Ephemeral Dream

Summary: Jaune Arc isn't strong, smart, or skilled. Even so, he dreams of a future in which he is a Huntsman. He dreams of friendship, combat, and love. But every dreamer must wake. "Not yet…" He whispered, tears of blood streaking down his cheeks. "I can't let this dream end… Until I've turned it to reality." Gamer Jaune!

Warnings: Crossovers, strong and smart Jaune, later quite OP. Possible harem.


I: Dream

Blood.

Pouring from my mouth, leaking out my stomach, covering my entire body.

All around me was blood. Some of it mine, some of it not. My comrades lay on the ground nearby, holding their wounds as blood leaked from their bodies too.

Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang. All of them my close friends, all of whom I'd thrown to the sides to protect them. The wounds they had results of me being too slow, always too slow. I never seemed to be fast enough when I wanted to save the people I care about.

The least I could do would be take their wounds onto my body.

"Futile," came her voice. The voice of the one who had started all this pain and agony. Those cold crimson eyes stared down at me furiously, black blood leaked along her form, but the wounds were sealing shut, even as I saw the blood flowing down her body. Her hair, a dirty white, flowed down her body as she glared at me.

"I don't know," I quipped weakly, despite the fact I was on my knees, knowing my life was fading. "I seem to have pissed you off, I wouldn't call that-!"

Pain.

I was cut off as her foot hit my jaw, sending me crashing into the wall as my friends cried out my name, making me cough up blood. She also knocked a tooth out, which I spat out to the side. "… Thank you, sir," I croaked out. "May I have another?"

"You are just begging for it, boy," Salem snarled at me. "Still living in some delusion that you are a hero, I see. Wake up, and face reality. You are no hero, you're just a weak little boy who dreamed of becoming something bigger. And look where it's led you: Your death. All dreamers must wake up, and it is time for you to reach your awakening, boy…" It was clear from her tone she was trying to get a reaction out of me. Maybe break my spirit?

"Don't listen to her, Jaune!" Ruby called out, shakily rising to her feet. One hand grasped Crescent Rose, the other on her stomach. "We haven't lost this yet! We can still-!"

"I know," I cut her off, forcefully dragging myself out of the wall, a small sigh coming from my lips as I closed my eyes. All dreamers must wake up.

My eyes snapped open as I looked at Salem. "I know what you are," I told her. "I'll admit, it took a while, but I know what you are. I know what it is you really want."

"Jaune…?" Ruby questioned.

"Is that so?" Salem looked amused. "Pray tell, boy, what am I?"

"Just a dream…" My voice was barely above her a whisper. "All of this, everything. It's just a dream, it's always just been a dream. I knew the whole time."

There was silence…

And then Salem hissed. "You knew?"

"I knew," I admitted. "But even knowing, even knowing what it is I should… No, what I need to do, I can't let myself wake yet."

"Why!?" Salem screamed, and the girls looked between the two of us in worry. "Why do you refuse to wake!? Why do you deny your reality!?"

"Because this is their reality," I gestured to the girls. "This may just be a dream. None of this may be real… But even so, why should they suffer for it? Why should they live in this world, while I live my life away? The answer is simple; they shouldn't."

"You…" She looked furious now, but also… Pleading. "For such a reason… For a world that will fade away when you wake!?"

I shook my head. "You don't understand. I don't think you've ever understood… But I do…" I lifted my sword. "Maybe this world is just a fantasy… But who's to say it will fade away once I wake? I don't think it will… I can always come back here, always come visit again… Whenever I close my eyes."

"Jaune…" Weiss's voice came, and I glanced at her. "What are you-?"

"Sorry, Snow Angel," I smiled sadly, before I turned to Salem and took a deep breath as my body was flooded with power. My semblance went into overdrive, my wounds sealing shut, my blood pumping and circulating faster in my body.

"You would deny it… For a world that may or may not fade away when you wake!?" Salem cried angrily; her body surrounded by a black aura. "Every dreamer must wake! It is long past time for you to stop indulging in fantasy, and to wake up!"

"Not yet," I told her. "Until you are gone, I won't be able to wake up. Because that's what you are, Salem. You are the reason I refuse to accept reality…"

There was a beat of silence and we charged at each other once again, knowing that- one way or another- this battle would finally reach its conclusion.

