him. He can still manifest them they just won't listen, or like Strega they may try to fight/kill him out of displeasure. Note he is a messiah not an all-powerful all-knowing god with every ability, he is given power from other entities such as the Universe it is a persona not himself.

Question- A deity cannot intrude on another's jurisdiction unless they are more powerful than the other deity.

Answer- Minako is not a Deity and she is not the Messiah Minato made a guess based on his observations but he is not infallible he is still technically a human, a god in infancy. And what's more is that he was invited by the Deity in the prologue. "How about a bet?"

Question- Minako does not have the power to take Minato's power and no one is powerful enough to nerf Minato because he is in Philiemon's area of expertise.

Answer- His powers were not taken the entities offering him power have rescinded that offer. His power as a persona user is to summon them and only summon them nothing else he is not a magic using magician like so many people seem to believe.

He is a summoner at best but through his power he has become more than human by proxy of the persona strengthening him over time.

Also they are not in the same universe as persona. Philiemon himself says there are older more timeless and darker things out there than even he knows of. Remnant is from the Ether as I said in the prologue not the Personaverse or Amalaverse.

They are three separate places and the deity Makoto is your best guess for the role of Philiemon and Nyarlathotep or the great will here. Minato is a God in Infancy in a new jurisdiction trying to have fun in the endless abyss of the ether.

~ Q & A - END ~

Now for the relationship poll. The candidates are, drum roll pleas…

17) Yang Xiao Long - 41

17) Weiss Schnee - 81 - (1st)

25) Winter Schnee - 61

17) Blake Belladonna - 70 - (3nd)

21) Neopolitan A La Mode - 65 - (4th)

25) Cinder Fall - 62 - (6th)

19) Emerald Saustri - 18

18) Coco Adel - 64 - (5th)

18) Velvet Scarlatina - 20

17) Pyrrha Nikos - 80 - (2rd)

17) Penny Polandina - 29

17) Minako Arisato - 58

38) Raven Branwen - 58

Harem top 6

1 - Weiss

2 - Pyrrha

3 - Blake

4 - Neo

5 -Coco

6 - Cinder

Poll closes as of the posting of ch 18

Well it looks like its between Pyrrha and Weiss for best girl

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Minako's social links

Unknown - 10

Unknown - 10

Unknown - 10

Minato Arisato - 1

Yang Xiao Long - 2

Ruby Rose - 1

Jaune Arc - 1

~ 0 ~

Minato's social links

Thanatos- 10

Weiss Schnee- 1

Blake Belladonna- 2

Pyrrha Nikos- 1

Jaune Arc- 1

~ Social Links/Arcana ~

0 The fool - Kid in the Blazer - Orpheus Telos

1 The Magician - Unknown - Surt

2 The High Priestess - Blake Belladonna - Scathach

3 The Empress - Weiss Schnee - Alilat

4 The Emperor - Unknown - Odin

5 The Hierophant - Unknown - Kohryu

6 The Lovers - Unknown - Cybele

7 The Chariot - Unknown - Thor

8 Strength - Yang Xiao Long - Siegfried

9 The Hermit - Unknown - Arahabaki

10 Wheel of Fortune - Unknown - Norn

11 Justice - Unknown - Melchizedek

12 The Hanged Man - Unknown -Attis

13 Death - Minato - (Thanatos for Minato / Nyx avatar for Minako)

14 Temperance - Pyrrha Nikos - Yurlungur

15 The Devil - Unknown - Beelzebub

16 The Tower - Unknown - Chi You

17 The Star - Unknown - Helel

18 The Moon - Unknown - Sandalphon

19 The Sun - Unknown - Asura

20 Judgment - Jaune Arc - Messiah

21 The World / Aeon - Ruby Rose - Metatron

~ 0 ~

Until next time. Thank you for reading

P.S. …smile

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