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Jaune Arc: Bearer of the Curse
Facing the Devourer, I kept my shield at the ready as I sprinted towards it. 'God these things are ugly up close.', I mentally retched at this beast's appearance, before I felt my heart sink slightly. 'Oh no…', "RUBY!", I roared out as I saw a red blur of rose petals pass me.
Ruby, had rushed in using her semblance, obviously not thinking before she acted. "Hiyaahhhhhh!", she yelled out a battle cry as her scythe met the scaled front right leg, only to have her attack bounce right off it, leaving a barely visible scratch.
The Devourer screeched, more like it was pissed than hurt, and it swiped its left arm at her only to be batted away by my shield as I slashed its open palm earning a slightly deeper but still barely noticeable cut. "Ruby, a Devourer is one of the strongest creatures of Grimm, why did you rush in!?".
Ruby was frightened by the creature and now by my tone, and she looked disheartened. 'Fucking great, well said Jaune, just kick her like a downed puppy why don't ya!?". Shaking my head clear of those thoughts, I analyzed the situation and realized, two things. First, this sucker is pissed and now focused on me. Second, I just yelled at a girl whose sister could easily crush me. Steeling myself I yelled the only command they'd listen to. "Everyone keep moving, get to the objective! I'll keep it busy, this is NOT up for debate!". I said as I rolled to avoid another claw swipe and lunge into its moist, disgusting mouth-chest, causing it to screech in pain.
I noticed Yang, Blake, Nora, and Weiss, run by Yang grabbing Ruby who still looked shell shocked. I moved to get the massive Grimm to follow me back towards the ruined temple. I mistimed a dodge and the beast's claw grabbed a hold of my entire body. "FUCK!", was all I could yell as it began crushing my body, blood spurting out of my mouth as I felt my insides being mushed.
Then I heard it, the scream of a very angry woman. Yang launched herself at the beast, her hair glowing golden, her eyes now crimson read, using her gauntlets recoil for speed, she decked the beast in the side of its massive jowl like sides, causing it to release me.
As I fell I saw a spear fly past me and impale its mouth, eliciting more pain from it. Right before I hit the ground someone caught me, strong, yet lithe. 'Ren…', I smiled at my partner blood still oozing out of my mouth.
Ren acted quickly and took my flask, uncorking it, he drained some of the draught into my mouth leaving only a swig in it, and I instantly felt the refreshing power of the Estus take effect. I got to my feet, to see Weiss coordinating Nora to fire some pink grenades into the beasts mouth. Yang was violently pummeling the beast on its back with Pyrrha keeping it's forward attention retrieving her spear from the beast's disgusting maw in the progress.
Ren shook me to gain my attention, "What's the plan partner?", he asked, those scared emotions back within his voice.
"I had planned to hold it off, so that you all could escape", I answered between pants of breath and was immediately smacked, but not by Ren. By Ruby, who had apparently sped next us with Blake coming up behind.
Ruby had tears in her eyes, before she hugged me. "Don't you ever do that again! We can win this together! Just tell us how!", she said in between sniffles.
'I forgot she's just a kid.', I thought as I closed my eyes to calm my nerves. Then looked to the battle, and saw something coming that would be very bad…."YANG, PYRRHA BACK OFF OF IT NOW, REGROUP. WEISS, NORA KEEP FIRING OFF POT SHOTS BUT KEEP YOUR DISTANCE!", I got up and held my shield up, as Yang and Pyrrha got behind me just as its body started convulsing, spraying a sickly brown-orange bile over the field, some pattering against my shield, and Weiss's glyphs.
Yang asked in a heated tone, "What the hell is that!?", her answer came when the nearby area began to dissolve quickly. "Oh. So what's the plan, jerk?", she asked angrily at me.
Ruby glared adorably, "That's mean Yang he was just trying to keep me safe! At least he didn't ditch me at the entrance like some people!".
Blake chimed in by clearing her throat, "Not the time you two, Jaune?", she queried.
"Why is everyone asking me?", I looked on confused as Weiss and Nora regrouped with us, turning my attention back to our foe which seemed to be dazed slightly.
Pyrrha spoke up, "Jaune, you're the only one of us who knows what that Grimm is, we are deferring to your lead for this fact!", she sounded so sure, it almost unnerved me with how genuine she sounded.
