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"Got a weapon you want specifically want to make John?" Jaune asked as the arc 'brothers' made their way through a run-down, but not destroyed Beacon. Due to the attack, school wasn't in session anymore, but the growing presence of Grimm made it a strong base of operation to any remaining Huntsmen staff as well as some upper classmen who volunteered to help.

"I have a few ideas." Re-Jaune said as he rubbed his chin. "A collapsible shield reminiscent of Pyrrha's that can deploy at will, My blade on the other hand..." Re- Jaune snickered as he remembered his old weapon. "That is something I'll have to talk to her in greater detail about."

"Why's that?" Jaune asked.

"It's the complete opposite of Crocea Mors," Re-Jaune replied while tilting his head up in remembrance. "Simple is the last word I would use to describe it and if I had the original on me, I may have stood a chance against Noctis."

"What happened to the original?"

"Lost it during the interdimensional trip," Re-Jaune said before a wave of frustration overwhelmed him. "As well as my clothes."

"Looking back on it, that newspaper article was pretty funny."

"Yeah, yeah." Re-Jaune said with a sour gaze and placed his hands in his pockets. "Still, if I had to choose anyone to make another version of it, it would be Ruby."

"What was the weapon called?"

Re-Jaune smiled as he remembered holding his weapon for the very first time. "Retribution." he said while giving his younger self a glance as well as a grin.

"So, this one will be Retribution, Mark Two?" Jaune asked, to which Re-Jaune frowned.

"Not…Exactly," Re-Jaune said as he scratched the back of his head. "It'll still have the same design and power behind it, but the other mechanisms will take too long to make. The best I can probably do is add a cannon into the blade in place of Retributions other features." He said as Jaune looked confused.

"A cannon?" his younger self asked as Re-Jaune smirked.

"One way to pack a punch, huh?"

"Oh yeah." Jaune said. "Hopefully we'll be able to see it soon. Are you going to help Ruby make it?" he asked as Re-Jaune rubbed his chin before speaking looking at his younger self.

"To a degree," the time traveler started. "Mostly give Ruby the design and let her create it. Considering she made something like Crescent Rose all by herself I'm not worried."

The Arc 'brothers' nodded in agreement as they finally made their way down the hall coming upon the forge moments later. They both saw Ruby rocking back in forth waiting for them and the Rose flashed over the moment she saw them, giddy as she could be with her eyes shining and her smile as wide as humanly possible.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting?!" Ruby asked almost frantically.

Jaune paused for a moment at the sudden but enthusiastic question before he held a finger up. "Ten minutes and forty-seven seconds?"

Ruby and Re-Jaune blinked at the blonde knight's answer before Ruby's eyes widened. "Y-Yeah actually." she said before looking at her scroll and noticed that was the exact amount of time it had taken.

"Anyways," Re-Jaune said after giving his younger self a bewildered look. "Thank you for doing this, Ruby."

"You've come to the right person John!" Ruby said after shaking her head and focused on the task at hand. "We'll make it the greatest weapon ever! Well...second best weapon ever, right behind Crescent Rose!" Ruby brought a hand back to her beloved tool of destruction rubbing it fondly. Jaune rose an eyebrow while Re-Jaune chuckled and shook his head, reminiscing on how the Ruby he knew acted the same way.

"Of course, Rubes. Let's get to work now huh?"

"Heck yeah!" She left behind a flood of rose petals swinging the forge door open with the Arc duo following closely behind.

(Reaper)

The shadowy form of Reaper floated through the vents of Beacon Academy with a melancholy that contrasted his usual frantic nature. It was odd for the hooded Arc to travel at such a pace, but he knew he didn't need to rush nor did he want to.

A soft sigh escaped Reaper as he exited the vents and found himself in Beacon's infirmary; Particularly in one room he dreaded being in. He took no pleasure in becoming whole as his tired red eyes fixed themselves on the unmoving form of Pyrrha Nikos. Puppy was also present as he laid at the foot of the bed and in between Pyrrha's feet.

