3,390A/N: EDIT: Added some more to the end of the chapter! Hope you enjoy the extension
I aimed for a best of both worlds approach here, hopefully I succeeded. Here's the third part. Looking forward to your feedback!
Would you prefer weekly updates to remain? Do let me know what you think in your reviews! One open slot remains!
Sorry for the delay. I'm not well and my health is affecting my work, but I'm still here, still alive, still wading through life. Hope you enjoy this long-awaited chapter.
As ever, the fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others. I own no references, quotes, memes or themes! They're all tributes to legends far greater than I. I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that. In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know in the the comments~!
I wanted to truly convey what Jaune is capable of here when he forgets to "hold back" as it were.
Once more, hopefully I captured the feeling of a proper RWBY episode from the old days.
I'll leave that to you, the reader, to determine. Do tell me what you think!
"You want a piece of me?!
No. I WANT TWO."
~?
Just a Little Meddling
Mercury Black had made many mistakes in his lifetime.
Some might attribute that to his upbringing; as the son of a disgraced assassin, he'd never really had a proper moral compass to begin with. He had been born broken to an equally broken man who hated him the moment he laid eye on him; a sorry excuse for a human being who beat and abused him, stole his semblance, lopped off his legs, and forced him into a fight with his very life on the line.
A fight that he won in the end, so yeah, kudos. And he got a pair of sweet metal legs out of it. So he wouldn't really call killing his old man a mistake.
After all, you couldn't lose someone if you never loved them to begin with now, could you?
Perhaps that was a bit harsh, but there it was.
Still, joining up with Cinder after offing his old man and agreeing to his hare-brained scheme of hers? Also a mistake. Not that he'd had much choice at the time.
Trying to pick a fight with Pyrrha Nikos with her Team Leader glaring bloody red daggers at him was probably another one.
So yeah, many mistakes. Most of them his fault. But this one? Probably the worst.
"GET OVER HERE!"
He found himself yanked forward at breakneck speed; stars burst before his vision as an armored knee slammed up into his chin, forcing his mouth shut to jar his teeth together with a harsh click. A less experienced fighter might've bitten his tongue outright; it was only years of hardened instinct that had him pivoting to avoid the follow up punch as it grazed his ear. Even then the sheer shockwave that followed deafened him for a moment, leaving him reeling, clutching the side of his head as he staggered away.
'Okay, faster than he looks. That's fine, I'll just stall him out and-gack?!'
His opponent didn't give him the time to recover; he waded in after him, grabbed him by the shoulder and drove a solid punch into his throat.
Aura protected him from permanent damage, and he'd had worse, but daaaamn if it didn't hurt like a bitchy ex-girlfriend.
Grinning, he kicked forward, feinted high, and when Arc foolishly moved in, he made his move.
Lunging upright, he planted both boots in the bastard's chest and fired on all cylinders.
Bang!
An awful crack filled the air as he soared backwards, propelled to safety by the momentum of his penultimate attack. He was the only one that did; stupid blond bastard hadn't budged an inch. On the board above, his aura dipped by a measly one percent, still well in the green. His own was starting to veer toward the yellow.
Shiiiit.
Arc scowled down at his ruined shirt and the gaping hole Mercury's attack had torn through the fabric. Aura might've spared him any injury -he didn't even have a bruise!- but that tee was a lost cause.
...I liked that shirt."
"Did you?" he smirked. "Sorry, pal. Accident's happen.
The assassin took some small, petty pride in Arc;s annoyance; right up until the blond bastard tore it clean off and cast the rags over his shoulder, baring his chest to the world. Nikos made happy Nikos noises behind him and he could've sworn he heard more than a few girls croon at the sight. Not that Mercury paid attention that sorta thing. He was too focused on his next move.
So he had some decent muscle and a few scars, so what? He wasn't special. None of them were. They were all just kids, with no clue of the real world.
