Thy Rusted Knight 37

Pyrrha Nikos opened her eyes to the sight of lightning flashing around them. She blinked as she saw a green dome covering them as Headmaster Ozpin and Jaune's younger self cowered from the other side.

"What?" She tilted her head before her eyes widened as she felt hot and cold from both hands.

She reeled back, her hands snapping away from those holding her. One was made of metal and the other was of flesh and blood. She paled as she saw the Blacksmith and her own Jaune looking at her.

"What have you done?" She whispered in horror but the answer came from her younger self who now had a ghostly appearance as she manifested beside the Rusted Knight.

"We're forcing you to talk." Her younger self answered flatly even as terror rushed through her body when the Blacksmith continued.

"Be careful not to get too used in your new body. The switch could be permanent then."

"Switch?! What switch?! Pyrrha, what the hell is going on in there?!" Her partner's younger self screamed out from across the green barrier just before it went down.

Pyrrha could only wince as she turned to look accusingly at the Blacksmith.

"Switch us back!" She shouted even as Jaune stared worriedly at the Blacksmith.

"You didn't tell me this would happen."

"We were only supposed to stay in your domain but considering she did not want to talk, I did this." The Blacksmith shrugged, waving at the both of them even as she continued. "You need both sides' agreements to switch back by the way. You should hurry if you don't want to be stuck like this permanently."

The callous disregard reminded Pyrrha that this wasn't human. This being was a god. As much as it cared for Jaune as its champion, it did

Pyrrha looked hurriedly at her younger self as she stretched out her own hand. "Quick! Switch back with me!"

As much as the feeling of having her own body filled Pyrrha with relief, she did not want to take it at the cost of having someone else lose their own.

Too bad that she was just bartering with someone as selfless as she was.

"No." Her younger self looked flatly, crossing her arms aa she hovered beside Jaune. "Not until you two talk. Don't you see he is suffering?"

Pyrrha cringed and her eyes slid away from her younger self towards her partner. This time, even Jaune winced with her.

He opened his mouth to speak, to berate her younger self perhaps, but eventually, he shook his head.

It was futile.

They both knew who they were up against. They were up against a seventeen-year old girl who would fist fight a Maiden after kissing her crush for the first and last time.

Talk about being one's own worst enemy.

Pyrrha sighed as her younger self only crossed her ghostly arms while looking balefully at her.

"So....I guess we talk then?" Her Jaune shrugged helplessly at her and Pyrrha could only pout as she crossed her own arms while looking away.

"I guess."

She winced however when her eyes landed on Jaune's younger self

The terror on his face as he realized what was happening was something she could not bare.

It was the look of a man who finally recognized what he could lose.

It reminded Pyrrha of her partner's look when she pushed him into that locker all those years ago.

Her eyes snapped immediately to her partner's and she could only choke a sob as he looked at her brokenly.

"Please, Pyrrha. Talk to me. When you went silent, I thought you were gone again."

She bit her lip at that. There was a reason why she wanted to keep her contact to Jaune to the minimum but as she looked at her ghostly self behind him, Pyrrha could only sigh resignedly.

"I'm sorry, Jaune. It's just that what happened last night cannot happen again."

"We lost control, Pyrrha. Sure, it was bad but that doesn't mean you just shut me out." Jaune replied but Pyrrha only narrowed her eyes at him.

"No, Jaune, I lost control. I took over your body and did terrible things with it! Glynda could have been hurt if they weren't able to stop me!"

"Us, Pyrrha, it was us. Stop trying to make it as if you were the only one who lost control. You weren't the only one at fault." Jaune growled but Pyrrha only growled back.

"Oh, it was more than that, Jaune. I took control of your body! Do you understand what that means?! We're becoming like Ozpin!"

"Ahem." Headmaster Ozpin coughed but they both just ignored him as they continued to glare with each other.

It was frustrating to butt heads with Jaune like this. It was perhaps the first time they were truly at odds against each other even when taking into account their time in Beacon!