The two locked eyes for a moment before Reaper drifted over to her bedside. He looked back to Puppy and noticed he had rested his head down once again and turned his attention away from Reaper. A smile formed under Reaper's mask for only a moment before his attention turned back to Pyrrha. Reaper looked on at her peaceful form and couldn't help but reach hand out to her cheek, moving a strand of hair that had gone astray.

"Cinder's still out there," Puppy said with almost a growl. Reaper turned toward his teammate and noticed the dog's attention was fixated on the door with a determination he had never seen before.

"You think she would come back here and finish Pyrrha off?" Reaper asked.

"I wouldn't put it past Cinder. No one has seen her since we beat the shit out of her." Puppy almost growled.

Reaper rose an eyebrow at the sudden profanity that usually never came out of the optimistic puppy.

"I've been keeping tabs on any updates in her search, Velvet and her team are helping out too." Reaper said with apparent disdain. "So far, the authorities have found nothing." Reaper turned back to Pyrrha and his eyes softened at her still face.

"Is this your first time?"

"Huh?" Puppy asked as he rose his head and turned his attention to Reaper.

"Your first time seeing any of them like this?" Reaper clarified while his gaze remained focused on Pyrrha.

"Yeah…" Puppy said as he got up and carefully made his way up the bed and sat next to Pyrrha's head. "I take it this isn't the first time you've seen her like this?"

"It is, actually." Reaper said as his voice quivered just enough for Puppy's right ear to twitch. "I've seen her hurt, but nothing like this."

"Did something like this happen in your world?" Puppy asked.

"Yeah," Reaper said with a nod. "Beacon fell, but I was able to save Pyrrha."

"Oh…" Puppy said as his ears flattened at how Reaper currently felt.

"Last time I saw her this still, was right before I turned into what I am now," Reaper said as he couldn't help but tighten his fist at the memory. "She and the rest of my team were given sedatives to knock them out while Ruby's team tried to kill me." Reaper paused for a moment as he fought back the memories. "I never thought I would see that same look now."

"What's your Pyrrha like?" Puppy suddenly asked. Reaper looked up and noticed his teammate was sitting upright and had tilted his head with curiosity. "Is she any different?"

Reaper looked down at Pyrrha before he closed his eyes for a moment and recollected everything he remembered about his Pyrrha. "She was… worried." Reaper said. "After seeing what happened to me, she was always worried about me, worried where I was, where I went after I left her, how I felt about everything," he let out a huff of amusement before shaking his head. "She worried about me so much, that she forgot to look after herself sometimes."

"Doesn't sound too far off from the rest of us to be honest." Puppy said before looking down at Pyrrha and smiling. "It's funny how different we all are, and yet she stays almost the same."

"Yeah…" Reaper said before he sat at the side of Pyrrha's bed and took off his mask. Puppy's ears perked as Reaper lowered his hood, yet he refused to look at the two other occupants.

Puppy narrowed his eyes with curiosity as he saw the blonde fringes of his inter-dimensional counterpart and decided to let it be.

"Thank you, Pup." Reaper suddenly said, which made the pooch tilt his head with sudden confusion.

"For what?"

"For keeping her safe," Reaper said. "If it wasn't for you and Jaune…"

"Hey," Puppy said as he walked all the way around Pyrrha and sat next to Reaper, "If it wasn't for you, Sparrow, and John, Adam and Noctis would have done a lot more damage."

"Have you heard anything about Sparks?" Reaper asked as he refused to look down at the pooch.

"Nothing yet, but I think he'll be okay. He's us after all."

"True," Reaper said before he went still in the silence.

"I gotta go take a leak," Puppy said before he hopped off the bed. "Mind watching her while I'm gone?"

Reaper said nothing. Instead, he simply nodded.

"I'll let you know if John gives us any updates on what to do next." There was a silence between the two and right before Puppy pushed the door open, he stopped and slightly turned his head toward Reaper. "Hey," he said which earned the attention of the hooded Arc. "None of us blame you for what happened to Sparrow. We know what Noctis did."

Puppy heard nothing for a few moments and decided it was time to leave, but the moment he opened the door, he could hear a faint sigh of relief escape Reaper.

