The Everyone Loves Grape Soda bottle fell into an alleyway barely missing a trashcan and landing in the middle of the ally. Slowly the stunned villain within begun to open his eyes and see his surroundings. He begun to recall the series of events that led him here, to say he grew upset was a gross understatement.
The still stunned heiress grew a bit anxious.
"If he manages to escape that man could cause more trouble especially while Jaune is dealing with whatever left him in such a state."
However, his anger was soon changed to curiosity as the sound of footsteps came from behind him as well as a very annoyed voice.
"Still though that was rough Branwen, don't you think you were maybe being a bit rough with your sis there?" In Miltia's voice was a slight iota of fear but the buxom blonde didn't seem to be concerned by it or the girl's fear. She merely finished her drink and shrugged.
Yang groaned at the sight of herself.
"Oh come on! Can we just not focus on bitch me here anymore!"
"It's her own fault for getting in my way." She saw the bottle on the ground and took the opportunity to let out a smidge of anger by kicking it, sending the bottle flying into a wall the force enough to pop off the cap.
Blake bow twitched,
"That's… not good." Yang's groaned.
"God damn fuckup."
"But um… you know isn't bullying her a bit of a waste of your time?" Miltia was speaking very cautiously knowing the wrong words could give her the same fate as her twin. Yang paused and for a moment she looked almost happy as she recalled her sister's words about trying her best, her eyes even changed to their very rare lilac as for a rare moment she'd been truly calm. However, the next instant she remembered her mom's motto.
The weak die, the strong survive, those are the rules.
Her eyes then flashed back to they're usual scarlet.
Yang swallowed, was she always so angry, she'd just thought her eyes where red in this world but now…
"Somebodies gotta teach that idiot how the world works, better me then a villain." She clenched the soda can in her hand making it explode before she threw the burnt to a crisp can away.
"I hate it when that little moron talks about heroes."
Yang felt her blood boil at her other selves' way of thinking not liking it a single bit and by the looks her teammates gave neither did they.
Miltia's phone rang and seeing the message she seemed a bit less nervous as a thought came to mind.
"Hey Yang after you blasted her my sis's hair was messed up pretty bad." That actually seemed to bother the blonde, her hair was a taboo to touch after all, so she felt a bit guilty over apparently damaging the other twin's due.
"Really shitting on our sis's dreams is cool but hair is where you draw the line!"
"'tsk' it was her own damn fault, but I guess I should've held back against a weakling like her." Miltia waved her hand.
"No, no its fine, it's just she's heading to the salon and asked if I wanted to come, wanna go with?" This seemed to put the blonde bomber in a good mood if her smirk was any indication.
"You don't have to go threatening me twice with a good time, lead the way." Miltia smiled… for all of a second as when a mass begun to lift itself behind Yang she gasped and pointed.
"Well well, aren't you a feisty one!"
Yang paled as the scene cut off remembering what happened to Ruby, even if she didn't like… okay hated her counterpart 'that' might be a bit much.
Returning to the rooftop Ruby looked on in absolute confusion at the extremely scraggly blonde before her. All the while the man merely looked back at her.
"Wh-wh-who are you?" She then noticed something and begun to look around.
"Where'd All Might go?" Something clicked in the rose's mind and she pointed an accusatory finger at the scarecrow of a man.
"You're an imposter!"
A few couldn't help but snicker.
The blonde skeleton frowned at her words.
"No I promise I'm All Mi-augh…" From his mouth a good amount of blood begun to leak.
Pyrrha maternal side flared up.
"Oh gods Jaune!"
"B-B-But how! That can't be possible! With how skinny you are where do you get all that muscle from!" The blonde begun to wipe the blood from his mouth.
"It's just me sucking in air and flexing, you know, trying to look buff and all."
"Seriously! Flexing did that!" Yang was confused and impressed, Blake struggled with Jaune's explanation.
"That… that can't be all there is too it." Weiss rose a brow.
"It does seem rather ridiculous." Nora however merely nodded.
"Okay I get it." Ren didn't but decided that trying to understand the logic of something Nora understood would quickly lead to madness, so he just nodded.
"That can't really be all!" Ruby fell to her knees not being able to come to terms with the reality before her.
