#Sister-nora

[horizontwinflames]

Horizon AU: Twin Flames - Isaac's final armor and weapons variations (Zero Dawn Act). Text transcription under the cut after the images!

REPOST, EDIT/USE OR FEED MY ART TO AI ISN'T ALLOWED

Edit: Updated some text on the Oseram and Banuk arts.

You can read Isaac's lore here: [LINK]

Will he use those variations in the story? Yes! :D hehe. Also, in this AU only Aloy wears Oseran armor while only Beta wears Carja armor, because Oseran's armor is too heavy and noisy for Beta's stealth strategies, while Carja's armor is too weak for Aloy's melee fighting style.

This AU has an ongoing fanfic! You can read on Ao3: [LINK]

Text transcription:

Ravager's cannon: It gives Isaac the ability to fire rapidly like a Ravager can, but with much more precision. It can also do charged-up shots for more heavy damage. This is the most noiseless ranged weapon from Isaac, allowing the charged shot to be used for sniping. Up to two coils can be equipped.

Stalker Blade Tail: The swiftest and lightest melee weapon from Isaac's arsenal. It's the best pick to fight against lightweight machines and stealth attacks. Its thin shape and ability to spin and move up and down (at an angle of about 120 degrees) can also be used for precision attacks (e.g., to take off machine components or stealth-stabbing humans).

Nora's stealth armor: The natural materials of this armor allow Isaac to camouflage better within the natural landscape. The lack of metal pieces also helps reduce noise while moving. This armor is resistant to shock and ice damage but weak against fire and corrosion damage. Up to three weaves can be equipped.

Thunderjaw’s Disk Launcher: Isaac can use the disks like a Thunderjaw can or launch them at a high speed. It’s not an easy weapon to use, as its recoil can destabilize Isaac if he’s in movement, and it has a very slow recharge, but it’s the heaviest damage dealer from the arsenal. Its firepower can make big explosions and great area damage. Up to two coils can be equipped.

Thunderjaw’s Tail: It is the second heaviest and slowest melee weapon Isaac has, but when used correctly, it can cause great damage to his targets, destroy some types of human constructions, stun machines, and even kill humans on the spot. Its shovel-like shape also allows Isaac to throw objects away (with very poor precision) or even yeet Aloy and Beta to help them reach places or to aid in some fight strategy.

Oseram's tank armor: Made of the best Oseram hard leather and steel, this armor greatly protects Isaac, making him much more resistant to various damage kinds. However, the materials weigh him and consequently slow him down, thus making him sink underwater, and he needs to use more energy for his leaps and high jumps. This armor is highly resistant to corrosion and fire damage but has some weak spots for ice and shock damage. Up to three weaves can be equipped.

Bellowback’ Snout: This weapon is an adapted version of the Bellowback’s ranged elemental weapon for Isaac. It gives him the ability to shoot fire or acid projectiles. It can also be used as a close-range defense weapon; hence, it can be used as a flamethrower or acid jet-like gun as well. Up to two coils can be equipped.

Stormbird’s Tail: Isaac can use this weapon like a Stormbird: an electric whip-like melee weapon, still keeping the shocking damage but in a much smaller range and potency. However, if not used cautiously, the whip can get stuck in places or be grabbed by bigger machines. This tail is also useful for Isaac to balance himself while climbing or walking in places such as metal columns in ruins. Isaac must have this tail equipped to be able to swim underwater correctly.

Carja’s speed armor: The sisters arranged the traditional Carja clothing adornments in a way that makes Isaac more aerodynamic, and the lightness of the materials also helps Isaac run faster, leap further, and jump higher than he normally could. Although pretty, the materials of this armor aren’t made for battle, leaving Isaac vulnerable to all kinds of damage - especially physical damage. Up to three weaves can be equipped.

Scorcher’s Mine Launcher: Aside from the normal mines a scorcher can use, this version of its weapon also has the option to use stick mines. Either version of ammos can be used on battle strategies of timed controlled explosions, as the mines won’t explode until they get hit. These mines have two versions: fire and electric explosions. Up to two coils can be equipped.

