Chapter 50

RWBY fanfictions really love to put Jaune Arc in... interesting situations.

And there's a lot shipping him with Neapolitan, which I really don't get.

(Seriously, just put him with Pyrrha and gimme a fanfiction off that. Though those of you out there ship whoever you wish, I won't judge.)

There was silence.

I had failed again.

Dunban's dead now? I thought, staring at where he was just... just a minute ago and-

I rolled on my back, glancing up at the sky.

it was so beautiful, clouds drifting by, some birds even present chirping with happiness as-

It's not fair. I sensed my breathing change. It wasn't supposed to be this way.

I... I let him die.

"Ugh." I groaned, a small sound as I tried to hold back the urge to scream my guts out. "Ugh..."

"Hah..." Shulk spat blood on the ground and ground his teeth together. "C'mon, guys..." A breath of air from him. "We have to find some cover, rest up, and..."

His chest shook, and I sensed him holding in both a cry and a scream, the effort near making him spasm.

"Yeah... let's go, guys." Sharla released more empty cartridges onto the ground, stumbling forward.

Nothing's changed. I'm still as weak as ever. I stood up and glanced over to the large gap in the platform.

What the hell is it worth fighting if I can't even keep anyone I... care about safe?

I closed my eyes and staggered over with the rest of them as we moved.

When we rounded the nearest corner, I slammed my fist into the wall, leaving a dent.

...

"So..." Shulk released a weary sigh. "Dunban's... dead."

Riki drooped, a sad expression on his face. "Riki sad Dundun die," he spoke. "Like Reyn."

Sharla looked away. She trembled as she took a breath.

"Yeah..." The blonde rubbed his temple. "Anyway... we should set up watch to watch for Mechon, if there's any patrolling."

"I'll go first," I mumbled, standing to get out of the small alcove the five of us were currently resting in.

"Andrew..." A tired sigh came from Melia, and I paused, looking back at her. She glanced away. "Never mind." At best, she was reluctant to say what was on her mind. At worst...

"Okay," I spoke, starting to move out again.

"Andrew, wait. I'll take watch with you," spoke Shulk, following me out.

I groaned, knowing what he was going to ask of me. The somber nature of those questions were fitting, considering the dark night sky.

"So... what?" I spoke, drawing my sword, clenching my left fist. It feels weak... oh yeah, 'cause of the Monado.

"So you killed Reyn," he spoke. "Tell me... how was he? What... was he like?"

Something isn't right here, I noted. This feel... "He was under Egil's control and was gonna kill me." I looked away from him, towards the darkness that seemed close and yet far somehow. "So I killed him instead."

A heavy groan slid out of Shulk, and he rubbed his eyes. "Was that something you could've predicted? Something you knew?"

"Nah... I wish," I spoke. "Look, there's shit even I have no idea about, okay?" I let out a breath. Keep calm... probably agitated 'cause Dunban just got rekt and stuff. Lashing out won't... "Kinda weird if I knew since it involved me, right?"

Huh... that actually seems logical. Too bad I make for such a sucky attorney in comparison. I mean, really... Spirit of Justice's Insights can be so damn vague and difficult to figure out! How do you even?!

"Yeah... well... did you know about Dunban?" spoke Shulk, eyes desperate as he looked at me. "Was... was that... supposed to happen?!"

I sighed, looking away. Can't lie... I'd just be running from the truth. "Nah," I spoke. "He... wasn't supposed to die here."

I kinda got up and over so Shulk was sorta distracted with me, then Mumkhar stabbed him... that's when it all changed and Dunban died.

It was my fault, I thought, rubbing my eyes. "Ugh..." Because of course it was.

I'm useless, I can't do shit about anything at those times when it really matters.

"I really should've..." muttered Shulk. "Ugh... should've stopped Mumkhar, he... I coulda saved him and I..." He growled and looked away, a fist clenching.

He's berating himself too. I rubbed my eyes again. And if I weren't here, he would've too.

Ugh, what am I... dwelling on what happened isn't gonna change a thing. I cracked my knuckles, yawning. I have to keep facing forward...

For those I really care about, too.

"If you're tired..." Shulk yawned, a sigh sneaking out as he did so. "Ugh... then you should go rest with the others."

