I changed my mind about the chapter with past events because they were proving a bit difficult to write the will be inc in different chapters instead.
It's been 4 hours since his encounter with Tyrion? Tyrone? Tripticon? whatever the mad man's name was Acno didn't acknowledge him important enough to make worth rememberinghis name.
And right now he could use a break. Hey! Just cause he's a dragon and the most powerful being doesn't mean that walking ISN'T the bane of his existence once in a while why he remember walking ALL the time before being a dragon and still did even then to be more inconspicuous and while he doesn't need to sleep anymore it does feel good to lay in a comfy cave and sleep once in a while with eating he did need to do it since well he is a living being that needs sustenance he can go a while without food though.
Anyway back on topic he saw he finally got a sign of civilization when he saw a smoke trail in the sky and smelt Barbeque in the air the thought of Barbeque Chicken , Macaroni Pie ,Fried Ice and Potato Salad almost made his mouth water in anticipation he never went into villages(unless it involves dragons) anymore since setting out to kill dragon and mostly hunted and cooked his own food.
And he wasn't nervous he wasn't! He was Acnologia a full grown dragon ...who had not have a proper conversation that didn't involve killing or dragons in 400 damnit ok maybe he was little nervous but you can't blame him he's been an isolated dragon for so long that he forgot how to be human.
As he neared Jaune realized something he had NO Lien he mentally cursed 'Damnit how can I eat and sleep in an Inn without money' he rubbed his chin in thought before a light bulb went off in his head if he couldn't pay for it maybe they can give it to him.
The former knight reached down and grabbed a handful of dirt he rubbed and spread it all over his torso, cloak, and his face and even his hair(much to his dismay).
He then used his semblance to create an Aura knife and cut various locations(After all the only one who can hurt Acnologia is Acnologia himself) deep enough to draw blood to really add effect after smearing the blood all over him like he did the dirt.
Jaune had to swallow an insane amount of pride for this. Dragons were very proud creatures and to do something so degrading to themselves would have earned a round of a applause. He made sure to turn his Aura off as to not heal the wounds that had dried blood now
Making his way to the village he saw that they had a bonfire lit dancing and a BBQ grill with people eating 'A celebration or festival' he thought
as he got closer he started to fake limp, pant in faux exhaustion he felt a bubble of anger rise in his chest his dragon side yelling various curses but he ignored it and pressed on.
a villager finally noticed him and frowned Jaune could see the pity in his eye and bit his lip to force back the snarl threatening to come to his lips he had seen much pity directed towards him as his time as Jaune Arc he HATED being pitied and was just thinking of trekking the rest of his journey without eating
As the man came up to him he could see the ears, tail and long main he was snappily dressed in a suit and tie.
The dragon could tell he was a lion Faunus and by the way he dressed the leader and Mayor of he village "Hello there good sir what brings you to my fine village this evening i'm Boris Pennyworth mayor of the village" the Faunus now named Boris introduced himself as he got a good look at Acno and his eyes widened at the various cuts, blood and dirt on him "My word! what happened to you?"
Acno looked and him explained through gritted teeth "I-I was a-ambushed by b-bandits they t-took my weapon and all my Lein" he faked stuttered to really sell it 'I should have been an actor' he mentally thought even though that bubbling anger in his chest was expanding.
"My Oum dreadful why don't you join us for some food you must be hungry after that experience" As if on cue Jaune's stomach roared in hunger and the mayor chuckled "Well come along my dear fellow".
They went and sat at a table with people from the village consisting of Faunus and Humans whispering about him he could hear them thanks to his enhanced senses but he ignored them "My friends nothing to worry about this wondering huntsman was ambushed and thankfully not greatly injured and we shall show our hospitality by giving him some food and a place to stay for the night at the Inn" he assured the villagers who stopped whispering and relaxed he went and got a plate and a cup of wine for Acno who accepted it with a thanks "No problem my friend I'm sorry about them they're on the edge these day" Borise gave a light grimace that didn't go unnoticed by Acnologia and asked "How come?" as he filled his mouth with another delicious spoonful of Macaroni Pie.
The mayor look with a complicated gaze as thinking whether to say or not. Finally he sighed and spilt "The SDC" the Faunus gave a growl as he spat the words out "They've been coming every few months to villages and taking Faunus kids to the mines mostly from the Orphanage but most of them managed to hide away" he said depressingly as he furiously played and poked at his food "Can't you I don't know decline or call General Ironwood to put a stop to it" Jaune asked Boris responded with a empty chuckle "You really think General Ironwood gives a damn about a nowhere village?" The former king responded with silence "Exactly and we can't decline they threaten to shoot down the village and a place like us would easily cover up as a Grimm attack they even bring a jammer that disrupts our scrolls to call for help" he said bitterly.
