Legend of Remnant

Chapter 11: What Defines A Shield

The room was silent. So silent, that the faint noises of the occupants of the room around them nearly made Jaune jump in surprise. The deed was done. He'd told them everything. Well, everything about his forged transcripts and lack of experience, that was. Telling them about a legendary sword, the soul of a reincarnated ancient Hero, and Magic sounded too far fetched even to his ears, even if it was true. After a few moments, Jaune broke the silence. "Look, if...if you guys want to report me to Headmaster Ozpin, I'll...I'll understand. I won't hold it against you guys." Jaune kept his gaze to the floor, internally terrified of meeting his teammates' gazes.

There was further silence, but Jaune's heartbeat was so hard and fast in his chest that he was surprised that no one else could hear it. 'What I wouldn't give to be fighting that Borbatusk again instead of being stuck here…' There was no getting around it though. He had to face the music. He was so nervous, that time ceased to have meaning. It could have been seconds, it could have been minutes that passed by. Then, after what felt like an eternity of waiting for Jaune, it was Nora who decided to break the tension.

"Well, I'm not saying anything!" Nora stated. Jaune's gaze snapped up to meet Nora's in surprise. She was grinning back down at him, and the surprise on his face must have been plain as day, as she explained. "You get up every day to train before most of us do, you study hard in class-"

"Not really in Professor Port's class…" Jaune nervously interjected.

"Pfft, who does? I heard even fourth year students fall asleep in his class. Oh, and, you know, you defeated a freakin' Elder Borbatusk?! I mean, that's gotta count for something!"

Jaune rubbed the back of his neck, face growing warm. She...did kinda have a point, even if it was by the skin of his teeth. Ren's voice grabbed his attention before he could think too much about it. "I...I won't lie, I'm a little disappointed that you'd lied to us about that." Jaune felt his heartbeat quicken again slightly, followed by a miserable feeling. "But Nora brings up a good point. You are always training every day, and you've been trying in class. You've already shown vast improvement in such a short time, and it's obvious you've got latent skills in combat. So, I'll keep quiet about it, so long as you continue to show that same drive through our schooling."

Jaune nodded. "Y-yeah. Definitely." Then, he turned to Ruby. His partner. His first friend. It was her reaction he'd been dreading the most. Her expression was hard to place. She didn't look happy, but didn't look upset either. Thoughtful, perhaps? "Ruby?" Jaune asked tentatively, "If...if you want to tell Ozpin, I promise I won't hold it against you. You're the leader and my partner, after all. I'll-...I'll understand."

Ruby blinked, then shook her head, as though dislodging her thoughts. "N-no, it's not that!" She paused briefly, possibly trying to find the right words to say. "I guess it's just kinda hard to believe. I mean, yeah, you're not amazing in combat class, but you beat such a massive Grimm already!" She paused again, then, "Why...didn't you go to a preparatory school?"

Jaune's expression tightened. "My...my family. I always wanted to be a Huntsman, but my family never allowed me to go. They said I'd never be able to pass."

Ruby glared at nothing in particular. "That's not right," she huffed.

"Jeez," Nora exclaimed, folding her arms under her chest with an equally annoyed frown, "kinda sound like a buncha jerks."

Jaune winced. "I don't think they were trying to be hurtful. I just wish they had more confidence in me."

"Well, then you'll just have to prove 'em wrong!" Nora exclaimed.

Jaune smiled, then turned back to Ruby. "Are you sure? I mean...I haven't really fought in a team, and I know my lack of experience will probably hold us ba-"

"Nope!"

Jaune blinked, taken aback by Ruby's sudden and cheerful interjection. "...come again?"

"Nope!" Ruby reiterated, just as cheerfully as before.

Jaune's expression became a thin-lipped glower of annoyance. "Ruby, I'm being serious here."

"So am I." Ruby replied. She stood, arms akimbo, smiling down at him. "I'm not gonna let your efforts go to waste! We'll just have to work harder on our teamwork to compensate."

