Reviews:
Well, unfortunately I cannot answer the questions within your reviews, but all I can say is that. It will all be revealed in due time, and it's actually obvious on some parts, especially since it's already been written. Anywho, this is random... Yes, this weird "Not really answering reviews" is. Though technically this is an A/N but I digress.
Legend:
"Clean your room!" Archer speaking
"Please clean your room" Shirou speaking
"Why me!" Jaune speaking with his mind
"Red, why is this place so red" I groaned, making sure not to get noticed by my team.
"Well, from what Jaune read. The place is stuck in a permanent Fall-like season, due to some unknown reasons... But I agree, it's too much red" Hey, at least Shirou is polite about it.
"Look guys, can we not have this conversation while I'm in class? it's distracting, and definitely getting old" I snarked.
"Hm, it seems you're getting my snark. This is a problem indeed"
"Well, it's an unfortunate consequence. But it's not as bad as yours"
And they're starting another argument. Honestly, the whole Magecraft thing is cool, and the sudden appearance of a empty grass field with hills inside my mind is cool and all. But their constant bickering is seriously grinding my nerves.
"Jaune, you ok?" I heard Pyrrha next to me, concern deeply ingrained to her words.
"Oh, I'm fine... Just a little distracted" I tried my hardest not to facepalm.
"Oh... Well, your jar is getting too full" I blinked owlishly at her, before looking down and panicked slightly when my brain finally recognized the sap covering my hand.
Quickly replacing the jar with an empty one, and running over the river. I cleaned my hand off of the sweet, sticky substance, to avoid any possible repercussions of having sap on me.
"I find it odd that Grimm, of all things, likes the sweet sap of the tree."
"True, they're made out of mana. But I guess even the creation could have some impurities. They do not need sustenance, yet their animal-like behavior makes them seek the sap" Shirou added in. Finally! they stopped!
"Well, it's only the Ursa and Ursa Major that likes eating sap... Drinking?" It's weird that eating sap is wrong, when the books I've read when I was a kid literally wrote them as that. Curse that Ursa in a red shirt and no pants.
"Sorry about that Pyrrha, just got distracted about what happened earlier this morning" Apologized to Pyrrha, though she instead gained a blush and looked away.
Weird, I know that they're not sick... But why are they blushing a lot lately?
"Oh dear, it's worse than we've thought" Archer yet again cryptically commented.
"I... I'd like to apologize for us both for whatever future interactions you have with women" Shirou said, and somehow... It almost feels like he's repeatedly bowing. Wait, what does that mean!?
"Hold up! what do you mean by that exactly?!" I internally screamed at them.
"I'm afraid even if we tell you, you'd think it's a joke" Ok?
"At least it's not as bad as the other one" Wait, what other one?
"You utter buffoon! Murphy is rearing his head around the corner! And you tempt him?!" Archer screamed, panic laced in his voice as I get the vague feeling of him shaking the stuffings out of Shirou.
Also who is Murphy?
"Ooh, it's Mr Knight. How are you since this morning?" I blinked as a familiar woman stepped ahead of her Team.
"Ms Adel!? What are you guys doing here?" Coco suddenly gave me a hard slap on the back. A rather menacing smile etched into her face.
"That's Coco for you, mister. Call me Ms Adel one more time, and I swear to the Brother Gods, I'll skin you alive and use it as my welcoming mat" She not so subtly whispered through her clenched teeth.
Scary Lady! Scary Lady! Back demon! Away from me! Bad touch! Bad touch!
"Coco!" Help me!
Thankfully, before Coco could wrap her hand around me, Velvet came to my rescue. Gods bless her soul!
"You can't just threaten people to not call you by your family name!" Velvet chastised a disinterested Coco.
"Hey, I already told the kid to call me Coco. But no, he just had to be formal" Ah, I guess she doesn't like too much formality?
"But back to your question, Mr Knight. We're actually currently the Teacher's Aide so to say. We're running perimeter to keep Grimm away, and you've just stumbled on our route" Oh, so the second years are here as well?
"And before you ask, no. Just us, Professor Goodwitch handpicked us as we were the only ones currently not on a mission" Ah, I guess that explains as to why there weren't more second years.
"Ah, I see. Well I'm actually just passing by to bring these back to Professor Peach" I said, holding up the small crate of collected sap in jars to them.