Every swing, every stab, every punch, every kick. Every blow was heavy, and made my body scream in agony.

But the weight beyond each of Salem's hurt more.

Let it end, her blows screamed at me. Wake up. Let it end, please wake up!

Not yet, my own screamed back at her. Not until we've seen the ending.

And then, there was a flash of light that blinded both of our eyes…

The next thing I knew, she was sat on her throne, my sword through her chest… Only, the wound wasn't healing. By the blissful smile on her face, I could tell; she was finally dying. She was finally going to see the other side.

"Hey, Jaune…" Salem said softly. "What was I…? All this time…?"

"… You were my fear," I told her. "My fear to face reality. That's the reason I couldn't let myself wake yet. Because, if you were around, I would wake up in fear and deny the truth. That is the truth of your existence."

"And now without me… That fear will be gone…?"

"No," I shook my head. "Because I accept you. Thank you, for trying to help me wake to the truth, even if it was in a twisted way. But there's no need any longer, I won't run from you anymore."

"And we will be there, every step of the way," Ruby's voice came, and I looked back.

They all stood there. Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang. But all were healed and smiling. They crowded around Salem and I, placing their hands on both of us.

"You've come so far, Jaune," Ruby- Naivety and Childishness- spoke. "We're so proud that you made it all this way, even when some of us doubted you."

"I suppose there are worse things we could have been," Weiss- Pride and Disgust- said to me, gently rubbing my back. "We've been so worried, but you came through. Somehow, you dunce."

"It's been such a long journey," Blake- Sloth and Hope- whispered. "But we're at the end now… It's kind of sad."

"Heh, all of you are wimps!" Yang- Lust and excitement- laughed loudly. "I knew Jaune had this the whole time!"

"Thank you for making this journey with me to the end," I told them softly.

That was the truth. This world was fake, just a dream. Every person was an emotion, a feeling, a thought. All of them belonging to me. And, at the end of my journey, I now stood with those who had followed me every step of the way.

"Thank you…" Salem whispered. "Thank you, for accepting me…"

I only nodded, closing my eyes as I felt tears streaking down my cheeks. I could feel it, the world around me slowly starting to fade away. The ending of a story.

"Hey, Jaune…" Ruby said softly. "Will you come visit us…?"

"What are you talking about…?" I asked her. "Don't be silly… You're all part of me. We'll always be together. Forever."

Though my eyes were closed, I know they were all smiling, and the six of us embraced in a group hug.

"Wake up." Ruby

"Wake up." Weiss.

"Wake up." Blake.

"Wake up." Yang.

"Wake up." Salem.

"… I'm waking up now," I smiled. "… Thank you. And goodbye."

The world faded away into white…

~~Ephemeral Dream~~

My eyes slowly opened, greeted with a familiar white ceiling. It was the ceiling of my room, a ceiling I saw every time I woke up. Except, this time was different. And I knew why.

Because, for once, I remembered.

I remembered my dreams. I remembered all the death I had seen, the friends I had made, the people I had lost. A tear streaked down my cheek, which I quickly wiped away as I climbed out of bed and headed to my bathroom.

For once, I remembered my dreams. And I would never let myself forget the experiences I had gone through. And I also resolved to change myself. I was fifteen, but I only recalled complaining to myself about how my parents deemed me a lost cause and wouldn't train me.

Where was it written I couldn't train myself for Beacon? I had two years, and I would use that time wisely. Who cared if my family deemed me a lost cause, I would-!

All my present thoughts went out the window when I saw something in the mirror that could not, should not, be there.

[Lv. 0]

[Jaune Arc]

"… W- What?" I stuttered in shock at the sight of something that should not- could not- be there. What in the hell? Why was there a text box floating over my head…?

… Why was I level zero!?

[Welcome, Player. Would you like to start the tutorial?]
Yes/No

My mouth dropped open. I rubbed my eyes several times, just to assure what I was seeing wasn't some kind of hallucination…

Nope. It was real.

"Okay, let's review," I said to myself aloud. "For the last 2 years, every time I go to sleep, I've been dreaming of a future where I'm a Huntsman and save the world. I finally settled the dream and have decided to face reality head on… And now, I see a text box like I'd see in a video game floating in front of my eyes, which is now asking me if I'd like to start the tutorial…"

I shook my head. "Yep, I've gone insane…"

Deciding I didn't really have much to lose, I just let out a sigh and tapped 'Yes.'