"My hero, the giant of a man who saves the day… beating down any obstacle with a fearless smile." The Blonde sighed at hearing that seeming a tad bit annoyed.
"Your wrong kid… there's plenty of fear behind that smile…" The man then sat against the railing of the roof looking smaller for it.
"He seems so… different, nothing like he did when he was 'flexing'." Ren nodded to Blake.
"More than likely it's a façade to inspire hope and relief to others."
"Promise me you'll keep quiet about this, if your half the fan you claim to be it shouldn't be that much of a problem. The last thing I need is for you to go spreading this…" The man then gripped his now baggy hoodie and lifted it up to reveal a sight that made the young Rose recoil in fear and disgust. On the left side of his abdomen and chest was a harrowing purple and red scar like that of a spider web indented deep into his side.
All the people watching paled and cringed at the unsightly view, the only exception being Jaune himself who barely reacted at all.
"What happened to Vomitboy?"
"Jaune…"
"That the worse scar I've seen." Weiss trailed her scar feeling thankful for it compared to the one Jaune had.
The blonde sent a weak smile her way.
"Pretty nasty right, I got this in a fight about five years back… My respiratory system was basically destroyed, and I don't even have as stomach anymore. Thank Oum we Arcs are so ungodlying stubborn or I wouldn't have made it through all the necessary surgeries. Hell, I don't even mind that it can't be fixed but I can't even do hero work for even three hours a day at this point. I used to look pretty good if I do say so myself but now, with all the malnutrition and blow back from surgeries this is what I look like outside of those few hours." Ruby looked absolutely horrified.
"So… Jaune-Jaune use to look like that… but after getting 'that'." Ren shivered.
"What kind of endurance would you need to survive such an attack and still stand after so many surgeries?" Pyrrha was near tears at the sight and his story.
"Jaune."
"Vomitboy… holy crap…" Blake sighed.
"We knew he wasn't one to give up after the last world but even this is more then I'd expect." Weiss swallowed nervously looking worryingly at him seeing her grandfather in his hospital bed once his lungs started to fail from his early years in the dust mine before his founded the SDC. Ruby however looked on with sorrow but also admiration, Jaune was still a hero even when he'd suffered this much, all he wanted was to help people.
Neo felt her chest tighten for the blonde skeleton, What the hell was happening to her? After that world where she was reprimanded, she should be at cheering whoever did this not tightening her fist. When had she started giving half a rats ass about the blonde noddle?
"No way five years ago… Wait! You mean the fight with that Villain Rainart?" The man seemed surprised at that.
"Wow, so you know about that battle huh, haha no though the battle that did this… I doubt you'll be able to find any sources about it. The government and me did everything we could to keep it under wraps."
Blake's eyes narrowed.
"A national level secret…"
Jaune then looked up to her.
"Anyways my point was despite all of that I can't show it, my fear & worry, I'm the Beacon of Hope and Justice, people everywhere can't see me frown. They have to think that I'm never afraid" Jaune then looked to his palm a small tremble in it.
"But honestly… I smile to hide the fear lingering in my depths… It's no more than a brave face I don when the pressure is there, this job isn't easy and don't believe anyone who'd say otherwise." He looked into her face and saw Summer her mother and his idol and one of his teachers when he was still in training in Beacon. He also remembered her dying before him.
"So that's how he knew mom…" Blake however was more focused on his words about fear.
"To be so scared but press forward." Ren closed his eyes.
"Sometimes the worst action is none at all, it would seem this isn't a problem our leader is burdened with." Weiss folded her arms.
"It's admirable, but even so…"
I won't let her face the same fate as you did Summer… or you Pyrrha. The image of a woman with kind but powerful emerald eyes and bright red hair came to mind.
Pyrrha voice caught in her throat at the implication.
"Did I…" Ren and Nora laid their hands over hers and that act of comfort and support proved to be enough to keep the spartan from acting out.
His gaze went cold as he stared the girl down.
"A hero has to put his life on the line everyday…" His fist trembled as he readied his next words.
I'm sorry… young Ruby, but I won't let your mother have died for nothing…
Jaune swallowed knowing what his counterpart was gonna do.
"Some Villains…" The man gritted his teeth.
"Some villains are just too strong to defeat without powers, so no young Ruby you can't hope to be a hero without a Quirk."
Ruby felt a tremble run through her at his rejection.
