Blazblue: Ashes to Ashes

Memories Part 1

For the next year and a half of his life, Jacky was constantly fighting with Valkenhayn and every time he would get his ass kicked. For every loss, Jacky was forced to do chores around Rachel's castle.
"Why can't I beat the old man? Is there some trick up his sleeve he's exploiting or what?"
"There are no tricks, I assure you, Master Ray," Valkenhayn replied. Jacky jumped after hearing him. How did he sneak up on him? Jacky was a member of the NOL Assassin's Unit and he was one of the best. How could a decrepit old man sneak up on him like he did?
Well, then again, how does an old man kick an assassin's ass all over the rose garden three times over? It was a mystery that he just had to bear not knowing.
Jacky was carrying tea towards the garden where Rachel was sitting at a table and basically bullying her familiars. However, Jacky didn't really feel sorry for them in the least, considering they were the most annoying things ever.
He set down the tea and resisted the urge to punch Nago and Gii as they made passing comments about him being a dirty little dragon. "You know, I have enjoyed seeing you thrown about by my butler, Jacky," Rachel said. He groaned exhaustedly, but resisted an even more tempting urge to punch Rachel or at least snap at her. If he did, he would get yet another lightning bolt in response.
As Jacky was about to take his silent leave, Nago swept his tail at his legs and tripped him, giving him a one-way ticket into the ground.
"Ooh, watch where you walk, kid. You almost stepped on my tail. I'd have to claw your eyes out if you ruined my precious tail." Jacky clenched his fists and grit his teeth, fighting off the urge to completely rip that cat to shreds. Getting pummeled by Valkenhayn was one thing, he was an experienced fighter. Taking insults was also something he didn't care less about. Being a Beastkin, he was used to being insulted and prejudiced. (At least until he used a bit of Ars Magus to cloak his true appearance and make himself look human) However, being bullied by something he could reduce to ash was something else altogether.
Jacky summoned Drakos and swung it at Nago, who barely managed to dodge it. Nago took off with Jacky chasing after him, sword in hand. "Get back here, you damn feline!"

"Help me, princess!" Rachel chuckled as she drank her tea. "My, he certainly is entertaining."

After Jacky managed to give Nago second-degree burns, he and Valkenhayn went back to sparring with each other. "Why do you even bother fighting me, Valkenhayn? I haven't beaten you once since we started doing this."
"It is what Madame Rachel has asked me to do, and so I shall do what my lady orders me to do," he replied. Valkenhayn delivered a swift punch and knocked Jacky down to the ground. As Valkenhayn helped him up, Jacky noticed something in the distance. It looked like a black ball of sludge.
"Azure, azure, azure, azure! I smell the azure, give it to me!" The slime ball rose up and charged forward towards Jacky and Valkenhayn. Jacky summoned Drakos and blocked an attack by what appeared to be a bone-like limb.
"What the hell are you?"
"Azure, Azure, Azure!" The strange being pushed him back onto the ground and grab him. "Time to eat!" It exclaimed gleefully.
"Oh no, you don't, you filthy trash pile."

Restraint levels 1 through 3 released.
Ethereal Wings deployed
Dragon Scales deployed
Wings and scales that cut through the earth and sky,
Rip through the air and destroy my obstacles as they obstruct my path to the future.

Fire burst from the monster's black body and Jacky emerged. There were bony spikes protruding from his shoulders, scales covered his skin, and his eyes turned red. "You want to eat something? Then eat my sword!" He swung Drakos, conjuring fire that burned at the creature. He then thrust Drakos into its body and ascended to the sky, flapping his red wings rapidly. "Are you scared, monster? You'd better be scared."
With a powerful swing of the sword, the creature flew off the blade of Drakos, plummeting to the ground. Before it could make impact, it disappeared. Jacky landed down into the rose bed. "Forgive me for asking, but why did you teleport it, Rachel?"
"I will not let such a pitiful creature touch my roses," she said simply.
"Well, whatever the case, it's probably going to die." Rachel shook her head and drank her tea. "Arakune will not die from that. He has survived worse injuries." Arakune was its name? "I must say, I've never seen you unleash that kind of power."
"I don't like to showcase my real power often, Rachel. Broadcasting it to everyone would leave no element of surprise in my arsenal for combat."
"So you refuse to unleash your power until the situation calls for it? Quite a tactic to make everyone assume you are nothing more than a second-rate swordsman fighting desperately. You are quite the opposite of someone else I know. Unlike you, he constantly swings his sword with no regard for anyone other than himself. He unleashes his power without thinking and throws himself into the midst of battle, not knowing whether or not he can truly defeat his opponent. You, however, wait for the best opportunities and reserve your power whenever it is not needed. You handle things with tactics and you even hide from others in order to get the jump on them, correct?"
"I'd say that sums me up pretty well."
"That's a good thing, considering the power you wield. It is best for someone reserved to carry the power of the dragon." The power of the dragon must be Jacky's Thirteen Restraints power. Why does she say that he would be destroyed if he were unreserved? Jacky wanted to ask her further, but she looked irritable and the one thing he's learned during his stay here is that if he were to anger her, then it's zappy time. Rachel looked down at her teacup and the teapot and requested more.
Jacky placed the cup and teapot on a tray and headed back to the castle to make more.
"What is so bad about my power?" He thought to himself as he brewed a fresh pot of tea. "What kind of drawback could be so terrible that she would go so far as to say I would destroy myself."
He spaced out for a moment, his imagination wandering.
When the tea was finished, he headed back to the gates where Rachel was seated and poured her a fresh cup. As she took a sip, she looked towards the gates with recognition in her eyes. Jacky followed her gaze, finding an unexpected visitor standing before them.
"Master Jubei?"