I sensed it. What Shulk really wanted was for me to get away from him.

At least, I thought so. If I were wrong, then...

Then what? I almost laughed, though managed to keep it as a weird hiccup instead. It doesn't matter.

This is a video game after all. Nothing that happened here mattered or was real.

Hell, I could just kill them all and still-

No! I mentally slapped myself and shook my head, taking in a good lungful of air. That's where I go wrong.

"Alright, thanks." I moved back to where the other three were sleeping.

Riki was leaning against Sharla, who slept leaning against the wall. Melia was on the opposite wall, though occasionally made slight noises the other two didn't, as well slight mumbles.

They felt real enough. I sensed their body heat, their quiet breathings, saw the tiny shifts in movement here and there.

But were they? I thought. Are these guys actually real... my friends...

Or are they still just video game characters in the end?

"Ugh?" I staggered, feeling something cut me. A thin streak of blood emerged as a result, maybe half a millimetre deep. "Wha..." I stared at the small cut on my forearm, frowning.

"Hm?" Shulk looked at me. "You say something?"

"Nah, should be... nothing..." I walked out and sensed another slash, akin to the previous on. I reached out with my hand and felt it cut my hand, the cut deeper this time. "Huh..."

"Hey, that's... Light Heal." Shulk frowned. "How'd you get hurt like that? Is there Mechon around?" The beam of the Monado emerged.

"No, I don't think so," I replied. "But... something else is..."

"It was me... DIO!" declared a voice, from some nearby shadows. "Okay, no, not really. But you are coming with me, Andrew."

"You..." This feeling... he's an Outsider. I can sense his power and... "Okay."

"Well, sweet! That was easy! Follow me!" The male dived off the side, towards the vast ocean below.

"Wait a... Andrew, don't do it!" gasped Shulk. "I just... he's going to kill you!"

"A vision?" I spoke, tilting my head. Must be a really tough guy if he's gonna kill me...

"Don't get how, though," replied the blonde. "All he did was sheathe his sword and... you got cut in two."

"Huh... kinda sounds like..." YAMATO! I froze. Gods...

That would be so cool! Forget shotgun gauntlets for a second, I want that! I could be all like, "VROO" and then just "WA-CHA" and some many cool things, and cut dimensions and stuff! Actually, if this guy has a sword like that, it's probably not as good as that, I thought. That would just be too convenient... but anyways... this guy's going down no matter how bloody and hurt I might be at the end!

"Alright, Shulk! See ya!" I spoke, preparing to leap off into the ocean below like the Outsider previously.

"Wait, what?! You're still doing it?!" spoke Shulk, staring at me. "Even though he'll kill you?!"

"I'll be fine. Besides, then I can take his sword," I spoke back. "I got powers and stuff. Though, if I do die..." I breathed out. "Do tell Kallian..." Wait he dies. "Uh..." Um... better try and act like I don't know that! "That I'm sorry I didn't help through with... uh... Melia... to the end."

"Alright... wait, you're still-!" Shulk reached out towards me.

"Bye, Shulk! I know you'll get Fiora back!" I called whilst already descending. "I BELIEVE IN YOU! BELIEVE IT!"

"ANDREW, YOU-!"

I breathed out, not hearing the rest of what Shulk was going to say as I descended, groaning as I hit the water. "UGH!" I got my head above water and moved to the shore. "Ugh, this'll take forever..." I grunted, using my Soul form for a brief time and gliding over, reverting afterwards. "Hi."

"Hello!" The male rose from where he sat, katana's sheath in his right hand with the blade itself in his left. "I'mma try and kill ya, okay?!"

He's left-handed... I drew my sword and smiled. "Bring it! That sword's pretty cool, so I'll take it after you go down!"

"Okay... just call me... hell, it don't matter. Virgil, sure," spoke the Outsider.

"Wait a... do you know DMC?" I spoke.

"Hm...? Yeah. Pretty good game series," spoke Virgil. "Why when I got training, I decided to go the way I did. They said it couldn't be done, and it was dumb... ha! I showed them!" he grinned. "Yeah... wasn't easy, but it got this super cool fighting style too, so..."

I don't think he's talking to me anymore. "Huh... well, let's do this!" I grunted, sensing the slash rushing outwards. I leaned to one side and dodged the projected strike, before Virgil was right up in my face. "WHOA?!"