Frostclaw’s Front Paw: The closest Isaac will get to “grabby hands” so far. It’s the biggest physical damage dealer but the slowest melee weapon due to its heavy weight. Isaac can not just inflict heavy damage but also use the big hand to grab huge objects and machines way bigger than him. This weapon is so heavy that it may destabilize him during curves at high speed, compromise his balance while climbing, and increase the needed energy to sprint, jump, and leap.

Banuk Power Armor: The Sobecks learned with the Banuk crafting how to improve the energy flow and distribution on a machine. This armor increases Isaac's total stamina energy and reduces the needed charge to sprint, jump, or leap. The improved energy flow also helps increase the damage from Isaac’s melee and ranged weapons. However, the increase in the energy flow makes Isaac heat up way faster if not used correctly. Up to three weaves can be equipped.

[wlwgif]

BAD SISTERS 2.02 "Penance"

[marisartcorner]

Guerrilla, please! I never asked you anything... I wouldn't mind if something like this happened in a side-quest! BUT PLEASE!

*Ahen* This is my entry for the Horizon Creation Celebration event hosted by @horizon-events <3

I already wanted to make this artwork long ago, and draw it for the event gave me even more fuel to do so. Most of the art techniques in this piece are experimental, and it's the first time I liked a lineless painting and background I did! I want to practice more those techniques in the future!

[the-horizon-lounge3041]

Reposting an oldie

[hartlesshart]

Convoy - transporting precious cargo

[ghostbsuter]

"Here," Danny slides his business card over, and Victor fries takes it.

"Contact my parents, go to Amity Park. They can explain and answer every question you have, Mr. Fries."

Victor, still in his suit and staring, frowns. "What about Nora?"

"I can promise you, she will be alright. I'll give you daily news of her condition and make sure everything is on top condition."

Mr. Fries hesitates, glancing at his frozen wife. He contemplates it, the decision and its cost if he were to trust.

"Nora can't handle transportation in these conditions, but with me here, she will get enough ectoplasm exposure that will make her liminal." Danny explains carefully, eyes crinkling as he looks at the man.

"She will turn into a ghost and come back. Anger may be stronger than love, but love is one of the main emotions one will form in the Infinity Realms."

Victor exhales shakily, breath tinted white from the cold.

"The same will happen to me if I depart to amity park?"

"Yes." The halfa nods. "You will be exposed to ectoplasm like every other civilian there, but unlike here with Nora, my parents will make sure you understand every little thing about this process."

"And if she does come back as a ghost... how long...?"

Danny bites his lip. "I'm not sure. Once her ghost forms, she will be under my protection, many know to not go against me. She will learn of her new culture and then of the traditions."

He explains slowly, making sure Mr. Fries is concentrated and on line with every word he tells.

"Her memories will slowly trickle in, but she will remember and most likely go and find you."

Victor, the ever careful man he is, tilts his head. "How will she come back?"

"My parents again, they have a portal. She will be led to it by associates and friends safely. You will meet her at Amity Park, that's why I suggested moving in the first place. She won't be strong enough to leave amity at first."

"Why me? Why us? This program is not public, and you can not possibly be joking either."

"Valid," Danny shrugs at his gaze. "Call it fondess or maybe attachment, but Nora really grew on me despite... not being very expressive."

—

(They talked for so so long, until Victor Fries aka Mr. Freeze finally agreed and left.

Danny gave them the privacy needed for their temporary goodbye, he would help them, he'd promised so.

And Phantom doesn't break promises.

So he helps Mr. Fries escape Gotham, made sure he arrived at the meeting place with Jazz, and gave updates on Nora in her cryochamber.

He would buy flowers for her, talk, throw jokes, despite no answer.

Aunt Nora's life would flicker at a time, and sooner than later, Danny knew her time was up.

He left when Victor came back, got her out of her sleep, and held her for her last moments. He was here when Victor departed again, ready to prepare his new apartment at Amity for Nora's arrival.

He felt unbridled happiness when the news came back months later that Nora managed to get back. She became a winter spirit like he is, more alive than she was in the last live.