Looking at him now, he felt his anxiety begin to evaporate; he had no earthly idea why Cinder was so wary of this guy, he might have some small skill, but he was clearly just as much a showboat as the rest of these so-called future huntsmen.
Roman and Neo lost to this? Ha! Weaklings. Must've been a fluke-
Such were his thoughts before a gloved fist hammered into his guard with all the strength of an angry Ursa. Grimacing, he narrowly diverted it with an elbow, but that did nothing to stop the heel racing in at his head. He spun away, only for the blond to sweep in, kick out his legs knew better than to take an attack like that head on naturally; so he swayed back and kicked up with one foot to displace him-only for an open palm to smash right into his kidneys.
The pain was horrid, enough to fold him in half like a wet pretzel; quite possibly the worst feeling he'd ever experienced in his life, next to losing his legs.
It was that close.
Mercury had an awful inkling then, that this might go poorly for him.
How in the hell was Arc even doing this; he was fighting him unarmed for crissakes! The advantage should be his-
A sudden barrage of blows forced him out his crouch and into a clumsy defense; pain hampered his guard, rendering his muscles stiff. Arc ripped right through his defenses, targeting his vitals with ruthless dispatch. Body shot after body shot came whistling in like he owed the man money, and suddenly it was all he could do to defend himself.
The glowing goofball picked him apart.
Damnit Arc, he might seem nice on the surface, but he was either faking that niceness or he'd done something to seriously piss him off. Probably the latter if he was being honest. Not his fault! He just wanted to fight that damn redheaded bitch and get her to unveil her fighting style, maybe her semblance if he was lucky; he hadn't signed up for this shit! Cinder had warned him and Emerald not to mess with Arc. He'd thought her caution overrated at first, reconsidered after that bout with Team RWBY, but still doubted; now, experiencing it firsthand.
He had his pride damnit; and it was being beaten black and blue.
Not by a berserk rage but something altogether colder; ice cold scorn, the kind you only glimpsed in veteran killers. He'd seen it before in a few of his targets. People that Cinder wanted...taken care of. Usually you wanted to ambush them from behind, strike when they were most vulnerable.
Maybe that was her plan with Arc; because this? This wasn't gonna work. He was actively trying now, giving it almost everything he had, and still, he could barely keep up.
Vaulted into a lunging kick, he smashed a heel at Jaune's face, only for the tanky bastard to seize his ankle and squeeze.
Judging by his scowl, he noticed the distinct lack of aura around his legs as it creaked ominously.
'Shi-
Mercury realized his peril too late; in an instant he was yanked off his feet and slammed down into the ground. His senses swam, only to find himself hoisted to his feet. He hung there upside down for a moment before the blond spun and whipped him into the floor once more. Left. Right. Left again, now, all the world a blur as he was slammed to and fro. He didn't need to see the board to know his aura had tanked down into the orange; he felt it leaving him with every blow that smashed him about the ring.
"Puny Mercury. Who said you could hold back?"
Arc must've hit him harder than he thought. He was hearing things. Marcus was dead.
"You're weak, boy. Always have been. Always will be."
Snarling, he tore himself free from the floor, kicked his way into a handstand and vaulted away.
For all the good it did him; a rousing roundhouse caught him in the jaw; this time he didn't resist and let momentum carry him backward, kicked into a backflip to get some distance. Needed to think; needed a second to get his head clear, especially if he was hearing shit. This was all in his head, just a bunch of nasty old memories tormenting him.
He'd only just thrown himself into another backflip when Arc's shadow to fall over him from above, catching him mid-vault.
Time slowed to a crawl, still moving but not fast enough to escape, no, not nearly enough.
Glowing blue eyes dominated his vision, set in a face carved straight from stone.
Above him. How had the bastard gotten above him, anticipated him?!
Shit, he was exposed...! Where was that light coming from-
"Rasengan."
What in the brother gods was a rasengaaaaaaaarrrgh?!
