mylittlejamjar | 2nd Idea [Accidental Visual]

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2nd Idea [Accidental Visual]

[With everything settling back down again, it should be the best time to relax. But it apparently was the opposite for Tadashi, who could be seen pacing around his room at the commune. His tail flicked with every turn, and the expression on his face was more agitated and troubled than normal for those who had seen him before.

Another passing turn had him pausing, finally noticing the scroll was open. And for a moment he almost seemed to glare at it, his hardened expression persisting as he debated whether to simply roll it up.

But it only lasted a moment before his expression softened, and he managed a small, if somewhat weary smile.]

Anyone feel like grabbing a drink?

...Or taking a walk. Or...something.

[It just seemed like he could use the company.]

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Hmm...

[She was frowning again, but in thought now. She didn't want to admit it but Tadashi did have a slight point there.]

If Calice sends you back, she'll just return you to the point in time she pulled you from.

[Because Calice was an asshole who delighted in other people's misery.]

Maybe if we found a way out that wasn't through her you could pick an earlier time to return to and just...not run into that burning building or something.

[Like, really, Tadashi. Really.

And then the frown returned.]

But there's no telling how long it'll be until we figure out how to do that. And Calice could send you back before we manage it.

[Because again. Asshole.

She trotted off a little further into the training grounds, pacing somewhat back and forth in thought. If there was one thing Yang could be stubborn about, it was finding answers and she would find an answer to this.]

I guess...although if I don't go into the burning building, that might...mess up what happens later.

[He'd like to be alive, sure, but...he didn't know if he wanted to risk that.]

[She turned back towards him with a slight stamp of her back hoof.]

Tadashi, I admire your heroism but you're not obligated to be a sacrifice for somebody else.

[It wasn't selfish to want to live. Even the Huntsmen and Huntresses back in her world, the protectors of the people, didn't go out of their way to get themselves killed. You couldn't help people if you were dead.

She rolled her eyes, turning her head back forwards with the motion and started pacing again.]

Besides, if you survive and you remember what Hiro told you, then you can just help make sure whatever else was supposed to happen...happens.

["Yang Xiao Long's Guide to Flipping Paradoxes the Bird".]

[He frowned a bit.]

I suppose that's true. But the question is how to do that?

Working on it.

[This time she hadn't even bothered looking at him, staring at the ground as she paced. The movement wasn't agitated though. Just a controlled back and forth, like the problem was an opponent she simply had to beat into submission.

And since Yang tended to banter when she fought...]

When a friend of mine was sent back to our home-world for a short while, he didn't take anything he'd gotten here with him. And I think the same thing might have happened to Ruby when she briefly went home too.

So some kind of armor's no good.

[It'd just be left here if Calice returned him.

She huffed air through her nose, turning and working down another train of thought.]

One of the ponies here might know a spell that could make you fire-proof or something.

[Dust knew the Communes could use one while they were at it, even if she didn't live there anymore.

Her frown deepened again as she made another turn.]

But it might not stay with you if you return to your regular body. And there's always the chance this world's magic won't work anywhere else but here.

[She certainly wouldn't expect it to work in her world where there wasn't any. Plus with Calice's knowledge of likely everything there was to know about this world's magic, they'd risk her sensing it and removing it.

Yang gave a snort, sounding a little frustrated now.

She was much better at giving ideas and suggestions than she was at critiquing her own, but she couldn't take a chance here. Not with Tadashi's life at stake. Nonetheless it was irritating getting an idea and then having to work out where it could possibly fail. She didn't like thinking like that.]

Rrgh, there has to be something we can do!

[She was not going to just let this go. She could figure this out.]

[Tadashi was silent a moment, his tail flicking just a bit as he watched her.

If she was going through all the effort to think of a way to keep him alive...he could at least help out.]

If we're talking about protection...it would have be something that's part of me.

[He'd heard the explanation of what Calice did to them when she brought them here.]

But I think the only thing that would really be left is...my soul?

[He hadn't really given much though to souls and afterlife, but...if that was true, it didn't leave them with too many options.]

[Yang froze in her tracks, facing away from him, but her ears clearly up as if in alarm or surprise.]

...Your soul.

[She turned and looked at him, wide-eyed.]

Your soul. That's it!

[Yang closed the distance between them with two short bounds, coming to a stop in front of him and just inside of his personal space bubble.

Complete with a slightly too wide grin on her face.]

Your soul can be your shield!

[He can't help leaning back a bit as she gets in his face, and he can only stare at her as he tried to process her words.]

...What?

[She laughs a little, still grinning but a touch less...maniacally.]

Aura.

The answer is Aura.

Aura?

[Of course he's heard of aura, but how was that going to help?]

Warriors in my world protect themselves with their souls. Their Aura.

[Her smile softened to something a little more proud.]

Huntsmen and Huntresses like me are able to control our Aura so that we can project it outwardly and shield ourselves from harm.

[The end of her mouth quirked a little.]

If you slashed me with a sword, my Aura would be able to protect me, even if it would have been a fatal blow without it. It can protect the wielder from blunt force too and...

[She paused, hoping Tadashi was starting to see where she was going with this before continuing.]

It can shield you from explosions.

Trust me, I know. Somebody fired a rocket launcher at me once.

[Several times actually.

...Don't ask her what she was doing that led to that.]

[Wait, why...? Never mind, maybe he was safer not asking.

He's really considering this. If it was possible to use his soul to protect himself, then maybe...]

That's...people from your world, though. You think someone like me would be able to learn how to do that?

[She gave a small laugh.]

Why wouldn't you? You have a soul. Whether you're a human or an animal that's all you need.

[So whether Tadashi was a pony or a human, this would still work.]

And anyone can learn how to use their Aura. It just takes practice.