He felt like a monster for saying it, but he had decided where he stood. Summer Rose was a selfless woman and a true paragon, she'd given everything and lost her life the least he could do as the Beacon of Hope was ensure her precious daughter didn't suffer the same fate.
Yang felt anger but also sympathy and a measure of gratitude towards her fellow blonde.
"He doesn't want her to die." Blake nodded.
"He feels guilty for this but even so he's doing it to save her." Weiss sighed,
"It's a most unsightly action but… he's doing it with only the best intentions."
The little Rose looked to her hero unable to speak or cry, he could see it… his words had wiped away the embers of her remaining hope. She looked down her expression unreadable.
"I-I see…" He stood up.
"If you truly want to help people there are still plenty of means, policemen and medics save many lives and are no less heroes to the people than any other.…"
Ruby briefly remembered when she told her dad she wanted to be a huntress, he'd suggested similar careers before folding and accepting her choice, which is why she knew Jaune cared for saying the same. But it didn't hurt any less, for Jaune to say such to her, or to see him struggle to say it despite his clear want to do anything but.
He turned from her opening the door and said his final words to her.
"It's not wrong to have a dream young Ruby… But you must dream of things obtainable." He didn't look back at her but instead closed the door, the moment he was out of her sight tears fell from his trembling form.
"I did it to save her from dying an early death… so why?" He gritted his teeth as streak of tears fell.
Why do I feel no better than a villain for crushing such an honest little soul's dreams.
"Jaune…" Pyrrha's heart ached for her partner's counterpart or not, she could see his pain, he was only trying to save Ruby even if it was unfair to her surely nobody could blame him for it.
I'd think you'd be a great hero Jaune…
He fell to his knees at her memory.
"I'm sorry Pyrrha…"
Pyrrha teared up at the sight of him apologizing to her, like he failed her in some capacity, she wanted desperately for this projection to be more then just some one-way mirror, to reach out and hug him. A hand landed on her shoulder when she looked up, she saw Jaune standing there a somber empathizing gaze in his usually calm face. She thanked him for it and gripped his hand in her own finding an iota of comfort in it.
The members of RWBY looked to Jaune's counterpart a mixture of emotions presents but no bad will towards they're misguided knight. Especially Yang who felt happy at least one blonde from their little group gave half a rats ass about her lil sis in this world.
It was then that he heard it, in the distance a mighty explosion roared, he turned to it wide-eyed.
"No!"
"What happened?"
Ruby looked on in shock seeing the smoke cloud she didn't really think about it as she ran there, not realizing that All Might was just ahead of her despite his frail and weakened state.
At the spot flames spewed forth threatening to consume the surrounding area within the flame riddled area Deatharms rushed forward and leapt pulling back his fist and striking the foe before him. However, the villain's form wasn't solid and instead of knocking him away the veteran's arm sunk into the sewage like mass before being struck away. Other heroes tried to get close but found the threat far too powerful. The villain merely smiled however within his form a figure writhed in anger her crimson eyes glowing.
"Let me go! You picked the wrong person to mess with you slimy fucker! I swear the second you let me go I'm gonna kill you!" Her palms sparked before exploding numerous times only adding to the destruction. The villain smiled as he looked to the girl's display of power and smiled, with her quirk once he took over her, he'd be able to kill All Might for sure.
"Oh gods."
"Yang!" The brawler herself winced her stomach turning at the sight before her as she saw herself fight the sludge man and fail.
The citizens looked on in fear before they spotted someone and smiled one pointing out towards the figure as the earth trembled.
"Look its Mt. Valkyrie!" The giddy giant rushed forth smiling.
Nora shot up a fist in the air.
"Go me!"
Until she paled when she realized.
"On No! It's a one-way street it's too narrow!"
Nora enthusiasm took a one-eighty as she deadpanned.
"Oh poopy." Ren shrugged.
"It does make sense though, Vale is fairly packed."
Edgeshot stretched his arms capturing the nearby civilians including one starry eyed Militia
Nora's eyes dulled, and a crescent smile begun to form.
"Oh look Renny… another pesky bug." Ren avoided his partners gaze as her even monotone like voice sent shivers up his spine.