With new found resolve, I issued my commands, "Weiss, Pyrrha, take the right, pepper it with anything range you've got, Ren, Blake same plan but left. Yang, Nora, and Ruby take a leap on its back and bash and hack at it as hard as you can. On my signal.", they each nodded and prepared themselves.
The Devourer fully recovered and began a full charge on their position, when he was halfway to my position, I roared "NOW!", and they took off. Ren began firing his twin SMGs, Blake firing her sword in hand gun form, Pyrrha on its right took a knee and fired her rifle, with Weiss amplifying her rounds with her ice glyphs, and Yang and Nora took to the skies immediately, followed by the red reaper, Ruby, and began laying waste to its back as I dug in. 'This is gonna hurrrtttt!'.
It's body collided with my shield, which cracked the ground behind me but I stood, er, kneeled strong! "Hah! Suck it!", I said as I slashed the little piece that used to be it's head clean off. Which had the desired effect, somewhat. It reared back and screeched in horrid pain, so far it began to fall on its back. Yang, Nora, and Ruby got off with time to spare, and I took the opportunity to hop on its gut, ramming my blade deep in it, to the hilt. As it screeched in pain, I ran up its length, and yelled "KEEP FIRING!", which everyone did, unloading everything.
When I reached its maw, I leapt with all my might, and yelled, " IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER!", as I plunged into it's moist, acidic cavity with my blade.
It gave a final shriek, as it went lax. That's when something strange happened. It faded away in black ashes that swirled around me. In the center where it's center would have been. Was a singular floating white flame like orb.
My armor and clothing had mostly been dissolved by the acids, save for my jeans, half a shoe, and the left side of my hoody. We grouped around the flame. Nora went to touch it, but her hand passed right through it.
"Aww, I want the pretty orb!", she pouted.
Weiss, looking at me, popped the question, "So, what is it dunce?".
I was about to answer, when Ren stopped me by putting up his hand. "His name is Jaune, I would appreciate you showing him the common courtesy of using it Miss Schnee, since he did just save our lives."
Weiss fired back, "Saved our-!? Hardly, if anything, we did all the work while he just barked at us!"
Pyrrha gave her two cents, " Actually, Ren is right Weiss. Without Jaune's intricate knowledge of the Devourer, we would have been dead."
Weiss looked at Pyrrha shocked, before crossing her arms, "Hmpf, hardly. The professors would have-"..
"Actually Miss Schnee, Miss Nikos is correct.", they all turned and gasped at the voice. It was Headmaster Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch.
Weiss dumbfounded took a few momentsreplied, "B-but but Headmaster-!".
"Fifteen seconds." Miss Goodwitch chimed in.
They all looked confused exept myself.
Ozpin clarified, "Miss Schnee it took you fifteen solid seconds to form that broken response. In those fifteen seconds, if Mister Arc had not been present you and your fellows would hav3 been maimed, or worse, killed.". He sipped his coffee and continued, "However due to Mister Arcs, instant recognition of the enemy and his surprising knowledge of this Grimm, he coordinated your efforts, and was even willing to discard his own life to buy you all time, to either escape, or for help to arrive.", he finished with a smirk.
All this made them turn to me, but I paid no attention as the voice called in my head.
"Young cursed knight, before you is the soul of a powerful adversary. Claim it, and you can use its power to increase your own power. You will find more, powerful souls in time. However, this will be our last meeting.", her voice sounded sad, but perked up slightly, "Look to your new partner. He will guide you to greater heights, than even I. Farewell, Jaune.".
Her voice faded, and I felt tears roll down my cheek. "Farewell, Shanalotte.", I smiled looking to the sky, as an old feather fell down in front of me, and vanished.
I then looked to the others, taking the soul in my hand and crushed it, the aura entering my body. I wiped my face dry and looked to my friends, and Weiss with a smile. "So uh, do we pass?", I asked the headmaster.
Ozpin, sipping his coffee, finally stopped and spoke up. " Glynda, what do you say?", he directed the question to his partner.
Glynda looked at the man, then to us before speaking, "A team of 8 initiates working together took down a SS-Rank Grimm, not only that a Devourer, which there have been no sightings of in the last 400 years, since the time of the great'Lord of Cinders' of Mistral?", she questioned sarcastically. "I suppose.", she stated with a smirk.
"So we...?" I asked, elated to what it sounded like.
Ozpin, with a smile on his face, nodded, "Welcome, to Beacon Academy.".
They all cheered happily, except Weiss, Ren, and Blake. The latter two, because of their stoic nature, the former, looked frustrated beyond all belief.
