And here's chapter 2 of the commission. Still for Ultrahero74. Enjoy!
"So, anyone got anything to talk about?" Yang called out. The adults stayed silent, but the other teenagers surely didn't.
"It's pretty cool," Jaune commented, shrugging slightly. "I mean, sure, they skipped over most of the action but it's nice. Weird to think it's supposed to be real though."
"I still find that hard to believe, if I'm being honest," Weiss agreed with him, thoughtful. "I mean, this 'Khor' guy just dropped us here and told us we're watching a real world's story, it's so unreal."
"I guess great minds think alike," Jaune smiled tentatively at her. She glared at him, and he sighed. "I'll just shut up."
"One day," Yang said encouragingly, patting his shoulder.
"Not if he keeps that up," Weiss was quick to pulverize that hope.
"Flirting aside, I agree with Jaune, this is so weird," Blake spoke up. Not even in her books something like that had ever happened, and to be honest she'd read a lot of different books and literatures so she was fairly knowledgeable in the field. "And without any reason, either. I just don't understand…"
"Perhaps we will find out in the future," Pyrrha interjected with a smile. "After all, I doubt he would just make us watch another world for no reason at all."
"I'm still just shocked that we never heard of him before," Ren admitted. "I mean, everything else can be explained. Dust isn't the only mineral in the planet, and projectors can be hidden behind or inside those crystals. A Semblance that can teleport people is not too improbable either – he must've trained it a lot to be able to do that. But if he's rich enough to gather all these gems here – believe me, there's no place on Remnant with so many gems and so different – and he has such a powerful Semblance, how comes we never heard of him?"
"Maybe he likes his privacy," Weiss suggested, though she had her doubts as well. "He might have a company under another name, maybe his real one, and always keeps to himself. Not all rich people enjoy having the media's attention. Not to mention, such a Semblance would paint a huge target on his back."
Ozpin frowned. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but that behaviour sounded too much like someone who served Salem. Remaining in the shadows but keeping wealth and connections with the higher-ups, training a powerful Semblance to the point of near invincibility, and not having or giving any reason for their actions. Salem could also easily provide all those gems – there were countless mines in the known Grimmlands and thousands more in lands no man had ever seen. Projectors could be easily bought by one of her servants.
He shared a glance with the rest of his allies, who all nodded grimly. They must've made the same connection as he had. They would need to ask Khor a few questions if he were to come back, though they'd need to be careful. If he worked for Salem, then he obviously knew them.
Was all that a plot to kill them and Ozpin's best students? He had no idea why Penny would be there, but she might be someone important as well.
No, or the whole projection thing wouldn't have happened. Maybe they'd be attacked later, but for the time being they were safe. If Khor had wanted to kill them, or to try to, he would've teleported them over an active volcano or something.
"I believe the projection is about to continue," Penny cheerfully informed everyone, pointing at the now glowing crystals.
Everyone quieted down and waited for it to start. It took a few seconds, but soon the glow subsided and the projection continued.
Stories scattered through time"
Ozpin froze in shock. He knew that voice all too well. "It can't be…"
His Inner Circle looked at him. They'd never heard Salem's voice, but they could easily guess who it belonged to given Ozpin's reaction. That was pretty much a dead giveaway.
"An old flame of yours?" Yang grinned teasingly, not knowing just how spot on she actually was. The fact that old flame had actually killed him several times was irrelevant, since it didn't change the fact Salem had indeed loved Ozma, and it had been reciprocated. Once upon a time.
"No, someone I know but not a good person," the Headmaster replied grimly. While he would never tell students so young about Salem, telling them she was dangerous was another matter altogether. "She and I fought many times. But that's a story for another time."
"And Ms Xiao Long," Goodwitch added with a glare. "Try to be polite when talking to your teachers."
Yang had the cheek to grin at her. "Sure, Prof."
Weiss face-palmed and groaned at her behaviour.
"Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villiains, forgetting that we are remnants, by-products, of a forgotten past." a unknown female voice said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ruby wondered, confused. No one could answer that. Or at least, no one who wanted to.
A scene opens up in a artistic style showing a beautiful academy, before fading out.
