Chapter 42: Team JNPR (9)

Chapter 42: Team JNPR (9)

~Third POV~

"Ring!"

"Ring!"

Returning to the real world at this time Shion hears the sounds of his equipment going off as he gets off from his homemade hammock while others stare as he answers the call, "Shion speaking? Hmm… tell me everything in the dreamscape and the events."

Listening over from Team (J)NPR side from Ren's story along with the Nightmare version of Jack attacking them along with protecting the book that seems to have very sentimental value to him everyone listened in.

Team RWBY had varying expressions when listening to the conversation but more so Ruby seems to be shaken a bit from the actions of her 'friend' attitude towards Jack as she thinks to herself, 'Maybe it has to do something about Jack's memories or something else…'

The more they listen from Team (J)NPR side of the story along with the Grimm seemingly boosting Jack or controlling him Shion nods and hums to the situation at hand.

Shion seeing Ruby's troubled expression makes a point out to the members and Team (J)NPR as he spoke, "The Nightmare is trying to make you believe that about your friend."

The young Huntresses-in-training all listened in as Glynda began to speak next explaining more about the Nightmare Grimm, "That is only the Nightmare exploiting his mind. Although I'm sure it would be traumatic if you all thought that was actually his true self."

Ozpin nods at this as he began to explain to everyone present about the situation at hand in front of them, "We should differentiate him from the original Jack. For the time being, will call the one that Team JNPR encountered in the dreamscape, Negative Jack."

Ruby hearing this tilts her head innocently at this as she responds to Ozpin naming Negative Jack, "Negative? I don't think I've seen a negative Jack. His usually so positive at times."

Being annoyed by Ruby's question Weiss asks her to be quiet in a harsh tone, "Quite."

Weiss quiets Ruby for interrupting as they hear Ren from the other side of the phone, "True. But also, this Jack was powerful compared to the real one as we couldn't handle his copied Semblances."

On this topic, Shion corrects everyone present as he explains the reasoning behind the sudden increase of strength, "That, too, is because it's in a dream. The dream Jack… no Negative Jack will become strong as his mind allow it to be."

At the very least that's what Shion said to calm everyone's nerves.

But Shion thought of the event entirely differently looking at Jack's unconscious body.

Shion thinks to himself highly confused about the situation regarding the boy as thought to himself, 'Still… the dream version shouldn't be as strong as Team JNPR said? The Nightmare needs to latch onto the prime source of the Aura to breed more but… the thing is it's still trying to find a latch to Jack Aura and his aura well…'

Shion then began to explain to Team (J)NPR that the relics they found would be the key to unlocking from his slumber, "From the way you describe them. It sounds like you found Jack's resistance to the Grimm taking form. Those items will be keys to waking him."

*Click*

Swallowing his own saliva at the situation confused hearing the phone on the dreamscape closed as he thought, 'It's like his aura is infinite as an abyss… no, perhaps it's the aura of his soul itself that grows continuously… regardless it's vines continue to grow to gain influence misguiding him so… it's his own mind giving Negative Jack the power he needs.'

/////

~Pyrrha POV~

*Click*

Hearing the clicking sound of what was happening Ren nodded towards me as he spoke out, "Ok. Seems like from what the Dream Hunter said that the one we're facing is Negative Jack. A different being that Jack perceives in the dream world."

Shaking my head at this I replied to my teammates about the idea as I spoke, "Ok so we have to be careful around Jack. But what did Professor say, about the items on the pillars?"

Ren replied to me with his arms crossed as he spoke to me in a calm tone but with a smile of reassurance, "From what the Dream Hunter said it could be our relics needed to wake Jack out of this Nightmare. Even now if albeit confused he still resisting the Nightmare by providing us the means to fight back."

Oh.

So the relics on the pillars are really messages that our friend gives us the means to wake him upright?

That's a relief.

Nora raises her eyebrow at this as she replied to Pyrrha with a confused tone in her voice, "You sure? I mean that Jack –… Ahem! I mean Negative Jack was quite confused what was that about?"

Ren nodded agreeing with Nora as I rebutted my thoughts on the matter of what was happening to our friend, "No. I think it might be the influence of Nightmare causing him to be this… confused? No. Misguided and his fighting style was wrong. I mean in the match against Cardin he was cautious but here though…"

Ren was able to pick up what I meant as he snapped his fingers figuring out the contrast to his personality, "Arrogant and delusional. He was never like that originally with us. That much is true and if the Nightmare is influencing his mind it might explain how cruel he was in the fight against Negative Jack."

Right!

Nodding my head at this there was the feeling in his voice of fighting against us.

The Nightmare forced his perception of us Grimmified in Negative Jack words with the Grimm Nightmare controlling it from above.

But looking at the book Ren was holding it seems to me that it holds much importance for Jack real or fake to keep a secret.

We will get an explanation as to why Jack is like this to us one day or soon but that won't matter if we can't save him.

Next, I hear Nora speaking out with a pout on her face as she replied to us, "True. But the Semblances he has… will be hard to counter with that much. And the items to gain back Aura… really feel like us being NPC and him as the Main Character. Weird right?"

Right…

It kind of feels like a video game actually.

I might not have played many games when I was young but it kind of feels like were the enemies here with Jack having items to heal up in a fight.

…

Now I what it feels like to be an enemy in games fighting against yourself that can spam heals…

Damn…

This might be a lot harder than I thought.

But returning our attention our eyes landed on the sword, shield, and wand on the alters as we see them there, but we have no idea what they represent to Jack, but we do know it's important in someway and some form.

Going towards the Sword I began to touch it but then –

*Shiii*

It was absorbed into me –

Ahh?!!

I felt something invade my head as I clench it barely hearing my friend's voice got my attention, "Pyrrha you ok!"

Hearing the voices of Ren and Nora coming towards me I just had my mind flashes of some memories from Jack's eyes entering some forest, hanging out with friends, places I have never seen, and more... but the words I can't hear from him as the visions I saw started to blurs like static.

I was left with more questions than answers.

What does this mean?

My head feels like having a massive headache as I'm at a loss, of what's going on in Jack's Dream…

Ren held me by the shoulder and Nora helped me stand straight as they gave me concerning expressions Nora held up her coin in real worry, "Pyrrha! Are you ok? Are you hurt or worse? I can use my coin to get us out if you need – "

Holding up my hand and giving off the practiced smile I have with others before I replied to Nora, "I'm fine I just… stumble upon Jack's memories… I think I managed to absorb or learn through his memories through the items. Can you see if you can try them?"

The two nodded at this but still looked concerned at me with the situation at hand but we can't waver now.

Not when we have a friend to save but…

I'm starting to question who exactly Jack at this point with the memories is as what I saw but can't hear.

More puzzles and puzzles that stack to each other.

The more I learn about my friend the more I get confused about what exactly his being tangled with.

Still, no matter what I won't abandon him after all we are a team that won't change.

He offered me something that no one has done before and the same with Nora and Ren.

I won't simply abandon him in this Nightmare.

That's a promise and my resolve.

And… hopefully, learn what is happening to my friend's life.

As well as learn more about his lost past.

But the more I learn the more I get confused.

Maybe one day when he remembers but for now, I have to remain focused on saving our friend.

That is what a member of Team JNPR has to do.