Cover Image - Jo3mm (DeviantArt)

Chapter 14

Music - RWBY - Wings

Thankfully, the questions stopped, and after Yang relented her attempts at suffocating him with her ample bosom, they made plans for their shopping trip.

Wow, traveling back in time and the first thing I do is go shopping. At least he had his priorities straight...

The first suggestion was Saturday, but after Jaune pointed out that he had his "detention" there—at which point Yang and Pyrrha remembered that they, as well, had their detention there—he proposed Friday after classes were done. Thankfully, they all agreed to that and no one noticed that the real reason for the early date was that he wanted to have his new clothes for his first "detention".

Plans for their shopping trip locked in, they noticed that it was time for dinner. Jaune, being still not used to eating so much again, told them to go without him, but no matter how much he argued, they—especially Weiss—insisted. So, with a sigh, he accompanied them into the cafeteria. He only picked a little at his food while he enjoyed the company. It was a real treat to see Ruby so carefree and happy as she fawned over him and Weiss, congratulating them on their won fights and discussing tactics—mostly with Weiss. Even Blake joined in the conversation, mostly due to Ruby constantly asking for her opinion about this and that, but she didn't seem to mind, opening up more with every passing moment, her smile turning steadily brighter.

Of course, there was also Yang who'd seemed to make it her mission to make his life miserable with terrible jokes and indecent body contact. He wasn't sure what to make of the attention put on him...

All throughout dinner, Jaune noticed that Cardin was glaring at him from where he sat a few tables down with his team. Well, that backfired. At least Cardin's ire seemed to be on him now, so that was something.

After dinner, they retreated to their dorm rooms. Yang had offered to go to the gym with him, but he had enough action for one day. That could wait until the next day...probably until next week...or simply until his leg was healed.

Speaking of which, he was currently lying on his bed, eyes closed in concentration as he focused his Aura on his injury.

"What's he doing?" Yang asked.

"Pssst," Weiss admonished, then whispered, "He's healing."

"Healing?" Yang whispered back.

"Yeah," Pyrrha whispered, "he's focusing his Aura. That way, its healing properties get amplified. I did something similar today when I blocked the Boarbatusk's charge. I tried to make the impact harder by focusing the Aura on my back. But I'm not very good at it yet."

From the sound of it, they were all seated on Weiss's bed, looking at him like he was some kind of attraction.

"Yes. I saw him do it in the infirmary this morning. It was only briefly, but he didn't seem to concentrate much then. I'm really not sure how he's so skilled."

"Oh," Yang whispered. "Like in the cafeteria, only more concentrated."

"Yeah."

"You know," Jaune said. "I can perfectly hear you all. So you might as well talk normally."

"I'm sorry," Pyrrha said. She liked to say that a lot, didn't she?

Yang snickered. "Sorry, Jaune." She didn't sound sorry.

Weiss huffed. "Well, we should leave him to it then. The faster he recovers, the better."

"Oh, I agree. I guess we should help him, don't you think?" Yang's devious voice had come steadily closer as she spoke.

"What are you doing?" Weiss demanded, whispering again for some reason.

The bed dipped as Yang sat down and shifted around him. Then, his head was lifted up and place down again—undoubtedly in her lap. She put her hands on his head and started to run them gently through his hair.

Jaune sighed, keeping his eyes closed. Should he try to stop her? She was only trying to get a reaction out of him, right? If he didn't do anything, she would just stop... It's not as if she actually believed that it would help, although, it sure was relaxing... which was a little counterproductive, considering that he tried to concentrate.

"Hmm," Yang hummed. "I like your hair. So soft."

Regardless, the day had been tiring, and he didn't have much Aura left anyway which he could use to heal faster; it wouldn't be too great a loss if he cut his meditation short. He was suddenly very sleepy and had no more energy or motivation to think anymore, so he simply enjoyed the feeling of her skilled hands as they combed through his hair. He hummed contently and said, "That's really nice, Yang. Thanks."

"No problem, Lover Boy." She was silent for a moment. "You know, I used to do this all the time for Ruby when she was smaller. I kind of miss it sometimes."

"You can do this anytime you want," Jaune mumbled sleepily. He still had his clothes on but didn't really care enough to get up.

"Want me to tell you a goodnight story?" Yang asked.

It seemed that she was in full big-sister mode here, so Jaune said, "Sure, why not. Some story about Ruby?"

"Sure thing." She chuckled. "This one's a little embarrassing, so don't tell her that I told you or she'll be upset with me. It's not that embarrassing, but she certainly thinks so."

