Chapter 26: Fear, Regret, Reflection, and Pain

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[Years Ago...]

It was night.

In his funeral attire, Jaune (7) was shown sitting against the wall, his arms on his knees. He looked out, seeing his grandparents' coffins illuminated by the moonlight. The sight made him cry again and bury his face in his arms.

Soon, a man walked over to Jaune.

"Hey, Jaune," A man said showing up with a plate of food.

"Oh. It's you," Jaune responded, recognizing him.

*SNIFFLE.*

He wiped away his tears and snot with his sleeve, trying to look all well.

"I thought you'd be hungry."

"Oh. Uh, thanks. I'm good though," Jaune said not feeling hungry.

The man looked worried. Jaune hadn't eaten anything for breakfast or lunch today. He couldn't blame him. He lost his grandparents, and it was greatly affecting him.

Rather than force Jaune to eat, he put the plate to the side and sat next to Jaune, willing to hear him out.

"If there's anything you want to talk about? I'm here."

Truth be told, there was one question Jaune had. Whenever he asked this question to his parents and/or other relatives, they would dodge the question or tell him he didn't need to know, believing he was too young to know or had no business knowing. 

Jaune looked at his grandparents' coffins and lowered his head as tears fell to the floor.

"Why, Ash?" Jaune asked, crying.

"Why did this happen?"

[Present Day: Hours before Jaune appeared at the Gu Prison]

Today was a day of reflection...And destruction.

[Vale: General Hospital]

It's been a few days since the fight with Jaune. Jenos was walking around the ICU. His right arm was in a sling. Soon, he stopped by a room. He looked through the glass wall, seeing Beluga. He lay on the bed hooked up with an oxygen mask and other life support machines. The healing semblances they had in the hospital were very limited, so they had to ration the healing, especially given the large flux of patients. Luckily, more healers would be arriving today.

Jenos felt sorry for his family/friend/comrade. He felt worse knowing who put Beluga in this state.

"Jaune," He thought.

Never in a million years could Jenos see Jaune becoming like the monsters he hunted in Chronos. He closed his eyes, as he remembered who Jaune was before.

[Flashback-Begin]

Jaune (7) wore a blue shirt with the Arc emblem on it, blue jean overalls, and black sneakers. At that moment, he was seen walking down the hallway, carrying two stacks of blankets and four pillows, that covered his face.

Soon, Jenos (17) and Ash (17) walk near him.

Jenos wore a purple shirt with the Arc emblem on it, blue jeans, and white high tops with gold-colored laces.

Ash wore a white shirt with the Arc emblem on it, blue jean overalls, and brown boots. However, what was most notable was his spiked, blonde hair, kept up by a red bandana. Seeing how tall it was, his head looked like it was a bundle of wheat or a broom.

"What you got there, bud?" Ash asked.

"Pillows and blankets for Beluga. He's napping in the living room," Jaune said.

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