Danny was happy for the Fries family.)

[plumbobem]

support your family's (harmless) conspiracy theories this Thanksgiving.

Naomi: Oh my god, my stomach hurts. [still laughing] And we didn't even start eating yet. Vinny: You guys never take me seriously. @catharsim

[mcmeasle]

Jean Moreau loml welcome to the key ring

[xthescarletbitch]

i’m not crying. you’re crying.

[moths-are-better]

The missing member

Bonus

This is how I’m coping with Nora’s “death”

[howlingday]

Jaune: Y'know, with Bleiss & Bluby around, I can't help but wonder what a "Blaune" would look like...

Ren: Probably a womanizer. That, or the Ultimate Fuckboy(tm).

---------------------------------------------------

A moment before we begin. When I got this ask, I wanted to make a Jaune recolor that wasn't... Well, just a self-insert Jaune. Like, anyone can make a "Jaune" recolor and make them a harem king dickhead, but I don't want that. Hell, you can make a recolor of anyone and make them one-dimensional.

But that's not what I wanna do. See, I wanna do characters like Bleiss in a way where they're sort of mirrors of their counterparts. Bleiss Schnee (or Gele) is an impoverished Weiss as a bastard child of Jacques Schnee. Bluby Rose is Ruby's twin who matured too quickly at Summer Rose's death, becoming emotionally numb to support her sister. Allow me to present to you...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PAUNE

"Good afternoon, students of Beacon Academy." A young man with reddish-brown hair introduced himself with a bow. He wore a set of blinding white armor, shining and glimmering like snowdrift in sunlight. Flowing down his shoulders was a gilded cape, acting as a field for his family emblem, the silhouette of a bird with spread wings. "I'm looking for my brother. Have you seen him around?"

Ren, the stoic member of the two, whirled his head round between his team leader and this newcomer, jaw agape at the abundant similarities between the two armored huntsmen. Jaune raised a brow, as if he'd seen this young man from somewhere before. The young man, in kind, narrowed his eyes at Jaune, though he was distracted by the bewildered look of the dark-haired boy.

"What?" The newcomer flipped out a pocket-mirror. "Do I have something on my face?"

"I'm sorry about my friend." Jaune replied, since Ren couldn't. "Uh... Who is your brother?"

"Cardin Winchester." This time Jaune's eyes almost popped out his skull. "Last I checked, he was a second year at Beacon Academy. I'm visiting for the tournament."

"Oh... You're Cardin's brother!" Jaune wagged a pointed finger.

"Yes." The young man scowled. "It's rude to point, you know." He chided with a pointing finger.

"Oh, sorry." Jaune retreated his finger with a blush of embarrassment.

"Of course you are." The student chuckled. He made a grand demonstration, slapping his hand to his armored chest. "Not everyone can be as perfect as Paune Winchester~!"

Ren started to visibly shake.

"Uh-huh... Well, if you'd like, I can try giving Cardin a call." Jaune pulled out his scroll. "I do have his number."

"Oh?" Paune raised a brow. "Let me guess, you're both his lackeys, members of his team who hang on his every whim?"

"Excuse me." Ren stood, politely rushing away. This became too much for him, so he was going to alleviate his nausea in the restroom. Hopefully, this nuisance would be gone by the time he came out.

"Ren?" Jaune watched as his teammate entered the restroom, a violent retching sound following. "Must have been something he ate." He turned back to Paune. "And, no, I'm not... his lackey..." Jaune's face soured, bitter memories returning to his mind, "I'm a team leader like him. The name's Jaune; Jaune Arc!"

"...Arc?" Paune raised his brow.

"Yeah, I'm-" There was a crack like thunder, echoing down the halls. Jaune felt a burning sensation across his cheek. Bringing a hand to his cheek, he saw Paune towering over him, a white glove in his hand.

"You dare breathe that name in my presence?"

"Huh?" Jaune rubbed his wounded face. "What do you mean?"

"I demand satisfaction, Jaune Arc." He turned away. "Meet me tomorrow in your dueling hall if you are not a coward."

"Dueling hall?"