Edgeshot looked to the villain and gritted his teeth. His Quirk was no use restraining or piercing someone composed of liquid. Oobleck struggled to maintain the nearby flames until support came. Deatharm gritted his teeth.
"Dammit, we don't have the right Quirks for this." Deatharm roared out to the panicked heroes.
"It doesn't matter until back up arrives our duty is to do damage control and save the innocents, he looked to Yang as she struggled against the villain trying to take her over.
"Dammit, is there really nothing I can do… Young miss forgive me…"
Weiss gasped.
"They're just leaving her in that thing till someone suited arrives?" Once more Jinn readied to advance a devious smile plastered on her cute blue face only for Jaune to yank her by the hair.
Behind the crowds a frail Jaune Arc finally reached the devastated area out of breath. When he looked up to see what was happening, he went wide eyed.
Its him the villain! I must have dropped him in the air… After everything I said to young Rose, so pathetic!
Jaune attempted to transform but a searing pain ran throughout his form and he clenched his scar.
Dammit! I'm at my limit!
"Jaune-Jaune…" Ren clenched his fist.
"He must feel powerless right now…" He remembered that feeling when he was under the bridge of his village as Grimm tore apart his home and family, how it felt to be able to do nothing. His fist clenched but soon he felt a warmth on his hand and when he turned eh saw Nora looking to him a worried gaze in her eyes. Ruby shook.
"Is this my fault, because I grabbed Jaune?"
"No!" Yang sent a firm look Ruby's way.
"Its nobody's fault, it's just an accident and it needs to be stopped." Weiss nodded.
"Exactly." Blake nodded as well.
"If only Jaune could deliver another one of those punches."
Ruby ran through the smoke cloud.
No young Ruby you can't hope to be a hero without a Quirk.
She slowed before looking down to her signed notebook.
Even All Might said…
'Hic' She grew flustered as she wiped her face.
No… Don't cry dammit! deep down you knew this all along… You should have just grown up.
Weiss and Blake felt a bit saddened to see they're leader like this while Yang shook her head adamantly.
"No, not a chance, my lil sis never gives up."
A explosion rang out and Ruby looked ahead, feeling her heart pump.
Why did I come here? What did I think I could do…
"Let me go!" Ruby went wide eyed.
That voice!
she rushed to the crowds to look and was shocked when she saw the familiar villain.
How did he… no when I grabbed onto All Might's leg could the bottle have fallen out… This is all my fault. Guilt riddled the young girl's heart.
Despite her sister's words Ruby felt the same guilt as her counterpart.
"I can't believe all those heroes can't beat him?"
"What can they do he's got a kid."
"Shit you serious." Ruby went wide eyed at that, she remembered being captured how close she was to dying. She looked out to find them and froze when she saw the girl writhing within.
"Yang..."
"Isn't there anyone in the city who could?"
"Wait, what about All Might he was fighting that guy earlier."
"Wait what! All Might is here in the City!"
"Where is he?"
"Why isn't he helping!" Jaune gritted his teeth his shame overwhelming.
Dammit! So pathetic…
Pyrrha heart went out to him.
"Jaune."
Ruby begun to tear up.
I'm sorry Yang, I'm sorry All Might if not for me…
So Pathetic.
I'm sorry… Someone will show up and save the day, they have to.
How can the Beacon of hope and Justice not help… I'm no hero!
Jaune cried.
All eight looked to the screen hating this, to see some slimy bastard win was just… bullshit.
Ruby looked to her sister… it was only for a moment, but their eyes met and when Ruby looked into them there was none of her former condescension nor anger but instead she looked back into frighten lilac eyes. She didn't know why but before she could think Ruby's legs stepped forward and she rushed past the crowd. Jaune went wide eyed as did the other heroes as she entered the danger zone not knowing why her feet carried her forward.
"Ruby!"
"What is she doing!"
"Sis!"
She heard the heroes telling her to turn back, that she'd die and the villain himself looked to her with utter hate at remembering the young rose's face. Yet despite that she advanced her legs running forth with great stride despite her rapidly beating heart and overly panicked mind. Yang's eyes fluttered at the heroes calls and within her dazed state she looked out before her and saw Ruby running her way in clear fear.
"R-Ruby…"
What am I doing, why am I running!? Why can't I stop!
"Damn brat time for some payback!"
Yang eyes turned red.