"Man born from dust, was strong, wise, and resourceful."
A human silhouette is shown rising from the ground.
"But he was born into an unforgiving world. An inevitable darkness, creatures of destruction, the creatures of Grimm set sights on man and all his creations."
Just then dark and menacing creatures of many shapes and sizes emerged from the shadows and began to surround the man.
"These forces clashed, and it seemed the darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void."
"So many years have passed, yet Grimm are still there, huh?" Blake sighed, a tad depressed. It was depressing to think that in millennia, humanity still hadn't managed to get rid of the Grimm. Nineteen twentieths of the world was in the Grimm's hands, after all.
"Grimm clearly don't reproduce, so they must be born in some other way we cannot stop," Ironwood replied, though he was just as dejected. "We can stop them from destroying us, but even if they were to stop coming to this world, it'd still take us several decades before we could remove all the Grimm there are. The past millennia might've improved humanity, Ms Belladonna, but quantity is a quality of its own."
Everyone nodded grimly, knowing just how true that was. The Grimm weren't all that hard to kill, after all. It was just that they never ended.
The scene starts to fade to black, signaling humanity's near downfall.
"however, even the smallest sparks of hope are enough to ignite change."
A light shines and gradually returns the scene to white.
"And in time, man's passion, resourcefulness, and integrity, lead them to the tools that would even the odds."
"That, and Dust, I guess," Weiss commented, knowing just how important the elemental crystals were for the survival of humanity. It was one of the reasons why her family had chosen to rule the Dust trade. Whoever controlled the Dust reserves could make the world kneel, and that was exactly what her father wanted. Not for domination, but for money.
"Auras and Semblances are used more than Dust, though," Pyrrha spoke up, knowing that Dust could make incredible things, but a lot of weapons could be used without the need for Dust. Projectiles were almost always made with Dust, but people like her could effortlessly kill Grimm without the need for the crystals. "I believe that's what the narrator meant by that."
A crystal appears.
"This power was appropriately called 'Dust'."
"Never mind, I don't know how 'passion, resourcefulness and integrity' could create Dust," the SDC heiress sighed and shook her head. "Dust is a mineral excavated from the ground. That makes it sound like humanity created Dust and that there wasn't any before."
Qrow looked at Ozpin, who shrugged. He had been dead while Dust was created, so he knew nothing of its origins. He thought it had been the Brothers' last gift to humanity. Heartless as they were, they gave their playthings a chance.
He was still very bitter about the whole 'resurrection only to kill the love of your life who got cursed because she loved him more than she respected the Gods'.
The crystal lowers until it was in the reach of several human figures.
"Nature's wrath in hand, man lit their way through the darkness, and in the shadow's absence came strength, civilization, and most importantly, life
The scene zooms out to show men shooting Lightning, raising swords, and raising rifles at the retreating beasts as a castle appears behind them.
the scene then changes to show a map of the world that they have come to know as Remnant, and all four of it's kingdoms and every one of its settlements.
"Why isn't Menagerie one of them?" Blake asked suspiciously. No one but her team knew of her Faunus heritage, but that was a perfectly normal question so she didn't worry about being found out.
"No idea, maybe it's pretty old and Menagerie didn't exist yet," Ren shrugged, not really bothered by it. Despite being the biggest cities, the four capitals weren't the only cities in Remnant, so smaller ones might've been overlooked. "Besides, Menagerie isn't officially considered a kingdom, is it?"
"No, I guess that might be the reason..."
"But even the most brilliant of lights eventually flicker and die."
"And when they are gone... darkness will return."
"And light will rise up again!" Ruby exclaimed, pumping a fist in the air.
Suddenly the map was being swallowed by a form of Darkness. it began to spread slowly across the map as if seemingly devouring it.
"So you prepare your guardians, build your monuments to a so-called free world, but take heed... for there will be no victory in strength".
The darkness spreaded out until only one spot remained untouched, but even that was seemingly about to be consumed.
but then...
"But perhaps victory is in the simpler things that you've long forgotten" said a male voice.