"Great great, just be sure to say hi to Yatsu and Fox. They're on a separate route than ours, though if timed. You guys can meet" Coco said before giving me a half hearted wave goodbye. Meanwhile, Velvet just apologized again and waved an enthusiastic goodbye.
"How pure, if only the people we know is as nice as Velvet. Well, Sakura is but she's different"
"Indeed, but enough reminiscing. Finish the task and return to your team, who knows what Grimm evaded the purging"
Well, at least they're not bickering as much. As for Sakura, I feel bad for her and disgust to her apparent Grandfather. Who in their right minds would do that to your own family!?
Just thinking about him is making my blood boil. But, at least everything has been dealt with. Even if it was collateral. Weird how I'm literally looking at memories of a person I've only known for like a week only, and each one feels like they're my own.
I sighed, it's just one of the other side effects of having my soul reflect their own. Thought it should be impossible. I mean, my soul is just reflecting theirs, yet why am I thinking that Shirou's memories are my own?
I passed by endless amounts of red trees. Odd how this much red still looks beautiful to look at. Red trees, red grass, red plants. Everything is literally red.
I finally came to a clearing, where Professor Peach and Professor Goodwitch is stationed, each looking at their scrolls to monitor us.
"Ah, Jaune! Has your team finished your task?" Professor Peach asked immediately after she saw me.
She's the Professor that handles Botany and also teaches a bit of medicine. She's wearing mostly peach, as her namesake suggests. Peach coat, with pink dress shirt. Peach skirt that fades to white, and white doll shoes. She's also adorably short. As she barely reaches Professor Goodwitch's shoulders.
Overall, she's like a doting aunt.
"Yes Professor, is there anything else you want us to do?"
"Oh no, you and your team is basically done with your assignment. Why don't you go and have a look around, enjoy nature! Maybe even picnic? Do whatever you want, as long as you don't go out too far that the Second Years can't easily get to you" Professor Peach told me, which I mean, makes sense as we apparently were one of the first ones to finish collecting sap.
"Ok Professor Peach, I'll be rejoining my team and tell them the good news" I left after saying goodbye.
"Be careful out there!" Professor Peach yelled out.
I waved at them, and Professor Peach waved back. While Professor Goodwitch only nodded at me.
As I returned, I couldn't help but feel like someone, or something is watching me.
"Archer? Shirou? Do you guys feel that?" I asked my two tenants.
"Be on your guard, whatever or whoever it is, it's clearly not friendly. Quickly get back to your team, alert them, and keep them on guard" Archer adviced.
"Do be sure to look back just in case" Shirou added in. Which isn't a bad idea knowing I'm clearly alone right now.
I hastily made my way back to my team, who are resting under the shade of a particular large tree. I'm guessing it's oak? I don't know, everything that grows here becomes red.
"Hey guys, I'm back!" I announced and Nora was the first one to tackle me on the ground.
"MY SAP!" Ah yes, of course... Nora got addicted to the sap immediately.
Ren however, pulled off Nora off me. Grabbing the scruff of her top and slowly, but forcefully pulled her off.
"Nora, what did I say?" Nora immediately quieted down, her face stricken with fear as Ren threatened to increase her ban on pancakes.
"You ok Jaune?" Pyrrha came over next to me, a hand held out to pull me up. I gladly accepted it.
"I'm fine, shaken but fine" I said, though I did squeezed her hand slightly, and she immediately got what I meant.
Both Nora and Ren too noticed our exchange and became guarded. Ren, while looking as peaceful as ever, is clearly looking around for any possible attacks.
"Someone or something was watching me get back. It happened a few minutes after I delivered the sap" I explained.
"Then we should stick together, go and look for another team to increase our numbers" Pyrrha suggested and I nodded. I glanced at both Ren and Nora, Ren gave his one nod while Nora grinned maniacally. Well, someone wants to break someone's knees. Probably for revenge for taking her sap away.
The uneasiness continued to loom over me. I can sense it mostly thanks to how my soul is reflecting Shirou and Archers. Both having the incredible sense of smell, but I got an incredible sixth sense.
While they did explain that many of their opponents too have this sixth sense, as any battle hardened warriors do. Mine apparently is increased to the point where even the most minute negative emotion directed at me is immediately found out.
"We should move, any idea where the other teams could be?" I asked Pyrrha.
"Team RWBY is to our north west, we should rendezvous with them, as they're the closest to us" Pyrrha answered back.
"Yay! Yang and I could break their knees!" Nora added her own.