Aura screamed in protest and pain snarled through every inch of Mercury's body as a spiraling sphere drilled into his unprotected back with all the force of a thunderbolt. Whatever it was, it smashed him down into the ring with such strength that he physically felt something crack in his face as the ring burst beneath him. Probably his nose. How the ladies would weep.
He must've blacked out at some point; because when he came to, he found himself sprawled in a decidedly Mercury-shaped impression in the ring.
Maybe he should just lay here and feign unconsciousness. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea. He'd do just that.
"Get up."
Mercury twitched.
'You gotta be kidding me...
"I'm not done with you." Jaune planted a boot on his back and rolled him over onto his aching spine. "I know you have more in the tank than that."
Mercury refused to rise to his provocations. Where the hell was Goodwitch? Why hadn't she called the match?
"Are you really that weak?"
...in all fairness, it might've been the concussion talking to Mercury just then. He wasn't sure if Jaune said that, Goodwitch, or his own inner demons. In the end, it didn't matter. The result was the same. He'd heard those words before and they stirred something ugly in him. Past memories best left buried and dead. But the dead didn't like to rest now, did they?
For a moment, just a moment, he could've sworn he heard Cinder swore in the stands.
A feral hiss escaped his lips. "What the hell did you just say?"
Jaune didn't answer. Didn't need to. He just stared.
He just couldn't take it anymore. With a supreme effort of will, Mercury dragged himself up onto his hands and knees and glared hatefully at the glowing blond. There it was. He'd finally figured it out; what about him was pissing him off. A red haze edged into the corners of his vision, slowly creeping in as he stared helplessly at the man who'd laid him low.
It was his eyes.
Those damn eyes.
They had the same eyes!
That arrogance, the assurance that he was above and beyond him, completely and utterly untouchable. The eyes of a man who thought he was nothing-no, less than nothing, if such a thing were even possible. Once upon a time Marcus Black had those very eyes. Before he gouged them out. Before he killed him. Before so many things.
Well, Marucs Black had died and this bastard was about to join him one way or another!
Lurching upright, slammed a fist into his face, a knee into his chest, a heel into his neck. The leader of Team JNPR weathered it all without a word. He turned his head just so, presenting the other cheek, and when Mercury did his utmost to slug him again, Arc he finally turned his whiskered visage against the back of his knuckles with a small, sinister smile.
...is that all you have?"
His words spurred Mercury's fury to new heights.
"Cut the super saiyan shit, man!" He growled. "This ain't a manga!"
Arc didn't reply to that; he casually caught his next punch, gripped his wrist high, forcing his arm high out of position.
Then he punched.
Pop went the weasel...and Mercury's left collarbone.
A low wheeze of pain escaped his lips as he tottered back, reeling.
Here at long last Goodwitch -the bitch!- finally swung her crop. "That's enough!"
"No!" Mercury brayed, still seeing red as he clutched his dislocated shoulder. "Stay out of this! I can still fight!"
He wouldn't be satisfied until he wiped that smug smile off this bastard's face! didn't give her the chance to refute him but flung himself at Arc instead. There was no substance or style to it anymore, only the burning urge to make this uppity little shit hurt in the worst of ways. His good arm was all but useless to him here, yet his legs became a blur, boots firing round after round with every crushing kick.
It didn't save him.
Jaune boxed him in the ears, leaving his world ringing, hammered a kidney punch home, then headbutted him for good measure. A great glowing golden fist caught him just under the right ear to fracture his jaw, even as a second hammered into his nose and a third his temple. He lost track of the rest. For every hit he landed, Arc scored two more, dragging his aura down. He struck inward, outward, downward, pummeling him. Some said the best offense was a good defense. They were wrong. Offense was offense and his freaking hurt.
Finally, it was too much. Something had to give. And one of them did.
Thoroughly discomboblulated, Mercury remained strong in spirit, if not body.
When Arc paused, he staggered forward; spitting blood into the younger man's face. "You wanna piece of me?!"