"If you are not there by noon, then you as much of a coward as your family name."

"What?!" Jaune stood. "What does my family name have to do with anything?!"

"It has EVERYTHING to do with EVERYTHING!" Paune whirled about, pointing to the floor in fury. "And on my family name, I will have my vengeance!"

Jaune was left alone, watching as Paune Winchester, his supposed foe for tomorrow, stormed off with clenched fists, mostly hidden by his wavering gilded cape. Ren stepped out of the bathroom, noting Paune's departure before returning to Jaune.

"What just happened?"

"I..." Jaune looked to Ren. "I think I was just challenged to a duel."

--------------------------------------------------

"A dueling hall?" Nora asked, brow raised at her team leader. "The heck's a dueling hall? Does he mean the library?"

"No, that's just where Ruby and Yang have their duels." Jaune clarified. "Do we even have a dueling hall?"

"We don't." Pyrrha answered. "The closest to a dueling hall we have is the sparring ring for combat class, and that's only used by students with a professor's supervision."

"And I don't think Professor Goodwitch is willing to use the classroom to settle a petty argument between students."

"I mean, he did slap my face." Jaune offered.

"With a glove!" Nora expounded. "Jaune HAS to fight him!"

"Does he, though?" Ren questioned.

"Of course he does!" Nora wrapped herself around Jaune, slapping his chest hard enough to knock the wind out of him. Multiple times. "If he doesn't, he'll be called a coward!"

"I've been called worse." Jaune weakly replied.

"We should just tell the professors about what's happening." Pyrrha offered as a solution. A knock came at the door. She moved to open it. "Dueling isn't condoned by Beacon, or any of the kingdoms."

"That's where you're mistaken, Miss Nikos!" Professor Port announced with a jovial chuckle. "Most kingdoms do not condone unsanctioned duels, save for Vacuo."

"I told you we should've gone to Vacuo, Ren." Nora looked to her partner. "Everything's legal in Vacuo."

"Not everything." Professor Port clarified without clarifying. "But this certainly is!" He held up a stack of papers, about three or four pages thick, and entered with them held out to Jaune. "Read this over, lad!"

Jaune took the pages, reading the title. "Concurrence to Duel." He blinked. "Wait." He read down the page, flipping to read the next, and at the bottom of each page was a signature.

Paune Winchester

"Just sign these documents and we'll be on our way, my boy!"

"Why would I sign this?!" Jaune asked.

"Diplomatic relations, Mr. Arc!" The large man guffawed. "With this agreement, a little tussle between strapping, young men, and Vale and Atlas become bosom besties in no time~!"

"But I don't want to fight, Professor Port!" Jaune argued. "I'm not at Beacon Academy to fight people!"

"Ah, but you may have to, if you recall!" Professor Port turned away. "Why, when I was your age, I was already engaged in more than fifteen duels, three of them against at least three people! And this one time..."

"Jaune, you don't have to do anything you don't want to." Pyrrha offered, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Whatever issues Cardin's brother has can be solved without you getting involved."

"You're right, Pyrrha." He looked to his partner, smiling. "I don't want to, so I'm not going to. And I'll tell that to him to his face tomorrow."

"Why?" Ren asked. "You could just not show up."

"I could, but it wouldn't feel right." Jaune answered. "I mean, he challenged me face-to-face, so I might as well tell him no face-to-face, too, y'know?" He looked to the professor, who was on about his eighth tangent. "Is that okay, Professor Port?"

"Hm? Oh, yes, that's quite alright." He took the papers and stepped out of the dorm. "You'll need that energy for tomorrow, won't you? Goodnight, students!"

"Goodnight~!" Nora waved as she shut the door. "Okay, now about Vacuo..."

--------------------------------------------------

"Why are we going to this duel again?" Weiss asked, walking with her team to the sparring ring.

"Because Jaune is our friend, and we support our friends!" Ruby answered as she wrapped her arm around Weiss' shoulder.

"And this has nothing to do with this being the first duel you've ever seen?"

"That's not true!" Ruby argued, pulling away as though she were wounded by her partner.