We all got moving, but the uneasiness followed, causing me to look back every so often to make sure it cannot get the jump on us.
Our trek continued, and it followed. A few minutes later, we found Team RWBY, also now done with their crates.
"Jaune! Pyrrha! Nora! Ren!" Ruby, their hyperactive member, but not as much as Nora. Immediately charged at us, much to our discomfort. Though mostly from the impact her body made thanks to her semblance.
"Are you guys done?! What are you doing here!? Did you figure out your semblance Jaune?!" She fired, frighteningly similar to an assault rifle.
"Woah woah, easy there Rubes. We know you want to see Jaune's semblance, but let the man get up first" Yang immediately came in for the rescue, much to my appreciation. As Ruby kept me pinned down whole the rest of my team got up.
"Sorry! I got a taste of the sap and it was sweet!" Ah, no wonder why she's more hyper.
"At least it's not as bad as the coffee one" Yang sweat dropped, clearly uncomfortable with the memory... Was she that bad?
"Yeah, uh. We're finished, decided to find you guys for some time to hang out, while waiting for everyone else" I explained as I was helped up by Pyrrha. Who nudged me, signalling me what we were actually here for.
"But before that... Something is wrong" With me mentioning something was wrong, Yang immediately knew and placed Ruby down.
"What is it?" She asked, now catching the attention of a grouchy Weiss, and a reading Blake.
"Someone, or something is following us and I don't think it's friendly" I replied, and I noticed Blake's ribbon twitch a bit, before her eyes widened.
"Scatter!" She yelled, and we immediately did so. Ren and Nora jumped together, Pyrrha pulled me along with her, while Yang grabbed a still hyper Ruby by her cloak.
Weiss and Blake were significantly further from the impact so they didn't have to move as much.
As the dust cloud settled, and my sixth sense yelled at me to move. So I did by bending backwards, barely dodging a pitch black arm with long fingers that ends with sharp claws.
I then felt my armor pulling me back, Pyrrha using her Semblance to aid me. She has told me of her semblance back when we started training together, and Polarity is basically a cheat against people.
I gave her a grateful nod, and she returned the gesture. I heard everyone's weapons transform, while I unfolded my shield and pulled out my sword. Crocrea Mors, is ready to aid it's wielder.
Finally, the dust cloud is gone. But instead of a common Grimm, or maybe even Human... It's.
"A Nuckelavee" Ren said, fear present on his normally stoic face and Nora sent him an extremely worried look.
The Grimm roared, it's unholy, ear piercing screech rang and all of us covered our ears.
Once we recovered, I only saw a flash of black before getting thrown back. Good thing I already applied reinforcement on my body to help me.
"Jaune!" I heard Pyrrha yell, but I managed to land with a crouch, as I immediately dodged another stretching limb.
I heard Crescent Rose being fired by Ruby, distracting the Grimm and making it go after her. Only for Yang to immediately intercept it and attempted a haymaker, only for it to block with it's frail, yet durable limbs.
"Ren! You have info about this thing!?" I yelled a still shaking Ren, but thanks to me yelling at him. He composes himself.
"No! We we're young when one attacked us!" Young? No, now's not the time to be curious about their history.
"I guess we're just gonna wing it!" I yelled to everyone.
"Pyrrha, launch me" I said, and she obliged.
She got in front of me and lowered herself. I ran, far faster than before thanks to reinforcement, and used her shield as a platform. I jumped, and she helped by pushing me up, before using her Semblance to shoot me through the air straight at the Nuckelavee's exposed back.
I landed a good hit, the Grimm roared in pain and retreated.
"Everyone! This one is still a young!" I heard Ren yell at us, and from that, we immediately know what to do.
"Blake! can you use Gambol Shroud to wrap it's arms!?" Ruby yelled over to Blake.
"I can try!" Blake agreed immediately before dashing in.
"Weiss! prevent it from moving!" Ruby ordered and Weiss did so with a slight frown on her face.
"Yang! Nora! Hit it hard!" Both Yang and Nora grinned at the idea of punting the damn thing and both immediately circled, waiting for a right moment to strike.
Weiss summoned her glyphs, turning them black in color after manipulating them to be similar to Gravity Dust.
I decided to aid Yang and Nora, who now is having a hard time dealing with the rider as Weiss fired Ice Dust to reinforce her trap.
"Pyrrha! hit the rider's head! Ruby, do the same but for the horse!" I instructed and both girls followed.