"No." Ignoring another explosive kick to the face as one might a brisk summer breeze, the arrogant Arc kicked him in the chin, knocked him flat onto his back, and stomped down to hold him into place. "I don't want just one." From there, he took ahold of his legs, one to each hand with a sneer, and tensed his muscles. "I want...
His eyes bulged. "Wait-
A firm yank violently detached his prosthetic at the knees, leaving him sprawled helplessly on his back, supported only by his good arm.
Everyone in the crowd gasped, only to realize there was no blood. No shrill shriek of pain.
...two." Jaune finished, brandishing his false legs as his prize.
Mercury "Why you little...?!
"Metal legs." Jaune didn't even deign to look his way, but instead spun to face the crowd, grimly satisfied. "I figured it out when I caught that kick of his. See?" He gave them a solid tap, "No aura." he cast the heavy limbs out of the ring, adding insult to injury. "He's done."
Mercury could feel Cinder glaring daggers at him.
Yup, he was so very dead; and there wasn't even a chance to twist the knife.
"Now, then." Jaune's fist swung back with intent, face carved from stone. "Clench your teeth."
Mercury tried to must some final spiteful retort, but with the boot on his chest, all that emerged was a wheezing gasp.
A golden blur filled his vision.
He tensed against it.
Nothing happened.
The faint sound of clapping reached his ears and, baffled, he looked up.
All around him, reality had seemingly frozen in place.
Everything had, quite simply...stooped.
It sounded impossible, but it was the only explanation that made a lick of sense. For one, he couldn't move; for two, Arc's fist was less-than-an-inch from his face; three, he could see Goodwitch right behind him, face torn between horror and anger ready to snag him with her semblance and yank him back, for all the good it would do him; he knew wouldn't reach him in time.
Yet for all that, he was painfully, terribly aware. But where, who, how...
"Over here, dear." a new voice crooned.
He looked to the stands and all the frozen students therein. There was a stern-looking blond woman sitting amongst them, wholly unnoticed, clad robes of black and white. Long golden hair woven across her ears, flowing backward into an equally long braid behind her shoulders. She tilted her head to regard him as one might an amusing ant and continued to clap; her sharp green eyes piercing his for what felt like an eternity. Strange; she bore a passing resemblance to Goodwitch, but he wasn't about to say that aloud.
"That was quite the show, wasn't it?" Her voice could've made Cinder herself shiver in her heels. "You have my thanks."
So speaking, she rose, threaded her way through the stunned-students she stood and walked his way.
Mercury tried to move. He really, truly did. He just couldn't. It took all he had just to speak.
"Who...?"
"Vaylin." she spoke the name as though he ought to know it. "I wanted to thank you for aggravating my little brother in such a manner, so I thought the two of us should have a little chat where no one can hear us." as he looked on helplessly aghast at her, the strange woman crouched down on her haunches before him and promptly began stroking his forehead like some long lost lover. "Jaune's so much more entertaining when he stops clinging to his ill-conceived notions of morality and weakness, don't you agree?"
Mercury groaned.
"I suppose you wouldn't, given the blender he put you through. Although," she laid a hand on a strange silver cylinder dangling from her belt," ou didn't make him use his chakra-saber, so I suppose you lose some merit for that. Its a shame, really, even after all the work Uncle Pietro put into them. Little brother was ever a brawler. He never could match me in swordplay...
That was twice she'd said "little brother" just now. His eyes bulged. "Wait, you're one of his SIS-
"Shhh." the older woman cooed softly, dragging out the noise as she and placed a pale finger against his lips. "Stop flapping your gums, Mercury. You'll ruin the surprise. Saphron wouldn't appreciate me getting ahead of the others to sneak a peak at our beloved brother before Father gets his hands on him." something dangerous flashed through her eyes and for an eerie moment, they gleamed gold before fading back to poisonous green. "Why, he might actually stand a chance now, all because of you."
Because of him? She wasn't making a lick of sense. Crazy bitch...