Jaune's expression softened. "I-...thank you, Ruby." Jaune stood as well, squaring his shoulders. "I promise, I won't let you guys down!"

"I appreciate you coming clean to us, Jaune." Ren added, his expression still largely neutral. "Better for us to know now, before such things become of grave importance later."

"Wait...is that why you…?" Ruby began, trailing off, her expression tightening.

Jaune swallowed and nodded wordlessly. He knew Ruby was referring to him sending her off while planning to sacrifice himself. "I didn't think I could win...and I was afraid I'd get you hurt trying to protect me. I wasn't going to let anyone get hurt because of my decisions."

Ruby's expression became unreadable. She didn't look happy about the situation, but Jaune also assumed that she understood why he did what he did. She went silent again as she sat back down, mulling something over with her hands in her lap, clenched tightly. Finally, she spoke once more. "I...I get it. I don't like it, but I get it." She looked up from her lap, and the fierceness in her gaze had Jaune recoiling slightly in surprise. "But never again, you hear me? I...I don't want any of you trying to sacrifice yourself like that. I've…I've already lost my mom. I don't wanna lose any of you guys."

Jaune felt his eyes stinging with tears at Ruby's tone, and he moved forward, enveloping Ruby in a hug, which she returned fiercely. A sound behind Jaune cued him that Nora had jumped down from her perch and soon she joined the hug, embracing the two of them. There was a brief moment, and then Nora cleared her throat loudly, and Ren joined them, a wry smile flitting about his face. "Don't worry, Crater Face. Next big Grimm, we face as a team." Jaune replied warmly. "Though, I think that'd be kinda unfair."

Nora scoffed. "They're Grimm. Who cares about fair play?"

Ruby, despite herself, laughed. Everyone let go, and the group all stepped back away from each other. "We should probably get ready for sleep soon," Ruby replied, trying to adopt a sage expression, "We've had a big day, and who knows what tomorrow's gonna bring?"

Jaune nodded. "Sounds like a good idea. I'll be honest, after everything that happened, I think I'm gonna sleep like the dead."

Nora scoffed as she clambered up to her top bunk. "Oh please, you don't even look like you've trained today."

Jaune looked down and stuck a finger in the gash along the side of his hoodie. "My limited edition, Pumpkin Pete's hoodie, would like to disagree."

Ruby spoke up, tone quizzical. "That is kinda weird. Like, you looked totally beat at first, then you walked over to where the Borbatusk died and suddenly you were totally healed."

Jaune paused, expression faltering. How the hell would he explain that? From zero percent Aura and physical injuries, to full Aura and nothing in an instant? Thankfully, he was saved from having to answer by Ruby's sudden yawn, and he chuckled, taking the opportunity to change the topic. "Yeah," he replied, "Definitely think it's time to snooze."

It came as no surprise that he awoke, finding himself in that now familiar, emerald, windswept field, finding himself opposite the elder Hero. Despite himself, Jaune couldn't help but smile wryly. "So much for a normal night's sleep," he muttered, half amused, half sardonically.

Link smirked back, staring down at Jaune from his perch atop a tree stump. "Supposedly they say there's no rest for the wicked, so consequently there must also be no rest for the heroic as well." Link paused for a moment, his expression softening, then, "It appears as though your fears were groundless."

Jaune started to speak, but cut himself off as a thought occurred. After studying Link's expression, Jaune finally answered, "You knew they wouldn't turn me in."

"I had a feeling." Link corrected.

"Still, glad this is over." Jaune breathed. "But, that's not why you summoned me here, is it?"

Link shook his head slowly. "Indeed. While you fought valiantly against a superior foe, the dangers you will soon face will be far greater. Which means, now that you don't have to worry about your place in the team and lack of experience, you can devote your attention to improving yourself."

Jaune swallowed and grimaced. "More dodging?"