"Don't you fucking touch her!"
The slime villain readied his arm for a powerful swing to kill the little pest, Ruby looked on in horror. She didn't know what to do, so she did what she always did and referred to her notebooks remembering Edgeshot's tactics.
Without a moment's hesitation she grabbed her backpack and spun adding power to her throw she let go of the sack letting it launch the villain's way. The objects flew out of it hitting the man's eyes making him groan in pain and pull back ignoring the quirkless girl closing in on him. His form slightly came undone giving the buxom blonde time to breathe in desperate breaths only to then notice the form of her weak and useless little sister desperately trying to scrape aside the green sewage surrounding her.
"The hell are you doing here!"
"I-I don't know, my legs, they, they just started moving!" She started to wonder what could've pushed her to do it, to push the useless her to try to save her older sister. Through her mind came all the insults from her, from everyone only to then realize none of it mattered… because in the moment. She attempted her best smile just like the man who even now was still her hero.
"I couldn't just watch you die big sis."
Yang's voice caught in her throat as she teared up. Even in this universe, where she was a complete bitch to her, Ruby still loved her enough to risk her life to save thought was a hundred times more terrifying to her then dying, behind the crowd Jaune trembled as through his mind came a much younger and goofier voice.I wanna be a hero, that makes the world a better place, a world where everyone smiles and lives happily.the members of JNPR smiled at the very Jaune like answer.
Jaune's hand gripped the wall and begun to shift slightly expanding and shrinking repeatedly as steam begun to seethe out.I have to do something….
He pushed through the horrid pain that'd kill lesser men.
No matter the cost!
"Go fearless leader, you can do it…" The Valkyrie chanted and Ren and Pyrrha took her hands nodding, sharing her sentiment.
Her voice came to his mind.
When you think you can't go on anymore…
Pathetic, pathetic so pathetic!
The villain finally regaining his sense of composure begun to smother Yang once more ignoring Ruby's desperate attempts to free her sister.
"You damn brat just die!" He swung at Ruby striking to kill, Ruby shut her eyes and covered herself silently apologizing to her sister that even now she was useless. Upon hitting his mark, a small explosion rang forth.
"RUBY!" Yang cried out scared she'd seen her sister killed.
"I really am pathetic…" It was when she heard that voice that she realized she was still there, still alive and she dared to look. Only to then go wide eyed as she saw him, standing over her with a smile on his face he stood shielding her with his own muscular form all the while his eyes boring into hers relating a certain gratitude.
"GO JAUNE-JAUNE!" Pyrrha put her hand to her chest letting out a relieved sigh while Ren exhaled himself smiling. However none were more relieved than the brawler herself who fell back relieved tears flowing.
"A-All Might, but your time limit…" His smile grew despite how blood leaked from his mouth.
"I told you didn't I… What it takes to make a great hero… and yet…" His fist flexed and he rose it skyward ripping off the slime.
"I wasn't living up to my own ideals!" All Might grabbed Yang's wrist.
"A hero has to put his life on the line every day!"
"Damn you!" Jaune's eyed glowed azure as he pulled back his fist.
"Vale Smash!" like before in the underpass his fist rocketed forward carrying a force far beyond that of a mere man. And with it a torrent of force struck the villain unhinging every bit of his form making him scatted apart while in his other hand he held unto both sisters. Nora ducked down wrapping her arms around the civilians and other heroes enduring the force of the blow. At the center of it all a small twister formed from the punch with enough strength to alter the clouds above.
Yang's mouth hung open.
"Holy…"
"Crap…" Blake finished; Weiss looked on in complete disbelief.
"To be capable of such force." Ruby looked her eyes sparkling.
"He really is a hero…"
Rain begun to fall to the city and the citizens as well as heroes looked up in disbelief as above them it looked as if they were in the eye of a storm. Deatharms looked up before looking back to All Might.
"Good show boy, changing the weather even." Jaune never broke his smile as he wiped the blood from his mouth and stood straight. The men and women looked in awe at the man for a moment his foot nearly gave but he wouldn't allow it and he rose his arm up skyward and in response the people cheered not noticing how Jaune looked back at nobody else but Ruby.
Ruby walked back to her house a bandage or two on her from slight burns but nothing else she was a bit down, after all she had been scolded for acting recklessly. But hey on the bright side Yang was praised on her quirk and offered agencies too look up when she had the chance.