"Honestly," she tutted softly, "I kept telling Jaune his emotions were the purest path to power, but he just wouldn't listen." she cast a briefly fond glance at her frozen brother before returning her attention to him. "Whatever am I do with him? I suppose I'll have to reeducate him myself once Father wins and drags him back home. Or perhaps I won't have to at all," a wicked smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, "Maybe he'll eke out a win and throw the family into disarray. Wouldn't that be exciting?"
This broad was absolutely insane...
"But none of this matters to you." Vaylin stood abruptly and stepped back, smug as a cat. "Sweet dreams, Mercury Black."
Time spun on.
Jaune's fist slammed down.
Fist met flesh. Aura sparked and failed. Mecury saw stars.
(.0.0.0.)
Vaylin Arc walked away from the scene of Mercury's defeat, hips swaying.
No one saw her, because she did not wish to be seen. Simple as that. She nudged the minds around ever so subtly, preventing them from noticing her. It wasn't that hard. They were practically children to one such as she and not at all trained in the art of mental warfare. It was honestly a little sad. Their bodies were strong, yes, even adequate in some cases, but their thoughts were so terribly weak.
The green-eyed redhead seemed to have a stronger will than most, though. She might remember her tomorrow. How quaint.
But she too, was an open book to her in other ways; and with a crush on her brother at that.
Adorable.
Come to think of it, a number of the girls here seemed to have feelings for her bashful brother in varying degrees or another. Even the little Schnee seemed determined to defeat poor Jaune...if only to prove her superiority to him. Vaylin would've admired her resolve if she weren't so deliciously transparent.
Sad little Schnee. Foolish little Schnee. Lonely little Schnee.
She just couldn't be honest with herself.
Sad, really.
Things would reach a breaking point there soon, she wondered which way the chips would fall. Her beloved brother might possess hitherto untapped wells of power, but he was denser than a brick at times. He didn't even realize just that he'd caught the eye of another blond brawler, nor badly that little red reaper pined for him, either.
Ruby Rose. Such a lovely name. It made Vaylin want to break her. She liked breaking pretty things.
In all honesty, she was almost tempted to "have a talk" with that one as she had with Mercury...but no. Father's rules were clear. Besides, it simply wouldn't do to spoil his fun. Nudging was all well and good when she used her powers in battle, or kept people from noticing her, but baby brother would never forgive her if she actually up and outright "pushed" someone. Doing so might break their minds. Those outside the family were famously fragile.
Taking care to avoid the teachers, she threaded her way through the halls, idly soaking in the chaos around her as she searched for her other erstwhile sibling.
Already, news of her brother's spar spread through Beacon like wildfire; rumors ran rampant and gossips giggled. Small wonder Child had squirreled herself over here after Jaune; Beacon was entertaining. She might enjoy a school like this. Such a shame it would all be taken away soon, one way or another.
But perhaps it needn't be. If anything, she silently applauded her little brother's efforts.
Sweet chaos was to come, and she looked forward to it.
Now where, oh where, was her dear sister?
(.0.0.0.)
Not an hour later, Jaune found himself hauled up before the Headmaster.
He'd know it was coming. Team JNPR -and RWBY!- might've sang his praises for trouncing Mercury, but Miss Goodwitch was absolutely livid. He'd been slapped with a detention and a threat of suspension besides; he knew he wouldn't be called up to anything short of a heavily supervised spar anytime soon. And really, he had no one to blame but himself.
He could hardly say "hey, I have a bad feeling about this guy" and expect it to be believed after all.
...he could still feel Goodwitch glaring holes in his back.
Kurama sighed in his ear. "Still, you did a good thing taking him out like that. Trust me."
'Ohhh, now you're on my side?!'
"I've always been on your side, Jaune. I just worry for you."
Maybe he was right. He'd let his emotions get the better of him back there; but damn if it hadn't felt good thrashing him. Pyrrha had been practically preening by the end.
"Of course she was; because she likes you."