"Legal duel." Yang corrected. "What happened at the back of the school back at Signal wasn't anything official."

"Oh..." Ruby quirked her brow. "Wait, then all those fights you got into-?"

"Yup!" Yang nodded.

"And how many of those fights did you start?" Blake asked.

"None~!" Yang grinned.

"All of them." Ruby clarified.

"Hey, it's Jaune!" Yang ran up to the sister team leader, refusing to explain her 10+ to nothing record. "So, ya ready for the big fight? All limbered up and ready to knock some sense into this punk Atlas kid?" She turned to Weiss. "No offense."

"Some taken." Weiss glared.

"I-I'm not going to fight anyone!" Jaune held up his hands in an awkwardly defensive motion.

"Oh, right!" Yang snapped her fingers. "This is a 'duel,' so it's all nice and legal~!"

"No, I mean I'm not going to fight anyone." Jaune rolled his eyes. "I'm going to walk inside and tell Paune that this is all a big misunderstanding."

"Boo!" Yang held her thumb downward as she jeered her fellow blond.

"Yang..." Jaune sighed.

"It's the smart thing to do." Weiss nodded.

"Thanks, Weiss!" Jaune beamed at agreement.

"Against a properly trained student, even someone from a junior institution, you'd only make a fool of yourself."

"Oh, thanks, Weiss..." Jaune slumped.

"Where's your team, Jaune?" Blake asked, noting him being alone.

"Nora and Ren are already inside," Jaune jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, "and Pyrrha went to go get a professor."

"Why?" Ruby asked. "I thought you were going to just talk to... Um... What was his name?"

"Paune Winchester." The girls each made a face at the name. "And Pyrrha said she wanted to be sure nothing happens while we're talking. She told me not to head inside until she came back."

"Well, we're gonna head in." Yang placed her hand on the door. "Wanna get the best seats in the house for this."

"Yang, I told you, nothing is going to happen..."

Jaune's argument became softer as a loud murmur emerged from the cracking of the door. As Yang pushed the door wider, the sound became louder and Jaune's words died before they could mean anything. Looking inside, every seat in the Beacon sparring room was filled. He saw a huge banner being held up by Ren and Nora, the latter of whom pointed him out and cheered, receiving a thunderous following by the rest of the Beacon Academy students. Like a moth to a flame, Jaune walked in and was given even more accolades by his peers and seniors.

"So..." Yang gave a smirk. "Nothing's gonna happen, right?"

--------------------------------------------------

"You don't have to do this, Paune."

"I have to, Cardin." The youngest huffed at his eldest. He tightened the strap of his armor, barely moving the chest plate as it was already tightened as far as it would go. Cardin was leaning against the wall, rolling his eyes at his little brother. He'd lost count of how many times this was. "We are Winchesters. We are winners!"

"Okay, let me try this then." Cardin gave a stern glare. "You SHOULDN'T do this. I fought Jaune before and he's not as shrimpy as you think."

"I'm not concerned with his stature. Even the mightiest trees fall to the right axe."

"Let me guess," Cardin pushed himself away from the wall, "another piece of that 'sage advice' from those Katz tutors of yours?"

"Why, yes!" The younger beamed. "I take it you've been watching their instructional videos?"

"No, because I know better than to trust some dope on a TV screen." Cardin sighed. "Paune, if you go out there, you're just going to make an ass out of yourself."

"You mean like you did when Jaune had to save your butt?" Paune gave a cheeky smirk.

"Yeah, when Jaune had to save my ass." Cardin rolled his eyes, yet again. "Look, if you just go out there and talk it out, I'm sure Jaune will let this go. Heck, I don't even know why he agreed to this! What, did you make fun of his team?"

"The only insult was the one that oaf delivered."

"And what did he even do?" Cardin asked. From outside the locker room, there was an uproar from the stands. Both could hear Nora shouting cheers at her leader from across the auditorium. Taking it as his cue to leave, Paune made his way to the exit. "Hey! We're not done talking!"

"Because we are beyond talking, Cardin." Without looking back, the younger brother snarled. "Now is the time for vengeance."