"That's bull! Rubes saved me." Blake sighed.
"It's certainly unfair that you'd be praised for being an obstacle to the heroes, but I can at least somewhat understand Ruby being scolded, it was fairly reckless all things considered." Despite her words Blake's eyes were angry, Weiss shook her head.
"Please, Ruby's always been reckless… and a show off and also fairly immature." Ruby groaned.
"Geez partner don't go praising me too much…" Ruby grumbled.
"'Sigh' But, when push comes to shove, I count on her to give it her all and then some and hesitantly I admit you're not the 'worst' possible leader." Ruby smiled sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her head.
What really bothered her was that she never got to talk to All Might, to apologize, if not for her that villain wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to have caused all that.
"Maybe if I apologize through a fan site he'll read it."
"Ruby!" Ruby stopped recognizing the voice she turned back to see the long mane of golden hair rushing her way and right before her the figure of one Yang Xiao-Long who stopped before looking at her.
"Oh look, look its Yangy, I wonder if she's gonna thank Ruby." Yang grinned at Nora suggestion.
"Well duh, she might be a near complete bitch, but I'd never just disregard somebody helping me out, especially my sis."
Whether what she sent Ruby was a glare or not she didn't know. The blonde stared her down for a long moment catching her breath before she spoke but as she did her gaze broke and she looked away.
"Don't go thinking you did anything…" She looked up to Ruby her eyes wide in anger.
"You didn't help me, you just got in the way of me using my Quirk to escape! Got that! Because of you All Might needed to come to our rescue, you just got in my way! I would've been fine by myself! So, so don't you dare look down on me you Quirkless failure!" Her eyes then narrowed to slits and her voice went cold.
"You didn't do anything, don't forget that…" She turned away her teeth gnashing.
The Weak die the strong live, those are the rules.
She's the weakling…not me.
She trembled and roared.
"I don't owe you nothing brat!"
"AHHHHHH! OUM DAMMIT!" Yang curled in on herself gripping her hair tightly as she roared in annoyance."Seriously! The hell is her problem?!" Blake gave her partner a pitying smile.
"Perhaps… it was a good thing you didn't meet your mom." Blake quickly covered her mouth.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean it lik-" Yang rose her hand.
"Nah your right, if I ended up anything like that I'd kick my own ass… 'sigh' Never been more thankful Summer rose me then I am right now." Ruby hugged Yang very thankful her sis was nothing like the fire breathing meanie on screen.
Ruby just watched as her older sister stomped away, still fuming before tilting her head confusingly.
"What?" But she decided to let it go before she got confused.
"'Sigh' She's right though…"
I really didn't do anything to help, probably just got in the way… but at least I tried… one last time.
She then turned finally accepting that her dream would always remain just that.
the aspiring huntress's went silent again feeling bad for their young friend.
"I AM HERE!" From nowhere All Might popped out assuming one of his signature poses.
"Yay, its Jaune-Jaune!"
"Waaah! A-All Might, h-how'd you get here, weren't you surrounded by reporters." She placed his hands on his hips and begun to bellow.
"HAHAHA! I the Beacon of Hope not ratings, Justice never re-BLGGGH!" Popping out of his muscular form Jaune spewed scarlet.
Nora and Neo broke into laughter at the sight while Weiss shivered.
"That can't be healthy." Blake shook her head.
"I mean he seems fairly energetic, so it can't be that bad."
"All Might!" Jaune wiped his face as he readied himself for something… uncomfortable.
"Miss Rose, I came here to thank you and to correct something incredibly foolish I said." Ruby looked befuddled.
"What?"
The members of JNPR and RWBY quieted upon hearing the seriousness in Jaune's tone.
"Hehehe, 'sigh' If you hadn't been there and done what you did despite your personal experiences and status."
"S-Stop I didn't really do anything I just go-"
"No you did…" She looked to him.
"At that time, no one acted despite miss Xiao Long's peril… not even me the Beacon of Hope and yet despite that the quirkless, weak you did. Do you want to know why?" Ruby looked to him unconsciously shaking her head in affirmation Jaune eyes grew kind as if reliving a memory.