"I won't tell her," Jaune promised. Anything for you. Yang was, after all, still his savior. At least for today...at least when she wasn't trying to do...whatever she was trying to do...

"It happened when Ruby was barely 8 years old..."

"Miss Goodwitch! Miss Goodwitch! Glynda! Glynda!" Jaune shook her by the shoulders, but the combat instructor wouldn't regain consciousness.

There was grass and dirt sticking to her outfit, skin, and hair, and Jaune spotted a few cuts, dried blood clinging to her.

"Fuck!"

Her Aura must be depleted, which meant that she'd likely been knocked out cold and wouldn't wake anytime soon.

"Fuck, fuck fuck!"

Was she even alive?

He put a hand onto her throat and sagged in short-lived relief when he felt it beat against his fingers.

He frantically looked around the Emerald forest around them. The Nevermore that had kidnapped them was fully dissolved at this point; the only evidence of its bygone existence were the giant skid marks and destroyed plants that led to their position. It was a wonder no Grimm had attacked yet with all the negative thoughts he must have been projecting.

Guess they're all at Beacon.

He pressed his eyes shut and wiped at his wet and dirty face, shutting those thoughts down.

My friends! I need to save them! He was already up and running when he looked back at Miss Goodwitch. He couldn't leave her there! And besides, his friends were likely all dead because he was such a pathetic idiot... No, he couldn't think about that right now. He needed to focus on what he could do: Miss Goodwitch. Protecting her and brining her to safety.

Beacon wasn't an option. He had to find shelter somewhere. Something where he could defend her even if he was useless weakling... A narrow space... like the cave I've entered during Initiation!

Plan at hand, he put Miss Goodwitch in a sitting position, then, after some awkward maneuvering, he managed to heft her up and over his shoulders, carrying her in a fireman's carry.

Damn, she's heavy. Walking through the Emerald Forest, he wasn't really sure why he was surprised. She was, after all, quite tall, and as a full-fledged Huntress, she sure had the muscle that came with the job.

No Grimm crossed his path, and although he heard the screeching of Nevermore above him, none seemed interested in him or simply couldn't attack him in the cover of the trees.

He thought he recognized some rocks here and there, and sure enough, after a while, he happened upon the cave opening he'd entered during Initiation with Pyrrha.

Pyrrha! Please be alright, he begged. She had to be, right? She was the Mistral Champion, the Invincible Girl. There was no way a bunch of Grimm would get the better out of her. The though marginally lessened his churning guilt and self-hate as he carried Miss Goodwitch deeper and deeper in the cave.

It was getting darker the deeper he went. He needed some light source... My scroll! He fished for it in his trousers, but his brief enthusiasm was shattered when he discovered that his scroll had been broken during the fall, deformed beyond repair.

"Fuck!"

Regardless, he carried on, and the darkness seemed to lessen gradually, whether it was because his eyes became attuned to the dark or because of some other reason, he couldn't tell. After some time, the cave, which was more like a tunnel that had barely been high and wide enough to allow him to walk while standing on his full height, grew gradually larger, and there seemed to be a faint light source in the distance. Eventually, the tunnel opened up into a big cavern, roughly the size of a Beacon Class Room. The top, which was almost shaped like a dome, had some small fissures and holes in it, through which light shone, casting the cavern in an eerie, faint glow.

Jaune set Miss Goodwitch onto an even elevation in the ground that he'd spotted, gently making sure that she was laying comfortably and not being cut by the rocks. He tried to call her name and shake her once more, but it was no use.

Great. What now? His plan had worked...somewhat. She was moderately safe now; he doubted many Grimm would take the long path through the tunnel to go here, and considering that he hadn't met any Grimm in the forest, it was even more unlikely that some Grimm would discover and kill her while she was unconscious. He could leave and try to help his friends now...

If some of them were yet alive. If he would actually be of any help and not get them killed...

He looked back at Miss Goodwitch. No, I'll just wait until she wakes up. She's a teacher, the scariest of them all. She's strong, she'll know what do to. Yes, good plan.

Jaune began to anxiously pace around in the cavern. The sound of his steps, his agitated breathing, and the steady dropping of water were the only sounds, echoing off the cavern walls. He needed something to do, something to keep his mind busy.

The Nevermore! I've somehow managed to strike it down. Did I unlock my Semblance? He closed his eyes and focused, reliving the moment. It was all unclear, blurred by his raging emotions and panic-stricken mind. The only thing he could say for sure was that he had been angry and that he had been waving Crocea Mors around like a madman with the intent to hurt.