"Ren with me!" He nodded.
Now that the thing is incapacitated as Blake finally got the chance to tie up it's arms with the string of Gambol Shroud. Yang, Nora, Ren, and I all jumped at both heads, all of us aiming to decapitate it.
Only for it to immediately roar. Shattering the ice with it's scream, deflecting us, and causing Weiss to lose concentration on keeping it from moving.
As we recovered, it jumped high. Before crashing back down and cracking the earth, sending a shockwave at us.
Weiss, having lost her footing from the scream, got thrown back by the shockwave. Ruby managed to hang on with her stabbing Crescent Rose on the ground.
Yang got thrown to a tree, but is still conscious. Nora got caught by Ren. Both was able to land safely thanks to Nora using the recoil of her Magnhild to keep a good amount of airtime to let the shockwave pass by.
I braced myself alongside Pyrrha who did the same, but I took most of the attack to prevent Pyrrha from getting flung away. Thanks to reinforcement, I took it well.
It roared again, this time. It stretched both it's arms and started flailing them around.
We avoided the attack, but Yang tried charge in again, only to get hit by the Grimm's flailing arms.
"Yang!" Ruby yelled after her sister, only to get hit by an arm. Her getting distracted got her a nasty hit on her aura, as I saw it flicker briefly as she flew.
"Ruby!" Yang saw this, and her lilac eyes became red. Her Semblance flared, her golden hair becoming like fire, and she charged at the Grimm.
She managed to weave in between the Grimm's attack, and land a solid combination of punches to it's upper body.
Nora followed suit, jumping in to cover Yang's exposed back. Ren also joined in, firing endless amounts of bullets to it's upper head.
"Blake! With Ruby out of commission, go get the teachers! You're the second fastest out of all of us here with Gambol Shroud!" I yelled to a now recovered Blake. Who nodded and sprinted away from the fight.
I then nodded at Pyrrha, who joined in keeping the Nuckelavee distracted for it to not go after Blake. It may be young as Ren said, but one can never be too cautious.
Everyone kept pelting at the Grimm, but it's tough exterior is preventing permanent damage. It's probably taking Yang's anger as a fuel source.
"Think Jaune! Think! What can you do to kill that thing!"
I slowly descended to panic, mind racing with ways to try and kill the damn thing.
I noticed it rearing back an arm, and I immediately yelled for them to get back. But the continuous fire of Storm Flower, Ember Celica's explosive rounds, and Magnhild's Grenade infused smashes. None of them were able to hear me.
So I sprinted, stood between them and braced. Reinforcement on maximum output, and even added on my shield.
The Nuckelavee swung, it's arm almost blurring with incredible speed and smashes right to my shield.
My arm buckled, causing me to drop my sword and hold on to my shield with both hands. My body screamed in pain as I got lifted off the ground, carrying everyone else as collateral, and landed next to a somewhat recovered Weiss. Who is currently helping Ruby up.
A groan escaped my lips, as we tried to stand back up. Pain surges through my body but I forced myself to stand up again.
"We can't beat it! It's too strong!" Weiss yelled, already low on Aura due to her Semblance usage and that nasty hit she took.
The Nuckelavee roared, and we covered our ears. Though I didn't fail to notice it's horse half struggling to stay upright. So does that mean while connected, they are separate entities?
"We can keep going on like this! We need a better plan or something!" I said, panic once again settling in.
"Then why not perhaps use your Semblance, Jaune. Search for a weapon within your soul and use it" Archer suddenly spoke. Of course! I got so used to fighting without using my Semblance.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, exhaled, and relaxed.
I could feel the fatigue slowly fade away, as my mind became clear. So I immediately searched.
With all of Shirou's memories laid bare for me to see, my dreamscape slowly mimicked a place where everything began for him.
A Hill of Swords.
As they said, my soul is slowly reflecting their own, but I have yet to see Archer's influence on mine. But, as for Shirou. Thanks to him, I kept dreaming of a hill similar to his. Luscious green grass, and clear silver sky.
Then when I asked about it, they immediately answered.
"I am, the bone of my sword"
I chanted, and I immediately felt the effects of my aria. My Aura slowly drained, and I can feel the air around me change, as Mana slowly gathered around me, slowly I absorbed it. As this world has yet to end the Age of Gods.
"Steel is my body. Fire is my blood"
As my Aura slowly refilled, I could feel my Reinforcement increase in potency, increasing my overall stats, but also risking me injuring my body.