"It's really simple actually… All the best heroes will tell you if you were to get the chance to ask. They'll all say it, that when they saw someone in peril… "
The scene then switched to far back in his Beacon days when Cardin was attacked by a Ursa, when he stepped forward to protect him.
"Their bodies just moved, without a thought they did not hesitate to save another. That is the sign of a true hero." The memory of Ruby rushing to Yang flashed, of this frail little child in that moment she looked so… heroic, he then looked into her eyes.
Everyone was silent before Weiss spoke up.
"He's right." She looked to Ruby.
"That's the kind of person you are, you and the dol-, you and Jaune." Yang smirked while nodding and Pyrrha did the same alongside Ren and Nora who gave a thumbs up. Even Blake would admit that was a trait she envied in hers and JNPR's leaders.
"Young Rose… is that not what happened to you?" Ruby's word caught in her throat and she trembled, she gave a weak nod, not believing what was happening remembering her father's words. Jaune nodded.
I'm sorry Ruby…
Those weren't the words she needed to hear from her father then…
Ruby trembled as she watched the screen, feeling her heart beat quicken.
"I knew it… and now I will take back my biggest mistake." Ruby begun to tear up not daring to hope. While Jaune felt the autumn wind brush past him and felt her as he said those very same words to Ruby that 'she' had said to him when he needed them most.
"Ruby Rose…you too can become a hero…"
Hearing those words from him Ruby felt her eye warm as she trembled, she didn't get it, why was she so happy? Her dad, Yang and all her friends always encouraged her, so why was hearing it from this Jaune so important? And then she realized, it was because the Ruby they were watching had never had that, to have friends and family who'd have faith in her. Ruby looked to Pyrrha.
"Pyrrha…" The spartan turned to Ruby who tackled her in a hug.
"Wha-"
"Thank you for believing in Jaune…" She knew she didn't understand fully but now she at least knew a little bit how important Jaune's partner faith in him was. Pyrrha looked down to her friend, her first friend of the same gender and Jaune's first friend in Beacon and smiled patting her head.
What little restraint the Reaper had broken in that moment as she cried out in joy hearing the words that had seemingly never been destined for her. But now, she heard them and by the person she most respected most aspired to be no less.
Yang teared up seeing her sister's counterpart cry tear of joy, happy she'd finally been acknowledged, beside her Weiss struggled to not sniffle while Blake avoided looking knowing she was close to breaking into tears, she was a sucker for sappy scenes like these.
That day was her first step to becoming the number one Hero…
Yang Blinked.
"Wait what?" Blake crossed her arms and smiled.
"Number one huh?" Weiss folded her arms.
"Of course it'd be something like that." Ruby looked to the screen in awe at the future it suggested.
"Woohoo Origin Story!" Nora's antics earned a few chuckles, while the others laughed Ruby wiped her face not wanting to cry but failing, she was just so happy. Without warning Nora hugged Ruby from behind a huge smile on her face while Ren stood beside her smiling too.
"Wait a go Ruby! Looks like Jaune-Jaune believes in you!" Ren nodded.
"If the number one says so it must be so." Ruby nodded happily, Pyrrha stepped forward and spoke.
"It's funny isn't it though, how reversed everything is in that word. Ruby looked Pyrrha confused.
"What do you mean?" Pyrrha smiled.
"Well, your counterpart looked up to Jaune's in that world, while in ours it's the other way around." Ruby blinked before pointing to herself.
"M-Me?" Pyrrha chuckled.
"Yes Ruby, you."
"But you're his partner, you, Pyrrha Nikos, why would he look up to me… I'm just a kid." Pyrrha smiled happily alongside Nora and Ren.
"Jaune didn't know who I was so my being a champion doesn't really factor into him, as for why he respects you well. Apparently when he thought he couldn't live up to his place as our leader you gave him some advice that he appreciated."
"Oh…" Ruby looked down embarrassed.
"Yeah Jaune-Jaune always says how even though you got in super early and way behind you're still a better leader then him. Of course, that last part he's obviously wrong about but still!" Ren smiled and nodded.
"Jaune tried to lead by the example you put forth, he takes pride that his best friend is also his role model, I personally think its admirable that he doesn't let your age or innocence make him think any less of you."