He grinned a little. 'Yeah, I like her, too.'
"No, you dolt, she LIKES you."
...I'm afraid I don't follow.'
Kurama made angry Kurama noises. "Jaune, off all the things you could've inherited from your father...
The elevator dinged, bringing their argument to an abrupt end; Goodwitch all but shoved him forward through the still-opening doors and used her semblance to shut them thrice as quickly, abandoning him to his fate. A silent ding heralded its descent once more, leaving him alone with his doom.
Headmaster Ozpin sat at his desk, situated before a wall of interlocking gears, hands clasped, chin placed atop them. Two mugs of what he could only assume was hot chocolate lay just out of reach, his cane resting beside the latter. He had no illusion the man could grab both in an instant. Fighting wasn't an option here, and even if it was, he'd only land himself in hot water.
"Jaune Arc." he smiled at him atop his hands. "Do come in."
He shuffled forward anxiously. "What this about...?"
He had an inkling, but he'd like to know.
"Would you care for a drink?"
The question damn near floored him. "I'm underage."
Ozpin offered him one of the mugs. "I have hot chocolate."
Jaune leaned back, made wary by the offer. "No, thank you, sir. M'not thirsty. Is there a reason you called me up here, sir?
The Headmaster laid the mug back down and regarded him for a long moment in stoic silence. "I understand you manhandled that boy from Mistral...
Alright, sure, maybe he might have overdone it with that Mercury guy, but he was asking for it! He'd disarmed him -or dislegged him if you wanted to be clever about it- before the whole class only because he knew he had prosthetics. Otherwise he'd never have done it. It seemed cruel at the time, , but he'd been so angry...
Ah, crap. He really was in for it now, wasn't he?
Ozpin steepled his fingers and stared. "Jaune Arc...
Double crap. He was going to be expelled, wasn't he?
...well done."
Jaune's jaw clicked open. "Um...what? I'm not in trouble."
"Heavens, no." the Headmaster waved a hand. "Embarassment aside, wasn't as though you did any lasting damage to the boy. Arrogance is a Hunter's worst weakness and their greatest enemy. Best to learn humility early, I find. Though perhaps you could stand to restrain yourself a bit next time? Now, then," the sudden change in subject nearly gave him whiplash, "I understand your semblance allows you to freely manipulate energy, correct?"
Semblance?
His thoughts fizzled for a moment.
No, he hadn't unlocked that yet, the whole enhancing and healing thing was naturally part of his chakra but ohhhh.
Oh!
Ozpin didn't know that, did he?
"Sure, why not." He shrugged a shoulder.
The Headmaster considered him intently. "You sound uncertain."
He course-corrected as best he could. "I don't really understand it myself. I've always been able to do it."
"Since when?" came the immediate question.
Jaune blanched inwardly. Dodge! Deflect! Defend! "For as long as I can remember...?"
Silence followed.
Ozpin exhaled heavily into it. "Tell me, Jaune Arc, do you believe in magic...?
He was fishing for something. But what? "Not particularly, sir."
...I see." For some reason that seemed to sadden the older man greatly. "...that is unfortunate.".
Beacon's Headmaster snatched up his mug, took a long sip from it to fortify himself, and rose unsteadily to his feet.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet." he declared, eyes strangely distant behind his spectacles. "Perhaps afterwards, you'll believe what I am about to tell you...
A/N: Amber incoming~!
Ozpin still thinks Jaune might be his descendant. And who knows? Its entirely possible.
Better yet, would you like weekly updates? Do let me know! Really need to hear back from you, here.
As ever, we're sticking with the tried and true "Embers" rule. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular, if folks don't like it...well, I'll not continue it. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. I'm working two jobs, trying to keep a roof over my family's head, and at the end of the day this is very much a HOBBY. I simply don't have time to write a story no one likes, and feedback sustains me...
Once again, reviews are my fuel. Without them I simply cannot write.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
No previews this time.
Can't afford spoilers.
See you soon!