Link smirked again. "Not quite. No, today's lesson is going to be a little different." Link extended a finger out, and Jaune followed it to the ground beside him where lay a familiar shield. His shield. "I figured it would be best having you work with a shield you're familiar with. Hylian Shields are a little sturdier, but also much heavier."

Jaune looked back, incredulously. "Really? Teaching me how to use a shield? I mean, I kind of already know how to use one."

"No," replied Link sternly, "No you do not. Not only do you not know how to properly block an attack, but you don't even realize the actual purpose of a shield; It's multitude of uses outside of simply a hard piece of metal between you and death."

Jaune reached over, grabbing the transforming heater shield emblazoned with his family crest. As his fingers made contact with the cool metal, he briefly marveled at the fact that all of this was happening in his mind, but it was so vivid that it felt indistinguishable from reality. He glanced back up at Link, and frowned. "Hang on, what do you mean I don't know how to 'properly block?' You just hold the shield up and not let the attack hit you; it's not Advanced Dust Studies."

Link shook his head slowly. "Allow me to show you by example," Link replied, punctuating his comment with an ominous ringing of steel as he pulled the Master Sword from its ornate sheath. Jaune, already having been used to being on the business end of the Blade of Evil's Bane, quickly scrambled to his feet, bringing Crocea Mors shield to bear. Just in time too; no sooner had he done so, Link rushed forward, gripping the Master Sword in a two handed stance and swung with enough force to have easily bisected him vertically had Jaune not been defending himself. Steel met steel, and Jaune felt his arm hurt as he took the blow dead on, wincing in pain.

"See?!" Jaune exclaimed with perhaps a bit more immaturity in his tone that was warranted. "I blocked it-"

Jaune proceeded to regret his words as Link struck out again, and again, striking at Jaune's shield with force that echoed through the windswept and sent actual sparks flinging around from the sheer force. It took only three more blows of that caliber to cause Jaune to drop his shield out of pain and exhaustion, only barely dodging the tip of the Master Sword on the fourth swing. Thankfully, Link didn't continue his onslaught and swiftly sheathed his sword instead. "Already you're tired and partially disarmed," Link explained. "Like any tool, there's a proper, and an improper way of using it."

Rubbing his arm, he frowned at Link again. "How do you block properly then?" As he spoke, he leaned down, picking his shield up from the ground.

"Simple in explanation; complex in execution. In short, never take an attack head-on if you can avoid it. When you block a blow like you normally do, you're taking the full force of that attack, even if it's not piercing your flesh. What if your opponent uses something like a warhammer, or you're fighting an enemy with many, many times your muscle mass and force? You cannot hope to take that head on and hold firm for long. No, the key to defending yourself lies in learning how to angle your shield, and thus angle an attack away from your body. Learning how to do this can not only help you protect yourself from stronger attacks, but can even put you in an advantageous position." Link unsheathed the Master Sword once more, and held it in a ready position. "I'm going to attack you, and your task is to deflect my attacks. Simple as that."

"Angle away from-" Jaune began to repeat, but Link was already rushing him down once more. 'Don't hesitate!' he mentally shook himself, and as Link bore down on him, Jaune quickly brought his shield up, trying to angle the attack away from him. The Master Sword collided, with a resounding CLANG that once more echoed through the clearing. This time, however, Jaune could actually feel the blade skid off his shield. Link, much to Jaune's surprise, actually stumbled slightly as though he hadn't actually expected Jaune to correctly block the first blow. In that single instance, an idea formed. Before Link could right himself, Jaune rushed forward, and drove himself into Link's body, shield first. Link's eyes widened as Jaune's charge caught him off guard, and the breath was momentarily driven from his lungs as Jaune made contact.

"Geh!" Link exclaimed, stumbling backwards. Jaune paused briefly and stepped away, eyes widening.

"I-I'm sorry, I- I was just-" Jaune began, only to be cut off by a laugh from the Hero.