"Yep! Just like Renny said! He's apparently working on formation move names like you too!" Ruby begun to fidget with her fingers her cheeks brightening at her friend supposed respect and acknowledgement towards her. Yang grew a sly grin at seeing her baby sister blush and crept in close.
"Aw, look at you sis, well don't you look happy that ladykiller thinks so much of you."
"Yang Shut up!" The red Reaper begun to punch her chest, but Yang just bellowed at her embarrassment before looking Jaune's way.
"Hey lady killer mark 2 care to confirm what P-money and the gangs been saying." Jaune smiled cockily.
"Well, yeah ever since I saw her take out that Nevermore Rose bud has always had by admiration." Ruby blushed looking away from the older cooler Jaune fighting against smiling like an idiot. Jaune looked over to Jinn who still looked a bit nervous around him but went stiff when she felt him pat her head.
"Good job Jinn." She turned to him smiling.
"Really! You not mad at me anymore?" Jaune smiled.
"A bit…" Jinn looked down her eyes beginning to water before she felt him pat her again.
"But it's not like they weren't gonna have to watch that world eventually, besides I think they learned from it and this world helped with that too." Jinn nodded to him, happy to be forgiven. Before Jaune finally called out.
"Okay guys ready for the next one, we still got four more till you can leave!"
Ruby 2
Weiss 2
Blake 3
Yang 1
Nora 1
Pyrrha 2
Ren 2
Neo 2
Total Questions 24
Used Questions 15
Remaining Questions 9
Universes Viewed 4
Universes Left 4
And there it is, holy shit was that longer than I intended, still though can't say I regret it. Hope you liked this, I'm also considering revisiting this parody again, during Ruby's entrance test and both of All Might's fights and maybe even during the Tournament match. If so It'd probably be Weiss as Todaroki and Oscar as Uraraka and if I do Midoiya's match against Muscular with Adrian as Kota though I have no idea who to make Muscular.
So I've gotten a few suggestions, both PMs and Reviews so here's what I've come up with so far.
The Rising of the Shield Hero
Jaune Arc - Naofumi Iwatani
Blake - Raphtalia
Ruby - Filo
Neptune - Motoyasu Kitamura
Ren - Ren Amaki
Oscar - Itsuki Kawasumi
Weiss - Melty Q. Melromarc
Winter (Showing what being raised by her father would result in) - Malty S. Melromarc
Jacques Schnee - Aultcray Melromarc XXXII
Willow Schnee - Mirellia Q. Melromarc
Goblin Slayer
Jaune - Goblin Slayer
Ruby - Priestess
(Undecided) - Fighter
(Undecided) - Warrior
(Undecided) - Wizard
Pyrrha - Guild Girl
Neptune - Spearman
Seven Deadly Sins
Jaune - Escanor (How Original)
Ruby - Meliodis
Yang - Ban
Penny - Gowther
Nora - Diane
Ren - King
Yu-Gi-Oh, Joey vs Marik
Jaune - Joey
Cinder - Marik
Ruby - Yugi
Death Battle: Deadpool (Jaunepool) vs Deathstroke (Jaune Version)
Devil May Cry 3 (I know this is already done but God Dammit do I love this game!)
Jaune - Dante
Adam - Virgil
Watts - Arkham
Black Clover
Jaune - Asta
Ren - Yuno
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Jaune - Wolf
Blake - Kuro
(Undecided) - The Owl
Yang - The Sculptor
Adam - Genichiro Ashina
Bloodborne
Jaune - Gehrman
(Undecided) - Protagonist
Merciless (DC Metal)
Dragon Ball Super: Broly (Already finished Act 1 Saiyans destruction)
Jaune - Broly
Ruby - Goku
Weiss - Vegeta
Nora - Beerus
Ren - Whis
Cinder - Frieza
Probably Neo - Cheelai
Probably Roman - Lemo
The Familiar of Zero - The Farewell Wedding Ceremony
Jaune - Saito
Weiss or Ruby - Louise
Neptune or Oscar (depending) - Julio
Tokyo Ghoul (Finished a long time ago.)
Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks
Adrian - Trunks
Jaune - Gohan
Note that the characters don't have to match to a T for me to use them, I rework some aspects or reasoning why their the way they are to fit my narrative. Well hope you liked this chapter feeling a bit burned out so my next upload will probably be for one of the other fanfic (Forlorn Knight)