"We are not becoming like Ozpin!" Jaune shouted, waving a hand between them as his blue eyes burned through her. "We weren't cursed by a god!"

"Aren't we?! If you haven't forgotten, we're still in the middle of a bet between gods!" Pyrrha shot back, her eyes flicking towards the Blacksmith who only shrugged casually.

"Granted the bet came later but Jaune Arc already agreed to become my champion even before then."

It grated on Pyrrha but what can she do, she was just a mortal who wasn't even in her own original body! As much as her current skin really felt like hers, she refused to think of it as such, lest she let herself be tempted to stay like this forever. It would not do for her younger self to be stuck as a soul when she was the one who died.

Regardless, whether she was in her own body or not, she was just a pawn for a god together with Jaune. Even now, they didn't know what the game even was!

"Look, Pyrrha. Whether we're in a god's game or not, you can't just disappear on me like that!" Jaune screamed frustratedly and Pyrrha could only fume back.

"It was for your own good!"

"Woman, I've said this before and I'll say it again! You are my own good!"

Pyrrha threw her hands up exasperatedly at that.

This was pointless! They were just going in circles! Before she could even open her mouth to shout something, a body shoved itself between them.

"Woah there! I don't completely understand what is going on but you two are going overboard!" Her partner's younger self pushed them both back away from each other as he put himself in between them.

"Stay out of this, mini-me!" Jaune shouted but his younger self only pointed a finger at him.

"No! You've been doing this your way and it's obvious it is not going to work! It's time we do it my way."

"You do realize I am you, right?" Jaune scoffed but he crossed his arms and looked away. His younger self however only turned to Pyrrha.

"You....you're not my Pyrrha, are you?"

A squeal rang out throughout the room and both her and Jaune winced at the sound.

"Ahhhhh! He called me his Pyrrha!" Her younger self squealed out repeatedly and Pyrrha could only blush as she saw her float and swoon around them.

She could not begrudge her younger self the celebration but couldn't she do it in a less enthusiastic way? Already, she could see Jaune slowly grinning at her.

It was almost as if their fight earlier was for naught!

Unwilling to let go of her frustration at him just yet, she huffed before facing his younger self.

"No....I'm sorry. We switched places for a moment." She answered his earlier question and his cringe already made her feel bad.

Her body automatically moved and Pyrrha immediately found herself cupping his cheek.

They all froze and his blue eyes widened as he locked eyes with hers.

Before either of them could speak however, Jaune was already pulling away his younger self away from her.

"Woah, there." He grumbled, a frown forming on his face aa he turned towards her."Keep your distance, you two.

For a moment, Pyrrha imagined having the two of them competing for her and she immediately blushed as sinful thoughts rushed through her mind.

That is of course, until red filled her vision.


"Hey, just because you're in my body doesn't mean you can just touch my Jaune! Stick to your own Jaune!" Her younger self pouted, floating on front of her with her arms crossed and her red hair flowing around her.

"Sorry." Pyrrha could only smile wryly at that.

Was there something about being a ghost that liberated a person from their inhibitions? For the life of her, Pyrrha could never have imagined complaining so straightforwaedly and a bit childishly.

Then again, they were surrounded by impossibilities every single day.

"R-Right!" Jaune's younger counterpart coughed with a blush on his face before smacking his cheeks to focus himself. "I just meant to ask that you're worried your situation is kinda like, Headmaster Ozpin's, aren't you?"

"That much should be obvious." Pyrrha sighed as she crossed her arms, and yet....he only shrugged casually.

"That's easy then, isn't it? We just have to ask the Blacksmith if it is and then have her change it if it really is so."

All eyes turned to the Blacksmith at that and a tinkling laugh came out of her as she smiled at them.

"I was beginning to think none of you will ask."

Was......Was it really so simple?

Blood rushed through Pyrrha's face at that and she could only cover her face in embarrassment.

All of that trouble, for nothing?!

They could have asked the Blacksmith this whole time?!