[Welcome to the Game. As you, the Player, have no doubt noticed your life has been turned into a Video Game. This is the result of the planet's blessing upon you, as the chosen one to guide humanity into the new age.]

"… What?"

[But more on that later. The kind of game your life has become is an RPG, which means you have various stats, a title and job system, along with a race and your name. You can view all these things by saying or thinking the word 'Status.' Please say or think 'Status' to proceed with the tutorial.]

I rubbed the sides of my head very slowly. Yep, this was definitely not a prank. And I was definitely not hallucinating either. I don't like to insult myself, but I wasn't smart enough to hallucinate something like this.

"Oh, what the hell," I groaned. "I've dived this far down the rabbit hole. Status!" Instantly, a new text box opened before my eyes.

[Status]

Name: Jaune Arc
Level: 0
Race: Human
Job: None
Main Title: None
Sub Title: None
HP: 100
MP: 100
Strength: 10
Vitality: 10
Dexterity: 10
Intelligence: 10
Luck: 10
Sense: 10
Remaining Points: 0

"… Okay, this is interesting," I admitted, rubbing my chin. "My stats are all at a solid ten across the board. Most video games start with the stats at least half of that, sometimes lower…" My eyes narrowed. "Which means, the game is setting me up to intentionally make me far stronger than would be expected. How interesting..."

[As you can see, you are currently at Level 0. This is because if you were not, the Levelling system would be unbalanced due to how it works. Every time you level up, you will receive +100 to your base HP, and +50 to your base MP. You will also receive and additional +10 to your HP for every stat in Vitality, and +10 MP for every stat in Intelligence, as well as six unallocated stat points to do with as you please. You will now be given a description of every stat.]

Strength – The stat representing a person's physical strength. Increases damage dealt from physical attacks, and aids in reducing damage when blocking.

Vitality – The stat representing a person's overall health, as well as determining their growth. Aids in reducing damage from physical attacks and increasing the amount of health the player has.

Dexterity – The stat representing a person's nimbleness. Increases the player's speed, aim, and reaction time.

Intelligence – The stat representing how smart someone is. Increases damage dealt by magical attacks, how quickly the player learns, how fast they can solve problems, and increases the overall mana pool.

Luck – The stat representing the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life. Used to determine the chances of problems arising during events, gambling, card games, and so on. It also increases the chance of getting higher ranking loot from enemy drops.

Sense – The stat representing someone's awareness of their surroundings. Increases one's spatial awareness, and aids in determining the strength of the enemy.

I rubbed my chin in contemplation as I read the descriptions of each stat… It was a bit unusual, the formation of stats that is. There was no 'Wisdom,' and no 'Charisma' stat. Instead, intelligence seemed to cover both wisdom and intelligence in one, and Charisma wasn't around at all. Perhaps it was a skill rather than a stat?

Sense also seemed like it should be a skill rather than a stat, but it wasn't. Why? I suppose I'd have to find out later.

[We will now move onto Skills. As it stands, the player currently only has two skills available to them, however it is better than nothing. Please say or think the word 'Skills' in order to bring up the menu, and to continue the tutorial.]

"Skills," I muttered.

[Skills]

[Blessing of the Planet (Passive) – RANK EX – Lv. MAX]

You are just a normal man. And yet sometimes that is all the world needs, and the planet has blessed you. The Planet's Blessing will assure you will always be strong and healthy throughout your lifetime.

Permanent Effect "Longevity": All diseases, poisons, and status effects are healed, and sleeping will explosively increase regeneration ability.

Permanent Effect "The Game": Allows the player to live their life like a Video Game.

[Cooking (Passive) – Rank EX – Lv. MAX]

Your cooking has transcended humans and gods and become something of legend. You never fail when cooking any meal, and all meals you cook have their taste multiplied by 10,000%.

I blinked at the sight of my skills… Blessing of the Planet… As in, the planet itself had blessed me? It had turned my life into a video game? But why? For what reason would it do that?

And there was no way my cooking was that good, I was calling bullshit.