He slashed, and our blades met several times. "Yo... not bad!" Virgil was gone as a projected slash from behind grazed me. "But I'm still gonna beat your ass!"

"Ugh...?" I staggered, though leapt from another slash. The way it works... he can kinda set traps by projecting slashes outwards, though only sometimes... maybe he uses his will to control it, like my gauntlets? "Ugh!" I rolled away to avoid another slash. And when he sheathes the katana, those slashes suddenly materialize for a sudden strike... though he can adjust their range as well, it looks like...

"Acumen Slash!" declared the opposite swordsman's voice, and roughly two dozen white slashes surrounded me.

I was trapped.

"Aw, shit..!" I groaned, sensing the weakest point of the slashes. As he fully sheathed the katana I moved to that point and assumed my Soul form, managing to get out with little injury.

So I thought anyway. Truth was the sensation was akin to a car slamming into my midsection. Eh, at the very least, I imagine, considering that I haven't yet been struck by a car going that fast-

"RARGH!" Virgil let out a yell, using the actual blade itself to cut me away. "Geez... pay attention!"

"Ugh... apologies." I arose again with a grunt, settling into a ready stance. "And you may be strong... but I'm not gonna lose!"

"Alright, then. No more games, yeah? I ain't got time to waste." Virgil put his hand outwards and smirked, form shifting with a flash of light. "AND NEITHER DO YOU, RIGHT?!"

That form... It looked eerily similar to the Devil Trigger of Vergil when Sephiroth had...

Wait a, Death Battle? I frowned. Was a Death Battle like that even a thing?

"HAH!" screamed the Outsider, slashing randomly, generating bright white strikes where he projected his slashes, up to roughly fifteen metres away from him.

I hissed, ignoring the lingering question about Death Battle and rushing closer, using my sword to cut apart the projected slash in front of me. "RAH!" I unleashed a shockwave, and he sheathed his blade. I grunted as my wings were struck somehow, and fell. I landed and rolled away instantly, managing to get away from further injury as the slashes triggered.

His Soul Trigger... it's like mine! He won't flinch and those slashes are more lethal now, plus his speed's up!

With the blade itself, Virgil cut the shockwave apart. "HAH!" He was gone again, and for a moment there was nothing.

I gasped, sensing an overwhelming presence behind me. He can... I used Defensive Reversal to stop him as he struck, and we crossed blades a few times, the sharp noises clashing against the quiet of the beach. I leapt away, and the projected slash he used glanced off me. "STAB WAVE!" To move that fast with me not noticing a thing... it has to be teleportation!

"YOU'RE GOING DOWN!" A ring of pale blue, flickering small swords surrounded Virgil as I rushed at him. "READY FOR IT?!"

"Those look like... Vergil's Summoned Swords?!" I used my momentum to leap at a diagonal angle, managing to get off with less injury then he intended. The aura faded from my sword as the Art expired."Damn!" Those really hurt! "Ugh...!" And they make it so close combat is impossible!

"Yeah... they all said to focus on the katana or the Summoned Swords... but I showed them all and did both!" Virgil rushed over via teleportation, his Swords rushing out to strike me several times as I'm forced to clash blades with him.

"RARGH!" I screamed, using the Soul Demon to handle the excess of Summoned Swords, though doing so was... distracting.

Using the Demon to slash away the Swords and me fighting him... this is tough! "Ugh!" I gasped as Virgil zoomed past me a few times. I activated Time Slow and managed to reach out and cut him with a Whip Slash. "GOTCHA!" I used my left hand and grabbed him, before a swift Cross Slash technique cut him backwards. "There...!" His physical abilities... up close I'm better then he is!

Virgil grunted, getting back on his feet. "HAH!" He also slowed time, sheathing the katana. I gasped, rushing forward to get off with more bad injuries to my back, as well as cracking the Soul Demon in a few places. "RRGH... SCUM!" He charged at me. "RAH!"

I tossed my sword on my back and my gauntlets formed. "AURA STRIKE!" I met his slash and forced him away into a tree, which fell over as he slammed into it. "JACKPOT!" No more Swords... he finally ran out! "RARGH!" I drew my sword again and rushed forward. Stab Strike's cooldown... there! "I'M THE ONE TAKING YOU DOWN!" An aura surrounded my blade as I dashed forward, before settling into a low glide.