"Cardin Winchester, Russel Thrush, Dove Bronzewing, and Sky Lark. The four of you gathered the black bishop pieces, and from this day forth you will be known as Team CRDL (Cardinal), led by, Cardin Winchester.", Ozpin congratulated the boys as they stepped off the stage.
"Blake Belladonna, Jaune Arc, Yang Xiao Long, and Lie Ren. You four have retrieved the black knight pieces, and from this day forth you will be known as Team BJYR (Blur), led by, Blake Belladonna." , Ozpin stated to the confusion of everyone in the audience, our new team included but not me.
I turned to her and patted her on the back, "Great job Blake!", I cheered with a giant grin….I must have looked a real sight, what with most of my clothes still burned off, but then Yang spouted off.
"Headmaster, not that I care much , but why not Jaune?", she looked a little miffed.
I spoke up, "We'll be on our way headmaster, I think I know the reason." I placed a reassuring hand on Yang's shoulder, and we left the stage after she nodded reluctantly.
"And last but not least, Pyrrha Nikos, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, and Nora Valkyrie. You four have retrieved the white rook pieces, and from this day forth you will be known as Team PRWN (Pyrene), led by, Pyrrha Nikos.", she bowed graciously as the headmaster finished his speech. Ruby cheered, Weiss smiled in content, and Nora was, well, Nora.
'This will be an interesting year I wager', Ozpin thought.
I noticed the headmaster cast his gaze to me, and he simply nodded. I nodded back, and me and my new teammates were off to our dorms, and hopefully…bed.
Omake: The Legend Never Dies
It was a sunny day in Beacon Academy. The birds were singing. The breeze was gentle. All was serene until the cries of pain coming from Team CRDLs most abused victim, a friendly shy rabbit faunus girl.
Team CRDL was at it again, pulling on poor Velvet's rabbit ears. Most looked on in disgust, Jaune's group of friends were seated at their lunch table, and angrily watched as the assault on her poor ears happened….
Then, he appeared. Breaking through the cafeteria windows, he rolled in front of them.
He stood tall wearing armor of gold and white, that looked too heavy for mere humans. On his back, an ornate green crested wooden shield. In his hands, a glowing fiery Zweihander. But on his head sat a bronze ornate helm, it screamed masculinity…..and creepiness…. It was the mask of the father, for the legend had appeared.
Cardin scoffed, until he saw his buds freeze up, "Whats the big deal? Its just Arc trying to be intimidating!", he sneered at the figure.
This got the warrior to spread his arms in a challenging gesture., speaking in a booming baritone, "Well? What is it?". Then, Nora, as if they rehearsed this broke out a boombox. Then played a random dubstep song. As soon as the bass dropped, Cardin and company charged him. With perfectly timed rolls, slams of the mighty Chaos Zweihander, and kicks for funsies, the bullies laid defeated.
He took a knee and roared " The legend never dies! Giant dad lives!"
Right before Miss Goodwitch blasted him with telekinesis. Smirking she said…"Welcome to Remnant."
Ozpin could not contain his laughter in his office as he looked to me, "Did you really give mister Arc the Giant Dad set?".
I sat with my fingers interlocked, "All according to plan Oz, all according to plan". As myself, Skullman, and Ozpin sipped a cup of joe.
A/N: Well, here we are, finished the damn initiation. And I even did the naming ceremony. Are you not entertained!? No? Just me? Ehhh ok, I'll be good…
Jaune explains all the weirdness as best he can next chapter to his team and friends. He also e plains why Blake, or anyone else would have been chosen to lead before him. We get class time with Port, a retelling of the bullying scene with Velvet (I have a soft spot for her, sue me!), and of course…..its gonna be LEVELING TIME.
Also gotta thank patiphat1998 for the Omake idea...and kicking me in the groin to do this, love ya bud.
Anyway, a shout out to my brother from another mother who is going to wreck me in a p.m. for this chapter SKULLMAN159, write of two amazing Jaune fics,PunishedandWe Bleed Ichor.
Another to a personal favorite of mine megatronus89, writer ofMaster, a great dark Jaune fic.
Azure megacyber, of course with the amazing worksJaune the ConquerorandA knight and his maidens.
And last but not least, a shoutout to the writer Solvdrage, who was also a key inspiration in me, doing what it is i do...I would list his stories but they are all wonderful, though if i had to pick one to recommend right away, Jaune Appetit.