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Then again, Pyrrha knew what fear could do to people. It dulled their senses and narrowed their vision.

And when last night's events sank into her, she was scared.

Seeing Cinder's face and realizing she stole Jaune's body would do that to her.

"So it really is nothing then? We're not in danger of eating each other out like Oz amd his hosts?" Jaune asked, snapping Pyrrha out of her thoughts as her younger version squeaked.

It took Pyrrha a moment to realize just the reason why.

"Phrasing, Jaune!" Pyrrha reprimanded, slapping her own hand towards her face to hide the blush creeping in.

To his credit, Jaune eventually realized once he locked eyes with her.

"S-Sorry!"

"Just.....let's get this over with, alright? This is not the reason I came here anyway." His younger version interjected, sighing tiredly even as a blush crept up his face.

And so there they were, two pairs of the same person blushing towards each other even if one of them was a ghost.

The Blacksmith laughed, the tinkling sound echoing across the room even as she shook her head.

"To answer your question, no, you are not in danger of eating each other out. For the most part, your situation is very different from Ozpin's. You did that on your own. I was just happy to let it happen so you can have a partner."

"What is happening to us then?" Jaune asked curiously as he tilted his head.

"Well......you, Jaune Arc, are becoming a god."

---------

Jaune Arc, becoming a god?

And here Ozpin thought he had lived long enough to see it all.

As advantageous as it was to have a god as a friend, this development did not please him.

Pretending to be a god was relatively easy. One only needed to be so far above others in terms of knowledge and strength that people couldn't help but think them divine.

He should know, he and Salem ruled the world as false gods for a time after all.

But becoming a god? In the truest of senses?

He never even thought of it as a possibility.

Yet here they were, a god proclaiming that Jaune Arc was turning into a god himself.

As surprised as Ozpin was however, none was more surpised than the man himself.

"Say what now?" Ser Jaune Arc blinked, his eyes widening at the Blacksmith's words.

"I said you, Jaune Arc, are turning into a god." The Blacksmith repeated and Ozpin could see the amusement in her eyes as she smiled at them.

"B-But how?!" Ser Jaune Arc gaggled but the Blacksmith only laughed loudly.

"I haven't the faintest idea!"

Ozpin's hands clenched tightly on his cane before relaxing ever so slightly.

Gods truly were capricious. As much as she seemed to care for the Rusted Knight, world shattering news delivered to him was only amusing to her.

It reminded Ozpin uncomfortably of his own dealings with the God of Light.

He was supposed to be the god's champion tasked with ending Salem but all he was given was a mission and nothing else but a curse.

At least Jaune Arc had something to look forward to even if he couldn't wrap his mind around it.

"But how could you tell I'm turning into a god if you don't even know how it is happening?!" Ser Jaune Arc asked but the Blacksmith only raised two fingers towards him.

"Two things and they both dwell inside you. Haven't you ever wondered why you could suddenly use magic?"

Ozpin's eyes narrowed at that even as Ser Arc tilted his head.

"I always thought it had something to do with what I got from the Curious Cat and the Jabberwalker."

The Curious Cat's tail swished down at Ozpin's legs at the mention of its name but it eventually remained quiet, focused, and guarded towards the Blacksmith since she appeared.

The Blacksmith smiled, nodding at Ser Arc's answer like a teacher pleased with her student. "Close but not quite. It has something to do with both and you. I'll be honest, I didn't think it was possible and it might be unique to you but the first time you latched onto their essences and took some for yourself, you amplified them with your Semblance!"

"Right, that's how I'm able to use magic." Ser Arc nodded blankly but the Blacksmith only shook her head.

"Oh, it's more than that. Those essemces stayed with you, Jaune, and transformed into something else." The Blacksmith's eyes glowed and if Ozpin wasn't wrong, she radiated joy with her next words. "Those essences transformed into divine cores, Jaune. Divine cores that fuel your magic and that you are continously growing inside you. Aren't you curious just what those two balls the size of houses inside you were?"