[After all, Huntsmen and Huntresses came from all walks of life.

Besides if somebody like...well, Jaune could utilize Aura, Tadashi would be fine.

The expression on her face grew confident.]

Somebody just has to unlock it first.

[Tadashi's silent as he thinks for a moment. He's not entirely convinced, but it was worth a shot.]

Okay...How do we unlock it?

That's easy. I can use my Aura to unlock yours.

[It'd been years since she first began her own training but it was hard to forget something like that.

It wasn't like it actually mattered though, as given the way Yang was practically exuding confidence and smiles right now it was pretty clear she knew what she was talking about.

This was definitely something she had lots of experience doing.

Yep.]

...Is that dangerous?

[This was all dealing with souls, right? So if she's using her soul to unlock his...

That sounds like stuff can go wrong.]

[She gave a small giggle. Such a worrywart.

The last thing she wanted was for him to find some other reason to not go through with this though, so she smiled reassuringly.]

Don't worry. The worst that could happen would be, well...nothing happening.

[That was honestly the worst case scenario she could think of since this was the best solution they'd found yet.]

It'll be fine. This will work.

[You should talk to his brother, then you'll see how much worrying he actually does.

He still seemed a bit reluctant, but after a long moment he nodded.]

All right. Couldn't hurt to try.

[...Right?]

[She smiled warmly, voice full of cheer despite his reluctance.]

Just trust me, okay?

[Naturally, she followed that sentence up by stepping closer to him, almost nose to nose, and inclined her head a little in a gesture for him to do the same.]

Close your eyes and concentrate. ...Try to think about what makes you "you".

[It was tricky to explain what Tadashi was supposed to focus on when he hadn't grown up in a world where people used their Aura, but hopefully that would suffice. This was mostly on her to succeed anyway.]

[Despite his hesitation, he gave a small smile and nodded.]

Okay...

[At his gesture, he stepped a bit closer, taking a breath.

What made him him, huh?

Closing his eyes, he thought, letting his mind wander as he tried to imagine what exactly that was.]

[Once Tadashi's eyes had closed, she smiled, lightly touching her forehead against his and then closed her eyes as well.

Projecting her Aura in battle was second nature to her now. It was like breathing; she did it almost passively, without really needing to think about it. People could think what they wanted about her and her approach to most things but she had excellent control over her Aura. The nature of her Semblance depended on it. And it was the reason she could explode her Aura outward so violently when somebody made her angry enough.

She could do this. It was different from using her Aura while fighting but she could do this.

Focusing, her eyes snapped open briefly, lavender irises constricting as she amplified her Aura, a yellow-orange glow rising up around her like a flame. Then she shut her eyes again, concentrating her Aura towards Tadashi. If he felt anything at all as she attempted to reach out towards him, her Aura would feel warm. Not the angry, destructive burn of a fire, but that of a bright sun on a perfect summer day.]

[Tadashi took a breath, feeling as that gentle warmth flowed over him, seeming to reach inside him, like someone holding their hand out for him to take.

And as he grasping the outstretched hand, he found the warmth suddenly swell from inside him, pulsing outwards. If his eyes had been opened, he would have noticed the white glow surrounding his body.]

["For it is in passing that we achieve immortality..."

It just wasn't right. That Tadashi would have to die so pointlessly the moment he returned home. Yang could accept death as a natural thing that happened. And it was a risk those in her profession understood well, but...

"Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all..."

Perhaps it would have been different if Tadashi's sacrifice hadn't been almost completely in vain. Trying to save a teacher he trusted, who'd set a fire just for his own selfish gain, leaving Tadashi to die a horrible death.

Leaving Tadashi's little brother Hiro, a boy about the same age as her own sister, with the weight of another loss, on top of those of his parents.

Robbing the two of them of a chance to accomplish their dreams together.

It made her angry.

It made her want to do something about it.

"Infinite in distance and unbound by death..."

While she was concentrating, Yang had lifted a foreleg, resting her hoof gently against Tadashi's chest, feeling his heart beat underneath.

This could work.

It had to work.

It'd at least give him a chance. Maybe not much of one, but it was something. If he could learn how to shield himself with his own Aura, he could survive the explosion and the fire. Even if he couldn't completely protect himself against it, it might keep his wounds from being fatal.

It was worth a try.

"I release your soul..."

Tadashi might not have been from her world, but he had a soul. She was sure of that. She could sense it, just beyond the edges of her own Aura . And with practice he'd be able to manifest his Aura as well.

She just had to unlock it first.

If she could just reach far enough...

Abruptly, it felt like she'd touched something, energy stirring to life and forcing her away protectively. Complete with the sensation of stumbling backwards.

Actually...she may have genuinely stumbled.

"...and by...and by my-...my shoulder...protect...thee..."

Something had gone wrong.

Or perhaps something had gone right and she just hadn't prepared for it.

Her Aura suddenly felt as though it had been all but torn from her through her exertions and the fiery glow radiating off her dwindled down to nothing. A deep fatigue seized her and she slumped forward a little into Tadashi, her back legs threatening to give out from under her. Opening her eyes to try and steady herself, the ground seemed to swirl up towards her and her vision tunneled into black.

Swaying away from Tadashi with a quiet gasp, Yang crumpled limply to the ground.]

[His eyes opened when the warmth seemed to stop so abruptly...not his, not the one from within him, but the one around him.]

Yang...!

[He somehow managed to wrap his forelegs around her, making her descent less of a drop as he carefully eased her to the ground.]

[She hung lifelessly in his hold as he slowed her fall but at least upon a closer look it was clear she was still breathing, merely unconscious.

She'd remain that way for several long moments though, lying prone wherever Tadashi had gently lowered her to the ground before, finally, she began to stir with a soft groan of complaint.]

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