--------------------------------------------------

"Greeting, Beacon Academy~!" Professor Port boasted from within the ring. "Are you ready for a d-d-d- d-d-d-dueeeeeeeel~?!" The crowd roared in response as Jaune and his opponent, Paune, entered the ring.

"Professor Port, what the heck is this?!" Jaune shouted, partially deafened by the screaming crowd.

Pulling the mic away, the mustached teacher replied. "It's called being a hype-man, Mr. Arc! It's quite common in sporting events. Didn't Ms. Nikos tell you from her days in the ring?"

"No, she didn't, and that's also not what I'm talking about!" Jaune gestured to the crowd surrounding them. "I mean, what the heck is this crowd doing here?!"

"They're here for the duel, Mr. Arc!"

"I said I wasn't doing the duel!"

"Oh, are you that much of a coward?" Paune sneered, taking hold of the Professor's microphone. He gestured to the quieting crowd. "These people intend to see the first duel at Beacon in years, but you're too afraid to face me even in the ring?" He held the microphone out to Jaune.

"Uh..." Jaune gulped, realizing the crowd was listening to what he had to say. "Well... That is..."

"You can't even speak, you're so scared!" Paune guffawed into the mic. "No wonder your team is so weak!"

"Hey!" Jaune and Nora barked in unison, the latter nearly breaking her 'Go Jaune~!' banner.

"I guess an Arc truly is as worthy as their word if you're their honor-guard!" Paune shook his head. "Well, if you won't fight, then I'm sure you can have that partner of yours fight your battles for you, like she always does."

"Jaune!"

"Oh, and look who it is! Speak of the Grimm!"

Pyrrha ran up to the stage. "Jaune, you don't have to fight him!"

"He's right, Mr. Arc." Professor Goodwitch concurred, giving a glare at the shrinking Port. "So long as you don't sign that paper, there will be no fight." The crowd jeered at this. "QUIET!" She bellowed, not needing a microphone to get her point across.

"So, you intend to run away, tail tucked between your legs? Typical..." The Winchester boy clicked his tongue. "You'd rather hide behind bureaucracy than face me like a man in battle. I'd say you were the weaker man if not for your fragile stomach of a compatriot in the stands." The crowd made murmurs as eyes drifted to the blushing Ren. "If you'd rather I fight him, then I'd be more than happy to oblige."

"Jaune-" But it was too late for Pyrrha to talk sense into her leader. Taking hold of the papers in Professor Port's hands, he signed his name, before shoving the documents back into his meaty mitts. He then snatched the microphone from Paune.

"Fine!" Jaune barked. "You wanna fight?! Then let's fight!" The crowd roared in cheer.

"Oh, Jaune..." Pyrrha sighed.

"You heard him, Beacon~!" Professor Port took the microphone back. "IT'S TIME FOR A SHOWDOOOWN~!"

The crowd screamed as the words were called out. Pyrrha gave a sigh as Nora suddenly arrived with Jaune's weapon. She had access to Jaune's locker code, some way somehow despite his constant changing of the locker and code. In a blink, she was back in the stands to cheer for Jaune with Ren.

Across the arena was Cardin, looking to his younger brother with a familiar tension in his face. Pyrrha had seen this look many times before, all from managers and coaches who weren't confident in their athletes. It seemed he was worried about his brother in a similar way she was concerned about Jaune.

'He'll be fine.' Pyrrha thought, glancing to Jaune as he readied his sword and shield.

"Duelist, are you ready?!" Professor Port called, hand pointing to the younger man across the arena.

"Always ready!" Paune called back, repeating the response they were taught at Bulwark. Behind him, a long, purple staff extended into variant shades of lilac, lavender, and other purples.

"Duelist, are you ready?!" This time to Jaune.

"Ready!" Jaune brought his shield close.

"This will be old-school rules; first one to have their aura drop into the red forfeits!" Professor Port raised his palm high. "READY... BEGIN!"

As the professor jumped away, Paune wasted no time closing the gap between the two fighters, swinging his staff forward to reveal the bladed edge of his spear. It struck home, pushing Jaune back a bit as he noticed the dent in the middle of his shield. He'd need to avoid taking attacks like that in the future. Paune began jabbing with his spear, to which Jaune responded by moving to the side and removing the distance between.