Ozpin watched as Ms. Nikos gasped in rwalization and her eyes blew wide open.

"You mean those things that we were pushing against each other?!"

"Of course, did you think everyone's souls had two giant balls of Creation and Destruction inside of them?" The Blacksmith smiled indulgently even as Ozpin narrowed his eyes.

"I-I thought it was just a representation of a person's light and darkness. Like hving two wolves inside you and such!" Ms. Nikos blushed and the Blacksmith only laughed at her.

"No, dear girl. Those were literal sources of power and given enough time, they may grow to rival those of my children. Truthfully speaking, it feels like I'm about to have a grandchild of my own."

Silence echoed around them as the tinkling laughter died out. Ozpin could still remember the power that emanated from them when the Blacksmith touched Ser Arc and Ms. Nikos.

Creation amd Destruction immediately shot out from them and it is only thanks to his instincts and the Curious Cat's quick reflexes that he and young Mr. Arc were not harmed. They managed to erect a barrier and before they knew it, lightning flashed.

He shook at the effort to keep the shield up but Ozpin was not an immortal wizard for nothing.

He might have spent years worth of magical build up from inside Long Memory just to maintain the shield to hold their power back but hold them back he did.

A chuckle rang out of their room then and all eyes snapped towards Ms. Nikos who began laughing hysterically.

"So all this time, we were never in danger of assimilating each other?!"

"Hmmm, I wouldn't say you were never in danger. I'm sure you could find a way to do so but the question is, do you want to?" The Blacksmith hummed and Ser Arc and Ms. Nikos immediately shook their head at that.

""NO!""

"It seems you are finally in agreement then." The Blacksmith smiled and the two finally looked at each other with a smile.

"It seems we are." Ms. Nikos nodded even as Ser Arc chuckled.

"Promise not to give me the silent treatment again? You really had me worried there, Pyr."

"Mhm! I'm sorry I did that but I promise not to do it again." Ms. Nikos perked up, nodding enthusiastically yet it is not her partner who answered back.

"Great!" Young Mr. Arc clapped between them, snapping everyone's attention back to him as he looked at the Rusted Knight and Ms. Nikos. "Gods, magic, I don't care. Can I finally get my partner back?"

"Of course, Jaune." Ms. Nikos only laughed at that, pinching his cheeks softly to his own embarrassment.

"Now, without further ado, please reach out to each other." The Blacksmith called out, nodding towards both Ms. Nikos and the air beside Ser Arc.

To Ozpin, it looked like Ms. Nikos stretched her hand out past young Mr. Arc's head to touch air but he was sure more than that happened.

He watched as a brief spark glowed in the air before immediately dying down as Ms. Nikos fell forward.

"Jaune?" She whispered and her partner answered with a tight hug.

"Hey, Pyrrha. Don't ever scare me like that again."

As sweet as the scene however, Ozpin's eyes focused on the Rusted Knight.

The man closed his eyes and a soft smile appeared on his face. Eventually, he had to open his eyes and he first looked towards the Blacksmith.

"Thank you, my lady. Really."

"It is as you mortals say, no problem." The Blacksmith smiled magnanimously and Ozpin watched as she tilted her head to the air. "Now if you don't mind, other matters need my attention."

"I still have some questions like about godhood and what the bet is and stuff, but for now that is all from me." Ser Arc sighed in acceptance and they all watched as she laughed while shaking her head as her body started to disappear.

Ozpin had a lot of questions as well but like the Curious Cat, he was satisfied with not getting the god's attention too much.

"All in due time, my champion. Remember, all you need to do is pray."

They all blinked as a short burst of light shone from her outline before completely disappearing and before they knew it, it was as if she had never even been there.

Ozpin watched as Ser Arc then turned to young Mr. Arc and young Ms. Nikos.

"Thank you, both of you, for coming. Pyrrha might have still been giving me the silent treatment if you weren't here to help."

"It is no problem." Ms. Nikos smiled politely even as young Mr. Arc shook his head.

"We actually came here for something else."