"I have yet to create many blades. Unknown to all, Known to none"
There, I know these. Yes, I think I can work with them.
I stopped my Aria, as I found the blueprints for the weapons I can project.
"Everyone, please just rest. I'll take care of this" I told them, much to their worry.
"Jaune! You can't handle it alone! Not even our combined might could cripple it!" Pyrrha yelled at me in concern. Only for me to face them and give them a soft smile.
"Don't worry, just... Trust me on this one ok?" I opened my eyes and reassured them. Pyrrha took a step back, surprised about something on my face. Heck, even Weiss looks apprehensive.
"Woah, nice eyes there Jaune. Did you get colored contacts?" Yang almost drunkenly asked, huh... Maybe she got hit her head on our landing?
I ignored her, mostly because there's still a Nuckelavee on the loose. Though I almost forgot.
"Hey Ruby" She blinked as I turned to face her.
"Yeah?"
"Watch this" I smiled. "Trace On" before projecting three pairs of Black Keys on each hand. Her eyes shone in excitement as she squealed in delight.
Turning to face the Nuckelavee, I prepared myself. Both hands ready to throw the Black Keys when given the opportunity.
The Nuckelavee roared in defiance, and I blurred from existence.
The Nuckelavee lost sight of me and I smirked. I was above it, and it barely dodged the Black Keys I threw at him. But, I wasn't aiming for it's main body.
Each Black Key hit it's shadow, and immediately immobilized it.
It is now stuck in a permanent pose, it's thin limbs reminding me of a dead tree branch. So of course, I had to cut it down.
Bringing my hands in a cross in front of me, I summoned Shirou's and Archer's most favoured blades.
Kanshou and Bakuya projected to both my hands, and as I fell to the ground. I swiped, and an arm came off.
I could tell it wants to roar, but my Black Keys prevented it from doing so.
I then immediately recovered, before slashing both blades again, cutting off it's remaining arm.
I noticed my Black Keys losing its effects, and I know I had to finish this quickly.
So a dance of blades was performed in front of everyone. Kanshou and Bakuya's Anti Monster properties is extremely effective on the Nuckelavee, as it's thick exterior became littered with deep slashes.
But I couldn't finish it off, as the Black Keys' effects finally wore off. Allowing it to scream and made me back of.
Of course I Traced ear plugs, but that close proximity is still dangerous.
So I threw both blades. As they spun in the air, I projected a weapon familiar to everyone. Crescent Rose appeared on my hands.
"Ruby! Gravity Dust!" Thankfully she heard me, though I doubt she wouldn't as I retreated close to them.
She yelped in panicked surprise before throwing me one of her Gravity Dust magazine and I immediately load it to my Traced Crescent Rose.
I remember correctly that Shirou's Unlimited Blade Works is limited to only weapons and some utensils, so he is unable to copy Mecha-shift weapons such as Crescent Rose as he couldn't get a grasp on how the Mecha-shift works. But thanks to Ruby thoroughly explaining how it works. I can Project Mecha-shift weapons, only without their bullets and Dust Rounds.
Now loaded, I aimed Crescent Rose behind me and fired. Using the far more powerful recoil of the Gravity Dust Rounds, I am immediately right next to the Nuckelavee who managed to weave through the first fly by, only to get hit by the returning arcs of Kanshou and Bakuya.
So with it distracted, I sliced at it with Crescent Rose before firing another round to reposition. I fired again, to come in close and deliver another slash, and I continued until I was up in the air.
Now out of bullets, I let Crescent Rose disappear into particles of blue light, and I Traced another weapon.
Bronze and Red appeared on my dominant hand. Poised and ready to be thrown. Miló in it's javelin form is projected, and filled to the brim with Prana.
A little trick that was thought to me by Archer, is that when you overload a traced weapon with Prana. It becomes a Broken Phantasm.
So taking that as inspiration, I have created my own version of his Broken Phantasm.
With a powerful throw, Miló became a streak of bronze in the air and struck true.
At the immediate contact of the tip of the Javelin. An explosion occured. thankfully my version of Archer's Broken Phantasm is far weaker than his, but strong enough to one shot most Grimm.
I landed safely with a thud, and landing on your knee is painful even with Aura.
The dust cloud settled, and what remained was just a crater. The Nuckelavee gone, and everyone could finally take a break.
So, I turned around and gave one last smile. Before passing out.
End.