Chapter 382 - My OC Stash #82 - Brothers in Arms by Tusk Act IV (RWBY)

-Everytime I start getting tired of Jaune-centric stories, I always find these mildly interesting and refreshing fics~

Synopsis: In which Jaune Arc finds out that there are two Gods sealed in his family heirloom and tries to start his own religion.

Rated: T

Words: 46K

Posted on: fanfiction.net/s/13185889/1/Brothers-in-Arms (Tusk Act IV)

PS: If you're not able to copy/paste the link, you have everything in here to find it, by simply searching the author and the story title. It sucks that you can't copy links on mobile (´ー｀)

-I'll be putting the chapter ones of all the fanfics/originals mentioned, to give you guys a sample if you wan't more please do go to the website and support the author! (And maybe even convince them to start uploading chapters in here as well!)

Chapter 1

Crocea Mors.

The Yellow Death.

Initially wielded by Laetica Arc, the sword and shield combination was said to be the first mechashift weapon to be used in a major battle. The blade was said to render a mountain of Grimm into dust with a single swing. The shield was rumored to not bend even under the pressure of a Goliath's full stomp.

Many an Arc had wielded it into battle yet it has never been said to have failed the family name. Many a hero it had created and saved. It was just as much an heirloom to their family as the very blood running through their veins.

The sword promised victory.

The shield promised glory.

To the wielder, to the next Arc hero, Crocea Mors would be the first stop to becoming a legend.

And that person would be, him, Jaune Arc.

"Yeah, I don't buy it."

Jaune turned to his sister next to him, pouting on her interruption and lack of faith. Didn't she see he was on a roll? That this was meant to be his moment. His look of indignation did not change her own skeptical one, however.

"I mean, isn't that just what Violet uses to get something under the couch." Saphron had never heard any of these so called "legends" on the family heirloom. She had seen it used to get the remote when it fell out fo reach beneath the couch.

"You just don't get it, Saphron." Jaune shook his head, unbelieving of his sister's lack of faith and whimsy. as he really the only one who went to visit nana to hear of old Arc tales?

"What I do get though is that you're still trying to be a Hunter." Saphron turned a pointed look at him. "Didn't Dad tell you to give up on that stuff?"

"Dad will warm up to it." was Jaune's flippant reply. Both their father and mother had been against Jaune when he randomly declared that he wanted to be a Huntsman. It was obvious that their warnings didn't stick to her fifteen year old brother.

Saphron turned from her brother to the weapon he was still staring at. It didn't even look that impressive as Jaune's eyes shined better than the dusty old heirloom.

Well, it wasn't really her place to judge. As his Sister, she'd support him by not interesting with what he wanted to do. A passive support for siblings. Besides, if it really was dangerous than she knew her parents and the others would step in.

For now, she'd support his dreams in the best way a sister should.

"Well, good luck with that. If you're really going to use the old reacher than make sure to give it a good polish. Although, don't go polishing your sword too much eh?"

She nudged Jaune with her elbow but frowned when he didn't react to her entrendre. Terra would have loved that one. Maybe, she should go send it to her.

Jaune didn't even turn as his sister went back up the stairs and left him alone in the bas.e.m.e.nt. He was too busy admiring his future partners, his ticket out of his house and into the history books.

He just stood there in silence, almost as if he was waiting for something to happen. it It was just him and Crocea Mors. In Jaune's head, he saw himself wielding the pair out to battle Grimm, a fair maiden by his side. And they were both on horses. The fantasy drew a goofy grin on hs face.

Maybe...

Jaune took a quick glance up the steps. Even if it was impossible, he also tried to ehar if anyone else was nearby.

"..."

Nothing.

Knowing the coast was clear, the blonde reached up and took the heirloom from their place on the wall. Sword in one hand and shield in another, Jaune Arc did the one thing any boy his age would do.

"Swish! Pow! Take that!" With exaggerated sounds from his mouth, Jaune slashed, bashed, and did stuff he thought would look cool if anyone was watching. Moves he has seen in movies and videos.

If anyone were to see him right now, the first thought they'd think of would be-

[Pathetic]

Jaune froze. While it was true, the weapons were much heavier than he had expected, he had stopped for a different reason.