(Jaune and Re-Jaune)

"I know this is sudden Jaune," Re-Jaune said as the two were now standing in the middle of the run-down training arena. "But we need to train if we're going to be able to take on Noctis. Now we don't have a lot of time considering that son of a bitch will be impatient if we don't go after him soon. So, I'm going to put you through hell the next few days and testing the true limits of your semblance." John had his arms folded staring at Jaune with intensity, the younger Arc's forehead sheen with sweat before he let out a shaky breath.

"First I'm going to teach you how to properly manipulate your aura." Re-Jaune continued as he paced back and forth in the arena. "This is an advanced technique. but can be quickly mastered with the right tutelage and instruction. First things first, will your aura over your body as you normally would."

Jaune nodded at his older self and did as he was told, closing his eyes and feeling the aura enveloping his body.

"Good. Next step is where it gets a little tricky." Re-Jaune said as he inspected Jaune's work. "I want you to focus all your aura to a single point, your fist or arm for example then keep it there. When doing this you can either keep the aura there to increase your defense where a blow that could be deadlier can be nearly completely stopped or discharge the aura to hit harder." There was a pause as Re-Jaune gave the blonde knight a serious look. "But be warned, when doing either of these techniques it will drain your aura, so use it wisely and only for emergencies. It's what saved my ass countless times in my world. Give it a try and don't worry about messing up you're going to just don't get discouraged."

Jaune nodded before gripping his right forearm tightly, scrunching his face concentrating on trying to bring his aura into the limb. He grinded his teeth together while his entire body struggled to will the aura forward. Jaune felt his aura start to flow to his arm but he quickly lost his concentration and fell to his back with heavy breaths.

"Fuck!"

"Jaune it's fine, you did well for your first attempt." Re-Jaune said as he walked up to Jaune and held out his hand to grab. "Almost had the aura to a single point. It's all about repetition. Now do it again and remember to breathe slowly and concentrate."

This continued until nightfall with Jaune growling in frustration and Re-Jaune staring on like a master observing his student.

"One...more...time!" Jaune declared flowing his aura to his arm and only his arm. His eyes grew hopeful starting to brim with confidence as his aura stayed locked in at the point and he threw his fist up screaming in victory.

"FINALLY! Oh, my Oum that took so damn long!" Jaune kept his concentration still holding the aura in place.

"Excellent work Jaune. Now, I'm going to strike your arm and if you did the technique correctly you won't have a fractured limb." Re-Jaune said before he crouched like a Beowolf ready to pounce, making Jaune's eyes go wide.

"Wait what did you just say?"

Jaune took a step back in fear and as soon as he did this Re-Jaune rocketed forward rearing his fist back to strike his younger self. The young Arc held his aura infused up ordering his aura to focus everything to his limb and not to waver. The time traveler's fist impacted his arm sending Jaune sailing through the air tumbling in the ground hard, nearly driving the air from his lungs slamming against the arena wall in a heap, all while coughing up spit.

"Impressive." was all Re-Jaune said as he stared down at his fist that now dripped slightly with blood, all while feeling an odd familiarity from Jaune's aura more than he previously did. Jaune stood up shakily blinking wearily and stumbling towards his time traveling counterpart still seeing stars.

"Gods above! John! Are you trying to kill me?!" He dusted himself off rolling his arm that blocked the punch.

"Of course not. The real question is, how's your arm?"

"It's! - fine actually." Jaune said as he moved his arm around. "There's a huge bruise but other than that it's ok. Holy shit!" Re-Jaune nodded with a smile internally beaming with pride for his younger self.

"I told you, it's something that can be learned fast with the right instructions. I'm proud of you." The time traveler stared back at his fist letting his aura mend his wounds but felt something in the injury that much too familiar. As if he struck something infused with his aura.

'Wait a minute...I felt something there...' He looked at Jaune with his brow furrowed and started to put things together. "Jaune, I want you to use your semblance on yourself and hit me with it. Don't ask why just do it."