Acno frowned he knew from Weiss that her father was an asshole but he didn't think he was this big of one he finished his 3rd plate which surprised the people. Little did they know that Dragon Slayers eat ALOT.
After that was done Acno thanked the villagers for their hospitality and the mayor lead him to the local Inn. Taking a nice warm shower and washing his cloak and pants he finally retired to bed. He stared up at the ceiling in thought 'I wonder what the others would think of me if they say me now' before his eyes shut and he embraced darkness.
*In the dreamworld*
Acnologia found himself surrounded by a room of darkness staring into a mirror in the middle of the room the image of a blue eyed, scraggily blonde teenager with black hoodie with a rabbit face printed at the front stared right back. He moved his hand to touch the mirror the reflection copied his movement the minute he touch the glass it shattered into pieces slightly startling him.
the darkness transformed into images of him slaughtering dragon after dragon bathing in their blood it swapped to him killing humans who associated themselves with dragons.
Acno winced while watching but said nothing then a voice called out
"Aren't you going to say something?" that voice was...familiar feminine "Say something of all the lives you've destroyed and killed murdered in cold blood most of them innocent not doing anything more than living."
Jaune frantically looked around for the voice but couldn't see anything but that voice he's heard it before the scene shifted around him and he was presented with...
"Beacon" he said softly in recognition but it was different the academy was broken grimm swarmed the place the voice spoke again
"If they could see you now they'd be disgusted" images of his friends Blake, Weiss, Yang, Ruby ,Nora and Ren manifested themselves each had a black mist over their eyes and they each had their lips pulled back in a disgusted snarl.
Nora went first "I can't believe I had a monster like you as my leader!"
Weiss was next "You disgust me!"
Then Ren "Stay away from us!"
Blake "You're like him!" the apparition spat with venom more than the rest so far
Yang "I can't believe I let you get close to Ruby and I!"
Finally Ruby "You're monster I can't fathom that you use to be my best friend!"
Acno didn't cry nor did he shout or scream in plea but he couldn't stop his hands from balling into a fist almost drawing blood from his palm with how hard his nails were digging into them nor could he stop the clenching of his heart
the apparitions vanished and one he knew all to well appeared in front of him
Pyrrha Nikos his best friend under Ruby and his partner at his time at Beacon
The phantom glared in disgust "How does it feel to know that your original journey was to get rid of arrogant, detestable and evil dragons who were hellbent on killing humanity when you became the very thing you hated so much you became a dragon you became a murderer"
Acno could feel his form tremble as the very truthful words struck him like a fist to his face
The phantom continued "But most importantly you became someone that NO ONE will recognize or want around your not the sweet boy your friends once knew nor will you EVER be that boy ever again even your family will want nothing to do with you".
Acnologia's legs buckled and he finally fell to his knees still trembling
"You'll be alone you're kidding yourself if they'll EVER accept you into their lives again"
He finally looked up at the image of his partner and shouted "YOU KNOW DAMN WELL THAT I WAS INSANE FOR THOSE PERIODS OF TIME I WAS NOT THERE MENTALLY!" he defended
Pyrrha gave a bored look "That's true i'll give you that but that doesn't matter you still took MANY lives more lives than any professional huntsman will EVER take in their entire career" the image knelt down and rubbed The former king's cheek "They won't care they'll see you for what you are a monster, a demon, a maniac and most of all a killer a cold blooded killer"
*Real World*
Jaune shot up breathing heavily and sweating he looked around his Inn room and realized that he was in the real world he thought back to the nightmare he had and all the things that the phantom version of his ex-partner said 'She's right I AM a killer'.
he heard some commotion and went to the window to check he saw Boris arguing with men in white clothing with a snowflake symbol on the shoulder 'SDC soldiers' he realized he watched as they start to get violent with the mayor and it was here Acno decided to go down an intervene but the words still haunted him 'You're a monster' and maybe he was but even monster can change and even monsters can be heroes he was going to prove those apparitions wrong and he was going to redeem himself he swore it and an Arc never went against his word.
But first he had some SDC ass to kick and a village to save.
Hey everyone hoped you enjoyed I apologies if the dialogue was so little I'm working on it I promise that Jaune will speak more often but thanks for reading make sure to follow, fav and comment on the chapter and feel free to add some constructive criticism that is always appreciated enjoy your day people buh-bye.
