Grimm souls; paragons chapter 12

(A/N: Been a while, huh? Sorry all, but I have been handing in my final assessments, and visiting universities. No excuse, but I cannot do everything. Sorry.

Anyway, thanks to Kinzarks again, helping me through everything. What a guy….)

Faunus settlement, upper ramparts

"What, why? I mean how? You're O.k.!" Ruby squealed, happy to have her companion back, tears still falling from her eyes, and the rose petal surrounding her dissipating. Jaune noticed her shining eyes, and immediately felt another hug from the little reaper. His stomach was condensed as Ruby crushed him, but he felt no discomfort or pain. Suddenly, the pressure left, and Ruby's face appeared once more. "How did you come back?" She asked, attempting to sound worried or confused. Jaune didn't think she pulled off either, sounding more astounded than shocked, but went with it.

"I don't know. When I died, I felt myself get weaker, and then really angry, then I was at this weird place. And I met yo-"

Jaune was cut off quickly, by a bolt deciding to embed itself between his feet. Clearly the hollows waiting had decided to attack, bored of standing in plain sight. The bolt was fired from a crossbow, medieval in design, but definitely deadly. Ruby and Jaune darted round, staring down the hollow that had fired. One more was obviously placed on the stairs, with disregard for stealth. On the right side, an overhang paved the way too two more hollows, wearing a shield and spear combo.

Jaune began walking forward, but his mind was elsewhere, focusing on the strange death he had faced, and the dragon. He found that scariest. Would he be returned every time? Was he immortal? Was Ruby? And why was her mother able to give him life? Questions writhed in his mind, as he began to pick up speed, charging into the center of the battlefield, Ruby at his side.

Or not. Ruby was ten yards behind him, standing at the entrance to the small square, shocked at Jaune's random movement. Her face clearly showed confusion once more, concerned for Jaune.

"Jaune!" Came a scream, echoing from Ruby. Jaune just stared, looking at her. Her eyes were shining, and not from the tears previously rolling down her face. They lit up silver, and the world blurred. Jaune didn't see much, but remembered Ruby's determined face, and her scythe's noise. Suddenly, the world shifted back into motion, with small silver tendrils appearing again, marking Ruby's trail. They quickly disappeared as Jaune turned, face to face with Ruby, who was standing over another hollow corpse, while aiming her rifle. He knew the loud noise would deafen him before it did, yet he still heard the clunk of the body hitting the floor. Ruby's discarded bullet jacket dinged off of his armor, not concerning him.

Ruby assessed her works. Two dead hollows were gone, with one more on the stairs, ready to fight. It held a simple sword, and walked in a straight line. Another bullet down. Another thud as the body hit the floor. Perfection. Her magazine was ejected, and another came from her pouch. It was light. At the next chance she would have to refill it, with the few she had put in the bottomless box. Jaune currently held it in his pockets, though she really didn't understand. She only wanted the cookies or snacks he had inside it. She would have to appropriate it at the next chance.

Ruby turned back to Jaune, who was gaping and staring like a moron.

God damnit Jaune….

Winter Schnee POV; Vale city center.

"So ice queen, you're looking for your little sister? And she just so happened to have been abducted to another world? Why would you think I know anything about this?" Qrow smirked, teasing me. That mocking smirk….

"You have made reports to Ozpin and the General about "Lordran". I read all the books in our library about another world, and the Schnee family even have artefacts that are from said world. You must know."

'I'm sure he's withholding information, simply to annoy and aggravate. And Weiss's necklace is proof of this world. Our family had once been to Lordran. My father once boasted that Ivory had been, and brought him back his sword. No-one had dared to question it, but I believed him. My sword and Myrtenaster were built of a material no man had ever seen. What other explanation was there?' The smell of alcohol disturbed my thought.

"Probably. But what's in it for me?" He's drunk. And rude. And horrid. But I have to do this. For Weiss. For Weiss.

"Fine old man. You have the SDC's resources. But you will have to talk to my father about ownership." I smirked. Revenge is sweet.

"All of them?" He smiled perversely, but keeping eye contact and smiling. I hate this man.

"Just take me to my sister!" I raged, forcing back the drunken crow. He took half a step, but did not flinch. That Bastard.

"Fine. We'll go. But you will have to bring your weapons. It's no cakewalk. Even for a legend such as myself." He bragged, the smirk still gracing his face.

"Fine. But is we get attacked, I'm not staying to comfort you. Once we get my sister, we leave."