Jaune nodded letting his semblance course through his body feeling the energy pulse and light cutting through the darkness of the night.

'Now I'll find out for sure.' John planted his feet as Jaune lunged toward him fist coming faster than he'd ever been able to do without his semblance activated. The elder Arc took the blow directly to the chest grunting slightly in pain already feeling a bruise forming from the impact. He dug his heels into the ground as he was pushed back, tearing up the ground beneath him before coming to a halt and staring at Jaune with eyes full of shock and realization.

"Oh, my Gods I know what's going on now." He said out loud much to Jaune's visible confusion as he deactivated his semblance.

"What was that John?" Jaune asked completely out of the loop as Re-Jaune threw up his arms and turned to face the younger Arc.

"It all makes sense now. Why I'm not as powerful as I was and why I lost to Noctis!" John gazed into the same sapphire eyes as his own.

"What? What made you lose?"

"Jaune, our semblance has always been amplifying aura. It allows us to heal ourselves and others while providing us with strength. But yours changed. It gave you the power to make yourself and others even stronger. Stronger than even my Semblance, and I know why it changed."

"Why? What made it different?"

"The power I lost, the reason why I'm weaker, I think it is because that power I'm missing is now a part of your semblance!" Re-Jaune said in realization pointing at Jaune making the knight freeze.

"Holy shit." Was all that came out of Jaune's mouth summing up the Arc duos thoughts exactly.

(Noctis)

"So..." Noctis said as he rubbed his chin with curiosity. "This is the machine that brought those Arcs an myself? Interesting...very interesting." Noctis stared up at the massive piece of machinery scratching at his arm turning around to look at the now resurrected Merlot and terrified Watts. It was hardly any effort in locating and reviving the good doctor and Noctis was more than pleased with Merlot's newfound enthusiasm.

"Yes, my lord! I made it to further improve my research! To see if there were other foreign Grimm in worlds unknown to this one, but I'd never thought that it would bring a being such as yourself! I am truly grateful to be in your presence and my services are at your disposal." Merlot bowed as deeply as he could making Noctis chuckle and eventually laugh shaking the very building they stood in.

"I already like you Merlot." Noctis said as he patted the revived doctor's shoulder. "Now, how does this machine work? And is it capable of bringing us more eager volunteers?" He stared down at the old man who hobbled over to him starting to type away at his console.

"I can only access the worlds of those who have already passed through. Each one already has a name that was automatically inputted into my database. Your world is called the Restart universe, another is called the Being Human universe, the other is named Reaping with Sorrow universe, and finally, the last one is named the Puppy universe...as odd as that one sounds."

"I see. Well then, I think it's time for us to even the numbers don't you think Merlot?"

"But of course, my liege!" Merlot said as he turned in his chair and looked on at his lord. "Usually, I would need samples from subjects to attract their alternate selves into this universe, but because I had an entire organism thrown into the machine, we have much more room to work with."

"Excellent," Noctis said with a chilling chuckle. "I'll have to thank this worlds Jaune for throwing himself into the beam in the first place."

"As shall I, my lord." Merlot said with a twisted but enthusiastic smile. "Now, I have narrowed down some individuals that I believe would be of great service to you, but you will always have the final say. If you approve, all I have to do is press this button," Merlot showed as he pointed to one of the many switches on the control console. "Everything is primed and ready."

"Excellent work, Merlot," Noctis said as he leaned forward and saw the list of five candidates. "I thought this would take longer."

"Of course not, my lord," Merlot said with nothing but compliance. "It was easy to narrow it down. I already brought you here from your nemesis' universe, and the mutt's universe didn't have any potential assets, but the other two… I think you'll like what they have to offer.

"Very well. Proceed." Noctis sat down on a small throne he had conjured from a few Grimm resting his chin on one hand waiting for the machine to start.

Merlot started to laugh as his machine came back to life. Arcs of electricity and energy pulsated through the air as the wind came from nowhere. Finally, five beams of light appeared in front of them. The first one showed a silhouette hauntingly similar to Reaper with red eyes cutting through the beams, the second revealed the form of a Faunus woman whose eyes were filled with malice, the last three revealed two surprising individuals as they resembled those Jaune Arcs friend, with the last one lacking an arm and another lacking an arm and a leg.