Jaune swung with his blade, and Paune blocked with his staff. The younger grinned as he twisted the shaft and split his weapon in two, switching his style to something more akin to stick-fighting. The older was put on the backfoot again as his shield and armor began being pummeled by repeated strikes by the bladed and blunt weapons.

"What's the matter, Arc?!" Paune taunted. "Feeling overwhelmed?!"

Jaune brought his shield close and then thrusted outward, striking his opponent off-balance. Taking advantage of this, he jabbed Paune in the shoulder, making his aura shimmer as he grunted.

"No, are you?" Jaune chuckled. The crowd laughed, making both combatants blush. One was from being admired, the other from humiliation. Paune would switch their placements.

Clicking his spear together once more, Paune held the blade to the rear before charging once again. At the last second, he struck the ground and launched himself into the air, twisting his spear round and diving with blade pointed for Jaune's head. Jaune held up his shield and stepped aside, allowing Paune to drive his blade into the ground.

"Uh..." Jaune blinked as his opponent didn't move from where he crashed down. "Are you okay?"

"D..." Paune gritted his teeth. "Do not patronize me, Arc! I am a Winchester!" He stood and grunted as he pulled on his weapon. "And... a Winchester... always... ngh... wins...!"

Jaune looked to Pyrrha, who shrugged, before walking over and taking hold of the weapon. With a single yank, the blade came free. The two looked to each other, both not quite sure what to make of what just happened. For Paune, it was the single most embarrassing thing to happen in his career as a Huntsman... in training. For Jaune, it was extremely awkward, partially because he knew exactly how his opponent was feeling right now.

Some students began to murmur. They were expecting a tense battle between two feuding students of illustrious schools. But this... This was more like a playground dispute, with their ages embarrassingly showing. With only three words, the entire crowd was in an uproar.

"You guys suck!" Nora cried, earning the howls of agreement from the other students.

"Man..." Jaune sighed. "Everyone else is thinking this is a bad idea, huh-"

Paune didn't look his foe in the eyes. It was clear he was hiding something, though the stains on the floor revealed this secret far more clearly. The young Winchester was holding back his tears, and failing to do so, all because he was making a fool of himself from a single attack. He held a lot of pride in himself, something Jaune could definitely relate to. Which was probably why he did what he did next.

"AGH!" With a clatter, his sword fell to the ground, and Jaune fell to his knees, using his shield hand to hold his forearm. "My... My hand!"

"Huh?" Paune quirked a brow. "What are you..."

"I have fallen into your trap!" Jaune shouted. "Your weapon has a secret defense that only YOU can hold onto!"

"He does?" A student murmured.

"What's going on?" Another remarked.

"Oh, that's so cool!" A familiar voice called. "Weiss, I should totally get one of those!"

"You dolt..." Weiss groused.

"What are you doing?" Paune asked, shaking the tears from his eyes. "My weapon doesn't have that."

"I'm helping you out." Jaune whispered.

Paune flared his nostrils. "You think I need your pity?"

"YES!" Jaune called out. "PLEASE, HAVE MERCY ON ME~!"

"You expect me to play into your games, Arc?" Paune snarled, turning away. He then smiled and turned again. "Then you are mistaken! A Winchester never wins with mercy~!"

"Agh~!" Jaune cried as he jumped out of the ring. "You're way too strong for me! I have been completely defeated~!"

"THE WINNER BY RING OUT, PAUNE WINCHESTER!" There was a slow clap from the audience until it built into a roaring applause. Nobody seemed to care that this wasn't technically a win since they both still had near-full aura.

Paune beamed at his victory, as handed as it was. "Yes~! A victory for Paune Winchester~!"

--------------------------------------------------

"So you just handed him the win?" Nora asked.

"He needed a win more than I did, Nora." Jaune answered. "And besides, even if I did win, I'd just look like a bully to everyone."

"And now, you look like someone who couldn't beat a beginner student in one-on-one combat." Ren replied, making Jaune flinch at how much worse that sounded.