'Smug bastard. Weiss, you better be safe.'

Jaune Arc POV; Upper ramparts bonfire

"So, should we talk about it?" Ruby began, the morose look in her eyes worrying Jaune.

"Yeah, I suppose it's time"

"She was on top of the tower, and that woman killed her." Jaune's face hardened, and his jaw tightened.

"I know. I was in vale, and found Glynda. She told me to go to fight to get over it, but then someone knocked me out. I thought it was Ozpin, but then light came from the tower. Was it Pyrrha?"

"No, she was already gone. That was me. I think. My uncle told me it was."

"Do you know how we got here?" Jaune asked, not having an explanation

"No."

"My dad told me the legends of Lordran. That's where we are. I thought it was a story. Do you know it?"

"No. My dad never told me or Yang stories about fighting." Ruby reminisced

"I'll tell you, but I don't know the whole story. He only told me parts, and wouldn't tell me all of the story. "

The fate of Ariamis (Partial reminiscence of Jaune Arc)

The flame is all that matters.

Long ago, the world was silver. Those with souls sheltered weakly in Ariamis, a great haven of Archtrees that hid the weak silver eyed from the Dragons. When the dragons nested inside the Archtrees, the silver eyed warriors defended their homeland. They were quickly weakened and burned.

UNKNOWN EVENTS

Then, disparity came. An unknown maiden fought against the dragons, reclaiming her home. During her final hour, she spoke a dirge, breaking and binding worlds, causing portals to erupt in the worlds.

Remnant and Lordran were bonded, with maidens inhabiting the struggling world, and warriors of remnant drawn to Ariamis, aiding the maidens, fighting against dragons and Grimm alike. Heroes and soldiers fought, and the worlds became stable.

UNKNOWN EVENTS

However, Ariamis was overwhelmed with the new enemies, and Grimm attacked Ariamis, and took Lordran. The maidens fell, dying one by one. The maidens of Remnant were recalled, and warriors accompanied them, aiding the last maidens.

A team of warriors returned with the youngest maiden, and journeyed to Ariamis. In the final moments of its defence, the last maidens taught the youngest a dirge, sealing Ariamis as a nexus, away from the burning worlds.

UNKNOWN EVENTS

They maintained the nexus, allowing the young heroes to fight the Grimm, freeing Lordran and Remnant. An old family of Remnant, imbued with a soul of the lords, fought alongside the young maiden, and defeated the first Grimm. The soul was released beneath the earth, harboured in the kiln of the first flame, waiting to be fragmented and reused, to fight again.

UNKNOWN EVENTS

Upon their return to Ariamis, the heroes discovered that only one maiden remained, standing in a great mausoleum, filled with Grimm and blood. The ritual to seal the dying world complete, the lord soul she held was released, being inherited by the last silver eyed maiden, who stayed as the guardian, and defended it.

UNKNOWN EVENTS"

"My dad told me other stories, but I don't remember them all, and he didn't tell me everything. Like where the team of warriors went, or who they were. He said that some of Remnants great families like the Schnee were involved, but never named anyone." Jaune tried to remember, but did not recall the stories he was told a decade ago, which seemed so useless.

"It's O.K. Jaune. Maybe we can find him and ask? Or we can find someone else? What about that other world? Can we get to it? Why are silver eyes so special? I have silver eyes! Do I have powers? Can I have a cookie?" Ruby's tone gradually grew louder and higher, showing her excitement.

"Ruby, let's just have a rest. The sun hasn't gone down yet, but it will soon. Here's a cookie" Jaune said, handing a cookie to Ruby.

"You were hiding cookies in that box!" Ruby accused, chomping on the cookie, crumbs spilling everywhere.

Jaune smiled in response, looking at the now crumb covered girl.

"Ruby, I kept them so you wouldn't eat them all. We can share." Jaune laughed in his head, but showed a content smile, beginning to eat a cookie.

The two fell into a content mood, chatting about nothing and everything all at once. Cookies were eaten, the estus flask was emptied and filled many times, and good times were had. They sat beneath the sun, waiting in the light. Soon, they fell into a slumber, the sun still bearing down outside the old brick building, with cookie crumbs covering floor and face alike.

(A/N; Well, sorry for the late upload, but as mentioned at the top, I was visiting universities. As much as I love writing for you guys, I cannot put it above my future career, and what I want to do. That said, the holidays are coming up, and I will have more time. Thanks to Kinzarks, and the other 35 reviewers, who would take up a page in naming. Love you guys! Keep it up!)