[He's too tired to even keep me up for five minutes.]

Again, suddenly, a voice had spoken up from...somewhere. Jaune looked around the Arc family bas.e.m.e.nt, looking for the source of the voice. "Hello?"

No reply.

He turned his eyes, to seek for one of his sisters or even a speaker. May had once tricked him into believing there was a ghost with a hidden speaker.

"If that's you May, this isn't funny! Saphron already told me ghosts don't exist."

[Oh great. Now he's even scared of ghosts.]

"I'm not scared of any ghosts!" Jaune yelled back, though he did hold his weapons closer. Just in case.

For a moment, there was silence once more. And then, the same voice spoke up.

[You can hear me?]

"Yeah, of course, I can hear you!" Jaune was now really on edge. The voice was now addressing him. Was he really having a conversation with the dead? "And I'm not afraid, you hear?"

[...Interesting. You are the first to have heard me since that bitch locked me in here.]

Bitch? Jaune didn't know what the voice spoke was saying. "Well, you're welcome to leave. There's no need for any ghosts in my house!"

[Ghost? I'm no ghost, son of man.]

It was then that Jaune realized that the voice wasn't coming from anywhere specific. Rather, it sounded like it came directly from his noggin.

He also realized his shield was glowing purple.

"Ah!" With a totally not girlish shriek, Jaune tossed the shield aside as if it was on fire. The shield clanged, noisily on the floor before finally settling down.

[Hey! Watch it!]

As if conforming his thoughts, the shield glowed purple every time the voice spoke up.

"W-what are you?!" half-asked half-demanded Jaune as he used both of his hands to point his sword at the shield in front of him.

The shield, ghost, spirit, whatever it was remained silent.

Jaune continued to point the sword at the shield but eventually, after what had to be five minutes of no reply and his own aching arms, he slowly lowered his weapon.

Maybe, he had just imagined it?

[Son of Arc!]

And just as he lowered his guard, the shield spoke up, glowing an other worldly purple that filled the room with light.

[You ask who I am? I am the spirit of this weapon! The very one who has led every Arc into battle! I have chosen you as the next hero, worthy of wielding me!]

Jaune's jaw dropped just like the sword in his hands. "So...so you're really the Crocea Mors?"

[...sure. Anyways, you wanted to be a hero or something, right?]

"Yes! Of course!" Jaune nodded, his mind going a mile a minute. This was just like his Mistrallian comics! He always knew he was going to become a hero! "I'm going to become a Hunter and save people from the Grimm!"

[Then Son of Arc, pick up that sword and repeat after me.]

Jaune did so, holding the sword in a salute he had seen other hunters use on television.

By Shield of Dark of unlit night,

Make Destruction and Creation's paths unite.

Let all past Knowledge and Choice rewrite;

Awaken sword of unseen Light!

As soon as Jaune yelled the final words, he expected something to happen. He wasn't entirely sure what. Maybe, the sword would glow? Maybe, angels would appear to crown him? Even a certificate popping up would have been better than nothing.

However, nothing was what he got. He was still alone holding a heavy sword in his parent's bas.e.m.e.nt. He decided to bring it up with the spirit. "Is...is something supposed to happen?"

[Well, it takes a while for a new spell to work. I had to make it on the spot after all]

"Spells, what are you-" Whatever thoughts Jaune had was stopped as he suddenly felt something. He wasn't entirely sure what it was but something was being done to his body. If he were to describe it he felt as if he was getting more and more tired as time went on, like he was being drained.

"What's...going..."

Jaune dropped to his knees, his hand still holding the sword. If he had tried, he may have noticed he wouldn't be able to let go even if he wanted to. He struggled, trying to keep himself up but eventually he fell face flat on the floor of the bas.e.m.e.nt

All the while the shield was silent, not saying a word to Jaune's struggles.

[What...how am I...]

A voice spoke out. Jaune would have thought of it as his own but he was too tired to even move his mouth. Now, he found it hard enough to keep his eyes open. As his mind fell into darkness, he could barely catch what sounded like a conversation.

[Brother! You have awakened!]

[Brother? So this was your doing? What...what have you done?]

[I fed you enough so you can awaken! Together, we could finally free ourselves and-]

[What have you done!? All of his potential! All gone!]