Everyone looked at Ozpin, shocked. "Professor Ozpin?" they all exclaimed in sync.
He frowned. "It makes sense. The first narrator was someone who could be called my archenemy. It makes sense I would counter her claims."
a bright pillar of light suddenly shot upward, driving away the darkness from the lands.
"Things that require a smaller, more honest soul."
"However, everyone is entitled to some help." suddenly spoke another unknown male voice.
"And if you asked me about destiny or fate, all i would say those concepts are pointless."
the pillar got higher and higher, and a figure began to appear inside it.
"We make our own destinies, and because of that... fate is always changing."
"So hold on to those hopes and dreams, because if you do you, you'll go farther than you can ever dream of."
and the figures presence in the world will change the course of Remnants history forever.
"Those are some inspiring words," smiled Ren, always one for philosophy. "Hope is the last to die, after all, so those who hold onto it would be the last ones to sink into darkness."
Most just smiled but rolled their eyes at him. He could be very wise, but at times he could be odd in his own ways.
Light.
That was the only thing that could be seen in a void filled with golden light, as it shimmered and sparkled in a myraid of colors everywhere one looked.
However this void wasn't entirely empty, as two figures stood before in it. Both of them Ultramen, giants of light and of incredible power, but were also diffrent in appearance as well.
The first was mostly red in color, with his head being a silver like gray. he also had gray markings running across his body. he had a form of protective armor around his upper torso that had a blue glowing gem in the center of his chest, and a crest on his head along with a pair of horns curving upward. another feature was a bracelet on his left wrist that looked like a golden crown. and finally had a long flowing white mantle in the form of a scarf.
The second one however, was a legendary Ultraman that many in the Universe Knew, who weilds vast and unimaginable power the likes of which rarely few have seen. The Legendary Ultraman King.
"I think I've seen the horny guy before, and then there's that guy again," Nora commented, rubbing her chin as if in deep thought, trying to remember where she'd seen the guy.
Most people face-palmed. "Nora, it's horned, not horny," Weiss explained, a tad embarrassed but not enough to stop herself from correcting her.
"I believe the horned man is the Faunus from the last projection," Penny stated cheerfully, and everyone nodded. It had been said he would be taught by someone. For that someone to be the 'Ultraking' or whatever, it was very lucky for him to have such a teacher.
"You have done well my young student" King said in a royal and compassionate like voice. "You have passed all of your tests, and you have learned much in your trials. Now you are ready to rejoin your brothers once again."
"My brothers?" the horned giant said in a mature form of voice.
At that moment, images appeared around the two Ultras. Visons of other Ultramen of various appearances, all of them displaying incredible powers and abilities. And doing great acts of heroism and courage as they faced off against countless enemies, and nightmarish monsters.
A few were slightly intimidated by the monsters shown by the projection, but for people living with the incarnation of evil and darkness living just beyond their walls, those images weren't that scary. More like unsettling.
King nodded as the visons surrounding them began to change, "yes. you are more than ready to return home and fufill your duty. but there is one final task you must do which is of grave importance." he said in a more serious tone of voice.
It was then that the image of a world appeared before the two of them, making the horned Ultra turn to look at it.
"Behold this world young warrior" The Legendary Ultra said as he pointed towards the planet in the image "this, is the World of Remnant. And it is in grave danger." He said as the world was slowly being engulfed in darkness. "There are evil forces here, powerful and dark beings who have waged a war that has lasted for thousands of years." then as the darkness engulfed Remnant, a figure of a woman appeared, her very shadowy image let off a evil like aura.
"Is that woman the one from the narration?" Ruby wondered before something struck her. "Wait, did he say Remnant? As in, our planet? Are they going to go to Remnant?"
"It's just a projection, Ruby," Weiss reminded her. "We have no idea what it really is. That man said it's a real world but I doubt it."
"He did bring us here magically though," Penny countered.
"It must've been a Semblance. A powerful one, but a Semblance nonetheless," Weiss replied, waving a hand as if to dispel the very thought of magic. "And this must be something like a movie."
Ruby and Nora, being the two naivest, exchanged glances. They honestly didn't know what to believe. A teleporting Semblance was rare, one so powerful even more so. Was it really that hard to believe Khor used magic?