"You did a good thing, Jaune." Pyrrha smiled. "Sometimes helping other people means giving up a win."

"Have you ever let me win to help me, Pyrrha?" Jaune asked.

"Oh no, I haven't let you win once, Jaune." Pyrrha giggled. "You need to earn a victory from me." Jaune slumped at this.

"You there, Arc!" Jaune turned to see Paune standing behind him, his older brother standing next to him. The young man cleared his throat. "Excuse me. Jaune."

"Uh, yeah?" Jaune answered. "What's up... Paune?"

"I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. It was unbecoming of a huntsman-in-training such as myself."

"Er, none taken."

"From him." Nora clarified, getting between the two duelists. "I still haven't forgiven you for what you said about Ren!" She shook her fist at the young man, making him flinch and put his arms up in defense. Ren took hold of his partner and pulled her away to the side.

"A-And I apologize for the things I said about your team as well." Paune clarified. "I should have known your team means as much to you as you do to them."

Jaune chuckled. "You're right." He looked to Ren and Nora, the former trying to calm the latter, then to Pyrrha at his side. "They mean everything to me."

"I hope I have a team as close when I attend Atlas."

"Or Beacon?" Jaune asked.

"Yeah, right!" Cardin barked a laugh. "This guy is only interested in one thing; getting to Atlas and being a specialist!"

"A specialist?" Pyrrha asked.

"I've heard stories about specialists growing up. Undaunted champions who never lose to anyone or anything!" Paune struck a fist to his chest. "Truly an academy of winners!"

"Well, best of luck to you, Paune." Jaune smiled. Then he furrowed his brow in thought. "Actually, now that I think about it, the only reason this whole thing started was because of my last name. Why is that?"

"You didn't know?" Paune asked. "I thought you of all people would know of the crime your family committed."

"Crime?" Jaune repeated.

"CRIME?!" Nora repeated, much more eagerly.

"Yes, the crime of humiliating me!" Paune scowled. "I'll never forgive you or your family for what your sister did to me!"

"My sister? Which sister?"

"The one in the overalls who bullied me relentlessly when I was younger."

"Overalls...?"

---------------------------------------------------

Jaune came home from working the Mr. Salt's fields. His parents convinced him that if he was going to be living in their house, then he had to pull his weight and help provide for the family. As he entered, he saw his sister sitting with a scowling pout on her face.

"Hey-"

"Don't talk to her, Jaune." Jaune looked to the kitchen where his mother was cutting vegetables. "She's in trouble."

"Uh, for what?"

"For getting into a fight." She huffed. "She sent a boy home in tears, and I had to hear about it from his mother!"

"Really?" Jaune looked to his sister, arms folded over her pink overalls. "But she's eight!"

---------------------------------------------------

"Sherry?!" Jaune exclaimed, surprised that even after he left home, he was still picking up after his youngest sister.

[horizontwinflames]

Some quick studies I did of buff Aloy in this alternative universe a time ago. This is how she'll look on the Forbidden West act in front. I'm using real professional wrestler women as references for this.

Also, yeah, in the FW act she's tired... like, really mentally tired.

[lovelychips]

rip neil josten you would’ve loved family line by conan gray

[marisartcorner]

Big sis teaching little sis* how to deal with her problems from the distance, I mean... how to use a bow.

*I haven't yet seen canon info if they have a significant age difference, that's just the vibes they give to me.

By the way, I'm starting to sketch a Horizon AU where -we forget about some timeline events- Aloy met Beta by the prologue of HZD, and they grow up together, both being raised by Rost - I'm calling it "Horizon AU: The Twin Flames". I made a dedicated side blog for that @horizontwinflames , it's still very in the beggining, but I will start to post there soon.

[the-horizon-lounge3041]

I know this isn't Harpy Aloy but I would love to see your pictures of Aloy holding the shark and Beta next to her but since she isn't as strong she is holding a smaller fish

Chaotic duo🦈🐟

[hartlesshart]

Steel Snare

I have many feelings about Beta watching over Aloy during this fight