"Only one way to find out." He unsheathed his sword and did some practice swings. Nothing happened.

He struck with more vigor, imagining his targets to be the Nevermore that had kidnapped them, the Deathstalker that had killed Nora, fucking Adam Taurus who had killed Yang...

"Aargh!" Nothing happened.

He grasped his sword with both hands, closed his eyes in frustration, and simply sliced whatever and wherever he could, letting all his anger out.

"FUCK!"

Panting heavily, he dropped Crocea Mors and steadied himself with his hands on his knees. Pathetic. Weak. I can't do anything. No Semblance. No power. Useless.

A strange sound reached his ears, and he looked up, blinking through tears. There, in the air was a thin, bright white line.

"What the..."

The line was a giant arc. It ran parallel to the ground, reaching from roughly the middle of the cave all the way to the tunnel he'd entered through. It briefly vanished as its path was blocked by rock near the entrance but reappeared inside the tunnel. It was a perfect arc... almost as if he'd drawn it, as if he'd swung a sword that was three, maybe four times Crocea Mors's length, whose tip was on fire, leaving a bright trace behind in the dark.

Only, that he didn't have a sword that big, and the line didn't lessen in its white glow.

My Semblance! Had he really unlocked it? But what did it do?

His attention was brought back to the sound he'd heard earlier. There, on the line, was a point that was brighter and bigger, a small sphere of light. Gradually, it traveled across the line, leaving the part it passed in a less luminous grey shade.

It sounded and looked almost like a sparkler, one in the form of an arc, slowly burning along the line as if it was a giant fuse.

In the time he'd stared dumbfounded at it, the light sphere had crossed the whole distance of the part of the line that was situated in the cavern and had vanished where the line ran through the stone. A short while after, it appeared in the tunnel, briefly illuminating it before vanishing, taking the greyish glow of the line with it.

It was shortly dark again before, suddenly, the cave was cast in bright, white light, originating from its center. There, at the exact spot where the line had previously started was a sword... the sword he'd previously imagined, four times as big as Crocea Mors, looking like an exact copy, although it seemed to be purely made out of white light. Its tip was where the line had previously been while the handle seemed to stick out of his chest... And it was moving. Slowly, it traced the line, rotating around him like the giant copy of the horizontal swipe he'd performed before dropping his sword.

Jaune watched on in stunned horror and fascination as the sword apparition swung through the air... directly aimed at the cave entrance.

Fuck fuck fuck! He tried to grasp its shining hilt, but his hands ran right through it. He couldn't do anything but stare, his feet rooted to the ground, as the sword slammed into the rock.

A loud scraping sound of steel digging into hard stone echoed off the cave walls, followed by the rumble of rock. Mercilessly, the sword cut through the stone, more and more rocks coming loose, crumbling and falling down in deafening crushes. When the sword came out the other side in the tunnel and vanished, the whole tunnel started to collapse. Jaune had to press his hands against his ears as the ground shook, more and more rocks crashing down at and inside the tunnel entrance.

Eventually, it stopped, and Jaune stared dumbfoundedly at where the entrance used to be. Now, There was a big heap of rocks, some small ones tumbling off it, their falls faintly echoing around the cavern—the now sealed cavern.

His legs gave out under him, and he fell onto his buttocks, rasing shaky hands to his face. I did this? What? How? Why?

It briefly occurred to him that he'd sealed the only exit and was going to die. But then again, the whole cavern could have given in, burying him alive, so it could have been worse.

A little, insane laugh bubbled up from inside of him that soon turned into sobs. The grim irony of it all! Now, now he'd unlocked his Semblance, right after he'd have needed it the most. And now he'd practically killed himself with it. He was caught in-between laughing maniacally and sobbing hysterically. The strange sounds he produced echoed loudly off the tall walls and dome-shaped ceiling. Maybe he would bring the cavern to crash down on him? Someone, he thought it was quite possible...

He didn't know how much time had passed when he eventually stopped, kneeling on the ground, his hands grasping at the rough stone, Crocea Mors laying next to him. His face was wet with tears and snot, head bowed and posture slumped. He had no energy to do anything anymore, his mind blank.

A low groan sounded behind him, and Jaune turned to see Miss Goodwitch stir minutely.

Miss Goodwitch! She can lift the rocks! Instantly, he felt invigorated, and the task of making sure she was alright filled him with new, immediate purpose.

He stumbled toward her and fell to his knees next to her, then began to shake her. "Miss Goodwitch! Please, wake up! Miss Goodwitch! Glynda! Glynda!"

What do you think about his Semblance?