"You mentioned that earlier, what is it?" Ser Arc tilted his head but Mr. Arc seemed to have found himself unable to say the words.

His mouth opened and closed and he took on a thoughtful look before deciding showing was better than telling.

Ozpin watched as he took out his Scroll and played a video.

"Oh dear." Ozpin muttered even as Ser Arc sighed tiredlt while the video of a news report detailing the aftermath of last night echoed around the room.

"People died, probably by your hand. I need to know why." Young Mr. Arc stated as he looked at the Rusted Knight intently.

"It wasn't suppose to happen. We were just suppose to bust their operation and arrest some criminals to follow the timeline but we went too far." Ser Arc answered and Ozpin narrowed his eyes at the choice of words even as young Mr. Arc nodded.

"So that's it then. You don't deny it."

The Rusted Knight's eyes widened before narrowing as he looked at his younger self intensely.

"I don't."

The air seemed to freeze between them as if they were two strangers unable to make sense of the other but this time, Ozpin decided to intervene.

Conflict, Ozpin's eyes shone at that and yet it would not do for the Rusted Knight to notice his observation.

And so the need to present hinself delicately.

He coughed loudly, gathering both of their attentions even as he clacked his cane loudly on the floor.

"What you need to understand, Mr. Arc, is that we are at war. Now your counterpart may have went out without intentions to kill but when two sides clash, sometimes we have no other chouce than to choose between them or us. And last night, your counterpart chose us. While the event itself is regrettable, it is something that happens in the field. Something that you hopefully would not need to go through just yet."

There, it was the truth and didn't have any makings of manipulation but for one tidbit. What happened last night laid at Jaune Arc's older self's feet.

Mr. Arc frowned at that and he took a moment to mull Ozpin's words before shaking his head.

"But it wasn't them or us last night, was it?"

Ozpin smiled. Ah, the naivety of youth. While some would think it a liability, Ozpin thought of it as a double-edged sword.

Idealism itself made it easy for him to recruit heroes for Remnant, it was idealism he could not afford in his would-be agents.

And that was what he wished this Jaune Arc to be, his agent. For if he and Ser Arc were ever at odds.....well....it would be best if Ozpin had more pieces to play.

"Let it go, mini-me. What's done is done." Ser Arc sighed tiredly, crossing his arms as he pursed lips. "And with that said, it is obvious I have already messed up the timeline."

Ozpin perked up at that. Was this it? Was he finally going to know more details beyomd that of the Fall of Atlas?

He locked eyes with Ser Arc and no words were needed to convey their arguments. Eventually, Ser Arc sighed in acceptance and Ozpin grinned at his wordless victory.

He would not be grinning for long however because the next moment Ser Arc opened his mouth he dropped a bombshell thatvwpuld leave Ozpin cursing.

"Well, first thing you need to know. Lionheart is a traitor."

--------

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

A lot of exposition and bombshells but afyer all the preparation, we are going to get the action.



Hello everyone, first of all, I am sorry for the unannounced delay and thank you for keeping the faith.

So......what happened to me?

Well, events during the week have forced me to commit more time to real life matters.

For starters, almost a week after my mother's successful surgery, follow-up checkups discovered that her liver was at risk of cancer. Being a part of a family that has a history of having cancer as cause of death, the chances of it being an innocent mistake is incredibly low

This understandably distressed all of us and it was decided that before she undergoes major procedures, me, my wife, and my son would travel and temporarily move in with them.

Work and life arrangements had to be adjusted and so, we would be travelling tomorrow amd it is going to be a long drive.

It is then with a heavy heart that I mention that Thy Rusted Knight will undergo a 1 or 2 weeks hiatus.

I will continue to write however and hopefully after everything settles fown, we could finally get the ball rolling.

I will do my best to still update within the next two weeks but between taking care of a baby and my mother, I am wary of announcing release dates.

For now, look forward to Pineapple Jam's next chapter sometime in the next few days.

I love you all and I am really sorry about this.