"Ugh...!" Virgil groaned, getting back up. "RRGH... RARGH!" Teleporting, he managed to strike me a few times, and a few hundred white slashes manifested, engulfing both myself and the next 30 metres around me. "Hah... hah... IT'S OVER!" He started to sheathe the katana, his heartbeat fast and increasing still.

"RRGH...!" I clenched my fist, screaming as the slashes all cut me. "Ugh..." I fell to one knee, my Soul Trigger flickering. Some of the slashes had gotten dangerously close to my vitals, with a few grazing my lungs. "Gh..." No... not yet... "I... hah..." I spat out blood, wiping my mouth afterwards.

Virgil reverted to normal, turning his back. "Hah... hah... it's finally over... just took the Acumen Slash Finale," he groaned, breathing heavily. "Woo... that was pretty good fun, though."

Does he... not sense? "Hah... ugh..." I growled, a low sound he doesn't hear, managing to rise back to both feet. Can he? "RARGH!" I leapt forward. "SOUL STAB WAVE!"

"GUH?!" Virgil recoiled as the Soul Demon stabbed him. "You... survived...?!"

"Yeah..." I allowed the Soul Demon to fade and lunged. "And I'm taking you down!" I slashed him before concentrating another aura around my blade. "AURA SLASH!" I struck, and he fell over, as I had cut apart both lungs and his liver, in two messy halves. "Hah...!"

"RRGH...!" Virgil gasped. "RAH!" His form shifted again, yet to a lighter shade of blue. "Okay, you're pretty good..." He arose again, staggering as I sensed his wounds start to fade away. "But... can you keep up with this?"

"Your wounds...!" They're... no, I can still sense faint traces of them on his body... it's like... "They were removed like a band-aid..."

"Pretty accurate, actually." Virgil flashed a grim smile. "The Soul Trigger of optimism. And do you know what that means?"

"I gotta kill you before the rest of your wounds heal." I swallowed, wincing as I reverted to normal. "Ugh..."

"Well, sure... but what's more important... I can stop time too."

A blinding shape and dozens of projected slashes seemed to rip me apart.

"Ugh..." I fell over, the coarse dry sand getting all over my body.

I was alive?

"It's... not over yet...!" growled the adversary, drawing the katana again. "I'll be the one to end you!"

I forced the gauntlets to form, shoving my hands off the ground enough so I was forced to get on all fours. "Yeah...?" I stood, grunting. "I got a lot to do... I can't afford to die here. My friends don't deserve that."

"So you're willing to keep trying 'cause your friends would be devastated if ya died, yeah?" Virgil reverted, all his wounds gone now. "Heh... you haven't really lost a fight yet, have you."

"Wha... Zulf..." I spat out blood, wiping off blood that had spattered on my gauntlets.

"Zulf...? Oh, that guy. Well, that was hardly a fight. Your ideals sure as hell weren't as strong as now," grinned Virgil. "Nah... when I say lose, I mean to feel so desperately that you're right... and yet you fail all the same."

Somehow that sounds familiar. "Uh... okay...?"

"And... dread it or run from it... destiny still arrives." Virgil stabbed me. "Jackpot... RARGH!"

"UGH!" I gasped as he ripped the sword out my side, Summoned Swords materializing to pin me down. "Shit...!"

"This is the end for you... and y'know... I gotta say... this does put a smile on my face." Virgil lunged, his katana seeming to shine in the moonlight as he slashed forward.

He still can't sense. The words came to me, simply as fact. And he's hurt me enough...

I activated Time Slow, and pulled the Swords out of me. "Man... this is gonna... hah... get rough." Especially with my lungs damaged like they are... Sighing, I stabbed through my torso with a shout of pain, tearing my blade out and using the Soul Trigger again as time reverted.

"Hm!" Virgil morphed into the darker Soul Trigger as we clashed a few times. "Heh..." He shoved me away, and I saw his right side the dark shade of blue as I recovered. The left side was a lighter shade. "Let's do this!"