"These dark forces seek to bring only chaos and destruction apon Remnant, and all of of its people. but there is something much more sinister at work here." King said as he turned back to the other giant with a grave tone of voice "there is something truley evil in Remnant. A force of terrible and dark power that far exceeds the forces if Darkness that have plagued it for so long. And i fear that if it is not stopped, this world will only be the beginning of the destruction that will be made."
The horned Ultra remained silent as he absorbed this foreboding information. before he looked back up to King and asked one thing in a serious and determined voice "what do i have to do?"
King nodded as he waves his arm, and the images of the world change. "This is your task, you must Go to Remnant at once, and defeat the evil that dwells within it!" King declared as he waved out his hand causing a portal to appear before the two of them. Its destination, Remnant. Be strong and have faith, and always remember that you are a True Ultra Warrior, now go forth!"
"Go forth Ultraman Taro!"
"Well, at least now we know his name," commented Jaune, though he was still thinking about what Weiss said. Maybe Khor had used a Semblance to bring them in that mine, but there was no way a place like that actually existed. And to create it, one would need to have a powerful earth-manipulating Semblance. Two Semblances that powerful with everyone none the wiser seemed a bit unrealistic. Yet again, so was magic.
And so with his task clear and his destination set, the now named Ultraman Taro raised up his left arm as the braclet on his wrist shined brightly and he was engulfed in sphere of red light. and like a speeding comet it shot upward, heading out at incredible speeds straight towards the World of Remnant.
Indeed the World of Remnant was going to get its miracle. and it wasn't just super. Its ULTRA!
"Well, at least every now and then, even we get some luck," Yang commented, rolling her eyes. It wasn't completely wrong - with Grimm and criminals using Aura, it was pretty hard to call Remnant a perfect world.
(cue* Ultraman Taro Theme Song)
TARO!
Ultraman Number Six!
There's the Father of Ultra,
There's the Mother of Ultra,
And here before us stands Taro!
Look to the sky, look to the stars, look to the cosmos!
Behold the red flame shooting towards us!
When the Earth is Threatend
The badge on his arm will shine bright!
Taro takes to the skies!
Taro fights to save our lives!
Taro! Taro! Taro!
Ultraman Taro!
"Is that a theme song of some kind?" Weiss exclaimed, shocked.
Ruby and Jaune both immediately jumped up and high-fived. "Aw-yeah! That's awesome!" exclaimed the crimsonette.
"No anime is complete without a theme song, or an intro, and this looks like is the former!" Jaune added, grinning just as much as his best friend.
"Get a hold of yourselves, you two," Weiss groaned. "Now it's not the time to fangirl about theme songs."
"Well, if not now, then when?" Jaune retorted with a frown, not at all offended by the 'fangirl' thing even if he was a boy.
Weiss raised an eyebrow. So if she were to step between Jaune and his comics, he'd leave her alone and not flirt with her any longer? She decided that once they went back, she'd find and burn all of his comics, down to the very last one. "Never."
Ruby and Jaune both gasped in outrage. "Blasphemy!"
"Do you think we will see more of this?" Penny asked Pyrrha, since she was the closest by.
"Probably we will," nodded Blake. "It'd be pointless to show us this but nothing else, not to mention a waste of time since so far it was just exposition."
"Well, I for one hope this will be over soon," stated Yang, stretching. Jaune and Ren both made an effort to look away from her chest, where her breasts were straining the fabric. She smirked. It worked every time. "I mean, this is fun and all, but I think I'd prefer being back in Beacon."
"She's right, it'd be awful if we were to be trapped here," Penny agreed, a note of despair entering her voice.
"Don't worry, Penny, we won't be trapped in here!" Ruby exclaimed cheerfully, before adding, "…Right?"
By the way, they were kidnapped... ehm... taken before the foodfight, which means it's between V1 and V2. Blake hasn't told she's a Faunus to JNPR. Jaune still flirts with Weiss. Weiss still hates him.
Weiss now has a plan.
Until next time,
Khor Evik Vlakhavlakh