Hearing those last words, Jaune Arc blacked out.

When Jaune woke to, he wasn't really surprised that now the sword was talking too. it was just unfortunate that he didn't suddenly grow abs after his transformation much like in the movies.

[Greetings. I am the God of Light. My brother told me you are Jaune correct?]

Sitting on the floor cross-legged, Jaune nodded. Compared to the purple glow of the shield, whenever the sword spoke, a yellow light accompanied it. It took another moment for Jaune to realize that the sword probably couldn't see him nod.

"Yeah, I'm Jaune, you're next hero." Jaune couldn't help but grin. This was just like his comic books. A sealed god in a weapon, a chosen hero, this was all the makings of an legendary adventure.

[Well then, Jaune, I'd like to first thank you for awakening me even if my brother had to trick you to do so.]

"Wait. Trick? Wasn't this just how to awaken my powers or something?" Jaune blinked at his words. "Wasn't he the spirit of Crocea Mors?"

[That is not entirely accurate. He is no spirit but the God of Darkness. He made you cast a new spell to transfer all of your current and future aura reserves to me. It was just enough to awaken me. I'd like to apologize for what you unintentionally had given up yet thank you all the same.]

"It's no problem." Jaune really didn't know what this aura thing the sword was talking about but it couldn't have been that important if he got a talking sword for a trade. "So what happened exactly?"

The sword's voice grew solemn as it spoke once more. [I can not ascertain when but my brother and I were summoned once more and sealed into these vassals. Eventually, most of my power faded away and I remained dormant until you had awoken me once more.]

[It's because you were used to kill the Grimm while I had to be stuck taking their hits] The shield nearby spoke up, purple light mixing in with the yellow.

"I...I think I get it." Jaune suddenly stood up. He's read enough comics and played enough games to figure out what to do next. "So, to save the world, I need to go out and recover your powers right?"

This was just like Ephemeral End.

[If you are willing to, then yes.] answered the sword. [A part of my power resides in four relics that I had created in the past. If you can find them, I can absorb their power and perhaps do something about my current state.]

Four crystals or macguffins to find? Check.

[As for me,] the shield spoke up. [All you need to do is to kill Grimm. The more Grimm you kill, the more energy I collect. The stronger the Grimm, the better.]

Leveling up mechanic? Check.

[Jaune Arc, will you be...]

"Yes! Of course, I'll help! This is the kind of thing I've been waiting for!" Jaune practically screamed. This was what he needed to do! This was what he had dreamed of! Recognition! Glory! Legend!

Today, started the beginning of his own epic saga!

"I'll be your hero!"

[Excellent, Excellent. However there seems to be a misunderstanding.]

The words of the sword brought Jaune back down from his high. He looked down at the glowing sword. If it had a face, he felt like it'd be averting it's eyes."What do you mean?"

[You see, Jaune. While it is true that my brother and I can regain our abilities through the relics or the slaying of Grimm, those are just minor boosts at best. What we really need is something else.]

"I'm not following."

A purple aura answered Jaune's confusion. [You see son of man, we don't need a hero. Rather, what we really want is a prophet.]

"Saph, can you call Jaune? Dinner's ready."

"Fine." At the behest of her mother, Saphron Arc got up from the family couch and headed to the bas.e.m.e.nt where she last saw her brother.

As she headed down the stairs, she could hear slight conversation although the only voice she heard was Jaune's own. It almost sounded like he was talking to himself.

When she finally reached the bottom, she noticed a few things. First was that Jaune had taken down Crocea Mors and both the sword and shield were now on the table in front of him. Next was that her brother looked to be painting something on what looked ot be a wooden board.

"Mom's calling." was her only greeings to say that she was there. Her brother didn't look up so she moved closer, enough to look over his shoulder. "Whatcha doing?"

"Well, Saff." Her brother turned to her and looked up with those big blue Arc eyes of his. Uncertainty and a sense of resignment were reflected in those pools. "I'm starting my own religion."

In front of him, painted in white and black, the words "Brotherhood of Shadow"

Saphron Arc took one look at the sign and then turned around to yell back up at the house.

"Moooom! Jaune's starting a cult!