"What are you apologizing for? That was perfect, Jaune! I expected it to take you a bit longer to wrap your head around that, but instead you got one in." Link explained, taking a couple of breaths to recuperate. "That was the other lesson I was hoping to get to tonight. A shield is a defensive tool, certainly, but it can be quite an impressive offensive one in the right hands. It's a blunt weapon in its own right. Even with this…'Aura' of yours, a blunt blow to the head with that shield should send all but the most resilient reeling, giving you ample opportunity to press your attack. It took me quite a long time myself to learn how to use a shield offensively. It wasn't until my most recent incarnations that I'd even attempted it. Wish I'd learned sooner, too." Link shook his head, ceasing his reminiscing, turning his attention back to Jaune. "Regardless, it looks like you've already got some idea in mind with that. So, we'll just go ahead and add that in. I'll be attacking you, and once again, you defend, except this time you'll also be trying to fight back with that shield of yours."

"W-wait, that was just a lucky hit, I don't think-" Jaune started, stepping away from Link as panic arose in his chest.

"Remember," Link cut him off, "Pain is a rather excellent motivator, wouldn't you say?"

Jaune swallowed hard, and prepared for another difficult night…

"Huff…" Jaune greedily sucked in air as he collapsed into a kneel. As before, Link didn't seem to understand, or more accurately, didn't seem to care about easing Jaune into things. It was as though the hit from before had sparked a fire under him, and Jaune found himself once more frantically trying to defend from blow after blow with nary a moment to actually retaliate. When he inevitably ended up dropping his guard, Link punished the action with what would have been a mortal blow in reality. Jaune found himself being forced to quickly adapt, not just to repeated attacks, but to attacks from all angles.

Still, it wasn't without merit. Like previously, Jaune had eventually learned, even if that lesson was taught through pain. Didn't mean, however, that he had to like it, and after having been carved up like a turkey, Jaune wasn't in any particular mood to be personable. "I'm…huff…starting to think that…puff…that you enjoy just kicking people around…" Jaune managed to get out from between breaths, glaring up at Link.

Link rolled his eyes. "You'll be fine. You'll wake up and won't feel a thing." The Hero sheathed the Master Sword casually, and sat back down on his usual perch. As Jaune finished catching his breath, (which in and of itself was a strange thing to have to do in his own mind) he watched Link's expression turn from annoyed, to neutral, to thoughtful.

"Lien for your thoughts?" Jaune asked.

"Hm? Oh. Tell me, Jaune, what do you think is more important; punishing evil, or defending the innocent? This isn't a test or anything, I'm simply curious as to what your views are."

Jaune paused, mulling the idea over in his mind. "I…guess defending the innocent?"

Link nodded, although it seemed from the faraway look in his eyes, it was more to himself than it was to Jaune's answer. After a brief moment of silence, Link continued, "Wouldn't that then mean that your task would never be complete? You'd spend your entire life defending and defending, with evil never being fully punished."

Jaune drew his expression into a thin-lipped grimace. "I guess you have a point. So…would that make punishing evil better?"

Link shook his head slowly. "Not necessarily. Would you spend your life in slaughter, neglecting keeping those you love, those you care about, or simply those innocent of wrongdoing?"

With a huff of confused frustration, Jaune threw his hands up. "I don't know then!? What's all this about?"

Link turned his gaze down to Jaune, and in that single instance, Jaune suddenly realized something. In those eyes was a weight. Not a physical one, but an emotional one, a spiritual one. It was the kind of gaze that Jaune could recall some of the older veteran Huntsmen having, the same kind of gaze his grandfather had before passing. Link looked, for a word, tired. A deep exhaustion that Jaune wondered if any amount of rest could ever manage to recover from. "I should, in some ways, apologize to you. Even if it was a decision out of my hands, I can't help but feel the slightest bit responsible."

"...is this about training? I mean, you could go a little easier on me, but I mean, it's not that bad." Jaune replied, feeling more confused about Link's sudden solemness.