"What's with these ranks too?" I wondered aloud. "I've never seen this kind of ranking system before…"

[We will now explain about skills and the game's ranking system. Skills are created when the player either reads a Skill Book or performs a special action. Each skill starts at Level 1, with some exceptions to this rule, and must be levelled up. They will increase in Rank as the player levels up their skills.]

[Ranks are judged in the following order, from weakest to best: E – D – C – B – A – EX. Some ranks may have a 'plus' or 'minus' symbol on them, indicating special circumstances in which the ranked item or skill do will do more or less damage in certain situations. Please note that 'EX' does not mean absolute strength, but that the power or worth of the item or skill cannot be accurately quantified. Some weapons or skills of 'EX' Rank may do more damage than others of the same ranking.]

"I'm sorry… Is this game trying to tell me my cooking skill is so good that it cannot be quantified or judged accurately?" I asked thin air, completely bewildered. "You… You've got to be kidding me, there's no way that's a thing."

The game ignored my disbelief and, instead, another text box opened in front of me.

[Moving on, next is your Inventory. As you know, the Inventory works as a storage space for your items. It also acts as the store, letting you spend your money to buy items. The store, however, is locked until the player reaches Level 15. Please say or think 'Inventory' to open the Inventory Menu and proceed with the tutorial.]

I help up a hand, ready to protest more about my cooking skill, before sighing. "Inventory," I grumbled in annoyance.

[Inventory] {Store (LOCKED)}

You currently have no items in your inventory.

Gold: 0

"Oh gee, thanks game," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. Though I shouldn't have been surprised.

[Items can be stored infinitely in the inventory, and identical or similar items can be stacked an infinite number of times. When the store becomes available, the player will be able to convert gold into other kinds of currency. 1 Gold = 10 Lien]

"… Okay, that's admittedly useful," I nodded to myself, glancing at the mirror. The game windows weren't reflected in it, telling me they really could only be seen by me. Even though my doubts of this being a hallucination were gone, I was still checking.

"That should be everything though… What's left?"

[Finally, to finish the tutorial, we shall be moving onto the 'Perks' Menu. Perks are special/unique abilities that are often like a Semblance in nature. Perks can be obtained through special circumstances, but more often than not, the only way to obtain them is to buy them from the store. Please say or think 'Perks' to open up the Perks menu.]

I raised an eye… Semblance-like abilities? How interesting, and useful… It also cemented in my mind that the game was definitely trying to make me overpowered for some reason. Like I was going to complain though, I would exploit this for all it was worth.

"Perks."

[Perks]

Perk Points: 1

[Owned Perks]

None

[Available Perks]

And the list of available perks had my jaw dropping as I scrolled through a seemingly bottomless list. Some things were very strong, like the Rinnegan from the Naruto series, and costed two perk points. Most things were only one Perk point, however.

[As you can see, there are many perks available for you to buy. To finish the tutorial, please buy a perk.]

"Oh, my brothers, the game is serious," I whispered in shock, looking through all the options available to me. So many choices, so many choices… And yet, I already knew what I wanted to buy.

[Are you sure you wish to buy 'Magic Circuits?']
Yes/No

I tapped yes without even thinking twice.

[You have purchased the perk 'Magic Circuits.' A random number of magic circuits shall now be generated.]

Generating… Generating…

Congratulations. You have received 58 Magic Circuits.

Just like that, I felt something slot into place inside of me. Something settling in, in the depths of my very soul. Despite myself, I couldn't help but smile as I received my magic circuits.

[You have learned the skill 'Magecraft.']

[You have learned the skill 'Magic Circuits Quality.']

[You have learned the skill 'Gradation Air.']

[You have learned the skill 'Structural Analysis.']

[You have learned the skill 'Reinforcement.']

My jaw dropped and I had to shake my head and look twice, just to be sure I wasn't seeing things.

Five skills. By picking Magic Circuits as my perk, I had unlocked five skills. I resigned myself to master all of these, especially Reinforcement and Structural Analysis.

[Congratulations for clearing the tutorial. As a reward, you have received a two Skill Books, and 100 EXP.]

[You have levelled up.]
+200 HP
+150 HP
+6 Stat Points

[Please, enjoy the game.]

And with that, the text boxes faded away and left me to my own devices. I shook my head in shock, unable to believe this was really happening, and decided I needed proof.