"Both at the same time..." Taking in an unnecessary breath, I willed the Soul Demon to materialize. "RAH!" I willed the Demon to slash, though its blade shattered at a projected slash. "Gh..." I felt my sword chip slightly. The Soul Demon... more then anything else, it...

It feels like a... manifestation of myself.

"You really should stop talking aloud." Virgil slashed me away. "That's because, and I think you know this... the Soul Triggers us Outsiders assume are the manifestation of our deepest wills, letting us wield the most secret of ourselves as forms."

"Forms..." I arose, letting the Soul Demon fade with a sigh. That didn't work. "So they differ?"

"Heh... very slightly. At the core each Soul Trigger has a base state." Virgil smirked. "That dark form you wielded fighting against Zulf... that was the deepest, most powerful will you had then. It made itself known due to your excessive desire to survive." He paused. "Actually, that's wrong. Though I will sound cliche, what caused that dark Soul Trigger to rush from inside was you admitting, even to just yourself, that what you really wanted was just to save your friends again." He chuckled. "Not to live at all, but to see your old friends you left behind... well, that this you left behind, anyway."

"Wait a... what the hell do you mean, saying something like that?" I spoke. "You make it sound like... there's another..." Me...

"When it really comes down to it... that's the truth." Virgil slowed time. "But enough talk. What we're doing right now would make for a pretty poor show."

"Wha... huh?" I dodged the projected cut. "Rrgh... I'm still gonna...!" I swiped to meet his slash, and we sprang apart. "WIN!" And I'll get you to explain what you're talking about.

Believe that!

"HAH!" Virgil leapt at me, and with a flash there were massive gauntlets and greaves on his person. His foot was rushing forward for a jump kick and-

I willed a greave to form as I withdrew my sword and struck, my roundhouse kick forcing him away. "Huh... you got gauntlets too?" I stared at him, hard. "All you need now is a normal sword and... well, a kinda normal sword anyway, and-"

"SURPRISE, BITCH!" He was behind me, swinging a blade that wasn't his katana. My instincts screamed as I rolled away from him. "Heh... funny you mention that." He assumed another stance, sword in both hands.

"Of course... a blade akin to the Force Edge," I spoke, holding my left hand to my wounds. "Really inspired you, huh?"

"Yeah..." A hand settled on the katana as he drew it.

Our blades crossed, and met a few times.

Breathing out, I used a quick Whip Slash to repel Virgil. "Hah..." As I started to move forward, a jab of agony struck my body, causing me to falter. "Ugh..."

He cut me, the strike knocking me away.

I let a harsh gasp out, reverting once again. It's over. I can't win. "Ugh..." I fell on my back.

"Giving up?" Virgil smiled, reverting to normal himself. "Well..." He walked over, drawing his sword again. "I'll be glad to end you, Outsider."

Outsider... those who don't belong.

Y'know, there are some messed up RWBY fanfictions out there.

"Wha..." I mumbled. "Where did that..." That thought come from...

"Hm?" Virgil paused. "Ya say somethin'?

The heck did RWBY come from? Pretty sure only two seasons were out before I was here, and then I hadn't searched for fanfiction yet, so...

"I bet you've figured it out." Virgil pointed his sword down at me. "These Outsider selves are separate from us in the real world.

"What I'm about to kill is the extension of you that wanted to be a cool swordsman guy that did stuff."

"So that's why... those thoughts..." I groaned. Moving was difficult. Too difficult. I strained regardless. Would never toughen up if I never even tried.

"Yeah... the you on Earth right now is enjoying a pretty good life," spoke Virgil. "Got a job, in fact. Can't wait to get paid."

"Wait... how do you know that?" I spoke, staring at the long steel a couple inches away.

"It's complicated, and almost as unnecessary as Sonic 06's plot," spoke the Outsider. "But whatever...

"When I kill the you that's here, bloody and almost dead already... the you in the real world is really gonna feel that, I bet."

His blade entered my chest.

I screamed.

Then he was gone, body forced away by something.

"There you are," spoke a voice. "Two Outsiders... you will make good Faced Mechon."

"You... Egil!" spat Virgil, releasing a projected slash. "GUH?!"

A hammer from a Mechon behind him crushed his arm, and he fell to one knee. A blow to the head and he was unconscious.

"And now..." Egil looked at me. "For you."

The hammer moved at my face, causing me to see dark for a while.