"Not that," Link replied, his tone just slightly snapping. "I'm referring to your lot. Being part of this…this cycle."

"Cycle?" Jaune seemed even more confused.

"By now, you know that I've been reborn time and again, through countless ages. Mine, and consequently yours, seems to be a struggle without ending. Even after my greatest foe had been cast down and removed, it seems that this world has no shortage of darkness, and now that same cycle must fall upon your own shoulders. You stand upon eons of struggle, conflict, pain, loss, and yet, stand we must. For if we do not, those we love will pay the cost. Still, heroism is tiring. When I mentioned that earlier, it was more than a jest, it was the truth." Link finished.

Jaune fell silent, unsure of what to say. He was aware of the rebirth of the Hero, sure, but such a thing never fully registered for him. If this was the first hero, a combination of all of them, then he must have gone through trials unending. It was a miracle then that he even still fought, even still tried. That thought alone had Jaune feeling dizzy, and not just a little trepidation, as though he were standing on the edge of a great abyss. He shivered involuntarily. Finally, Jaune spoke, his voice quiet, almost strained. "Why?"

"Hm?"

"Why do you keep going then? Is…is it really just duty?"

Link remained silent, but a small, genuine smile grew on his face. "No," he finally spoke after a long pause. "We are blessed by the Golden Goddesses. Din, Nayru, and Farore all love us, and so does Hylia herself. While each life I live holds so much struggle and toil, it also holds many good memories. The people whose lives I've touched, the struggles I've shared with them, and the friends and loved ones I've held made it all worth it. You'll find that in time yourself. Family, friends, lovers, all of these are reasons to fight, to hold on. When you find yourself in your darkest moments, when the weight of the world threatens to crush your shoulders, remember them. Remember the light they give you. That, more than anything else, more than any sword, shield, armor, or magic, is the strongest gift you could attain."

Unsure of what to say, Jaune simply nodded. How did Link keep going? Loved ones? Jaune had family, of that he was sure, and of course he wanted to keep them safe from harm. Of course, he'd also joined Beacon in search of glory, a thought that brought a sting of shame to his mind.

"Apologies; you're still growing into this and I'm already dropping this on your shoulders. Don't worry about it for now. Such things will inevitably bring themselves up eventually. Just…keep everything in the back of your head." Link finished, interrupting Jaune's internal musings.

"It's…it's fine. So, will there be any more of those "Memory Dungeon" things?" Jaune tilted his head curiously.

Link's expression deadpanned, and Jaune saw a spark of annoyance flutter across his face. "In time. Different from before though. Perhaps simply duels against stronger foes, rather than tests from the Gods. Seems you don't need any help with that."

"Sorry?"

Link shook his head. "Don't worry about it. We might even find better ways to test you in reality than in your mind. For now, I think this was a productive night. Remember what you've learned and translate it to reality. Now, you should wake up, I believe Lady Nikos is expecting you for training."

A/N: So.

RWBY Ice Queendom, huh? Funky title, but I can't lie, General Weiss-deth does things to me. Jokes aside, I'm going to be keeping up with this with some interest. I have a lot more faith in Studio Shaft and the directors behind this, and who knows? Perhaps if this is good enough, we could all be looking at a Renaissance of RWBY Fanfiction? Hopefully they actually continue to let best boy still keep narrative importance, and don't just relegate him to comic relief duty, but supposedly Jaune is popular in Japan (or at least his type of character) so my worries might end up groundless.

As for me, I've been busy with classes and all that, but got the writing bug again, so decided to update this. I've had a few people complain about how closely this follows canon, but personally, I think v 1-3 has potential, and while some of the major story beats might be followed, I'd like to think I have enough planned to make things different post v3. Also, I know there wasn't a lot going on in this chapter, but hey, I figure this would be a good chance for more character moments.

Signing off for now,
LaughingLefou