"Hehehe...oh you've truly outdone yourself Merlot." Noctis clapped for his underling with satisfaction staring at the five figures with glee.

"What in the fuck?! where am I!?" The new Reaper growled not sounding like the other one at all having an even deeper and raspier voice.

"You said it tall dark and mysterious. I was just about to start a new torture session." Ember Rot giggled remembering that Adam had brought her a few Atlesian soldiers to 'interrogate'.

"Where in the… Who are all of you?! What am I doing here?!" Blake growled with bags under her eyes while her gaze darted everywhere.

"Funny, that's the same question I'm asking, Partner," Yang growled cocking back her only arm back with Ember Celica aiming at her ex-partner.

The final person continued to sit in silence. What was left of her white hair that covered only half of her head was singed and wiry. Her blue gown showed the Schnee symbol, but any pride that family upheld was absent in her apathetic eyes.

"Now, now, there is no need for that." A haunting voice spoke out as they all flinched. Each of them eventually looked up at the throne before them. Some were confused, but most were furious as they saw what they believed to be a pitch black Jaune Arc. "You all must have many questions and I will answer them in time." four out of five of them opened their mouths to speak in defiance, but one glare made them all revert to silence, which made Noctis grinned.

"Although I am surprised to see three of my old friend's allies amongst us, and so… crippled." he eyed the Schnee girl in particular. "I admit I am curious as to why they are against him in Reaper's world? But I guess a friend in one world is an enemy in another?" he smirked as Blake and Yang glared at him.

"Who the hell are you? And why the hell do you look like that bastard?!" Yang growled as the King grinned.

"So much anger, I will enjoy using you little Dragon." He smirked as her eyes glowed red and her hair sparked to life.

"Just try it you bastard!" she yelled and prepared to fling herself at the man. Only to have arms of darkness rise out of the floor and hold her down. Reaper-World Blake stepping back in horror, preparing to use her semblance to escape, before arms grabbed her as well and nullified her power.

"Now, now, there is no need for such violence." He mockingly explained.

"I know this must be confusing for you all." Noctis said as he stood form his throne. "But know this, as of right now you are my new minions, and I am your master. Your King, and rightful ruler of this Gods forsaken planet. Treat me with respect and I will give you all power beyond your wildest imaginations. Refuse?" the arms gripped tighter around Yang's body as she cried out in pain before letting them go.

"And well...I will make sure you never return to your worlds. Now kneel." .Noctis spoke with a calm voice, but let his power be known to his five new minions forcing them to the ground with his presence alone. He rose an eyebrow when seeing Reaper stand back to his feet eyes glowing in fury.

"Fucking...bastard...if I can...resist Salem...I can resist...you!" He made a single step forward but didn't get another when he Noctis appear before him in an instant. Startled, he materialized his shotguns and aimed them at Noctis. But didn't get a chance to pull the triggers feeling a hand wrap itself around his neck lifting him off the ground. Reaper tried to shift his form to escape, but his body refused to obey him.

The black mist that made up his body flickered and sputtered out of control as he let out a ragged gasp from the pain.

"My, my, you are powerful. Nearly as powerful as the other Reaper…but whereas he has my friend's stubbornness, you are in no position to act out or turn my underling. Kneel before your king…or I will make your suffering a hundred times worse than you could ever possibly imagine!" pure darkness leaked from his voice as it caused the man to quake in his soul.

"Do we have an understanding?" he asked as the man nodded in pure fear. Noctis grinned as he dropped him to the ground.

"Good. In time you will know what is happening and where you are. But first, you all need to match me. And I must warn you, this will hurt...a lot." Noctis chuckled pouring his essence into the five seeds of pure darkness and shoving them into their bodies. The five began to twist and bend at unnatural angles as he relished in their agony. Their screams were delicious.

And chapter done. Read and Review! Support me on Pa/treon if you like my work! Just google my pen name and you'll find my page!