Instead of going straight to my inventory, I first decided to work on my Magecraft. If I remembered correctly, each magus had a trigger in order to channel their magical energy. Shiro Emiya's was a gun cocking and firing, Rin's as a knife stabbing her heart.

I took a breath and closed my eyes, concentrating on something to try and trigger my circuits…

… And a searing kiss as the city burned around us filled my mind.

"Accelerate," I whispered, and felt the rush of energy that surged through me. My eyes snapped open and I looked down at my arms, seeing the blue glow emanating from my arms, the physical representation of my magic circuits on my body.

This wasn't an illusion. This was real.

I cut the flow- I somehow instinctually knew how to do so- and yelped when another text box opened in front of me.

[Magic Circuits Quality has levelled up by 1.]

[Magecraft has levelled up by 1.]

I stared at the screen, curious… So just using my circuits increased the quality of them? I raked my brained for memories on it… If I remembered, the amount of magic circuits you were born with couldn't be changed, but the quality of them could be increased over time.

But I didn't think it should be this fast. Was the fact my life was a game helping me cheat a little in that regard? I suppose I couldn't complain, I'd take what I could get. And I should probably investigate my new skills, so I opened the skill menu.

[Magecraft (Passive) – Rank E – Lv. 2]

The practise of Magecraft. Grants the player the ability to utilise both Mana and Od. Number of Magic Circuits: 58

[Magic Circuits Quality (Passive) – Rank E – Lv. 2]

The quality of the Magic Circuits in the body. Currently, the player only has a channelling capacity of 10 units, though this can be increased over time.

[Gradation Air (Active) – Rank E – Lv. 1]

Recreation of objects the user has seen. Though the objects re-created are hollow and are worthless. And yet… It holds the potential of something great. Cost: 10MP

[Structural Analysis (Active) – Rank E – Lv. 1]

To learn about an object, its history and functions, through touch. Cost: 10MP

[Reinforcement (Active) – Rank E – Lv. 1]

The power to strengthen an object, or the user's own body. WARNING: Not recommended to strengthen the user's body until Reinforcement has reached C Rank. Cost: 10MP per minute.

I winced lightly at that. Yeah, not going to be reinforcing my body unless I absolutely must. I was just going to assume C Rank meant the game would compensate and make sure it was done safely, whereas I'd have to be very careful otherwise.

I then decided to open my inventory and look at the skill books that the tutorial had given me. I'll admit, I was very curious as to just what else the game could give. And I wasn't disappointed.

[Skill Book: Aura – The Light in Our Souls]
Would you like to learn this skill?
Yes/No

I tapped yes and watched as the skill book vanished from my inventory, only for white energy to flow into me and empower me, words filling my mind.

For it is in dreaming that we attain immortality, a symbol of hope and prosperity for all those who live. Infinite in distance, and unbound by fate, I remove your chains. And by my hand, set thee free.

[You have learned the skill 'Aura.']

[You have learned the skill 'Unlock Aura.]

I took a deep breath as a familiar feeling from my dreams surged up within me. I didn't realise just how much I'd missed this feeling, even if before it had been in a dream. It was… Good, it felt so good to have this strength surging through me again.

I shook it off, instead looking to the second skill book in my inventory.

[Skill Book: Hei Long's 2000 Years.]
Would you like to learn this skill?
Yes/No

This one was new to me, but curiosity won me over and I hit yes. It was a tutorial item, surely it wasn't going to give me a lot of skills-!

[You have learned the skill 'Hei Long's 2000 Years.']

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Seismic Steps: Advance.']

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Seismic Steps: Retreat.']

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Seismic Steps: Evade.']

Wait-!

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Seismic Steps: Attack.']

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Seismic Steps: Clone.']

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Round Kick.]

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Sickle Kick.']

H- Hold on a second-!

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Fangs.']

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Pulse Breath.']

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Upper Thrust Kick.']

How many skills was I getting!?

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Shockwave Fist.']

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Rising Back Kick.']

[You have learned the skill 'Black Dragon's Enlightenment (LOCKED).']

I shook my head in disbelief as the skills finally stopped clogging up my vision, unable to believe it.

Fourteen.

Including the locked skill, I obtained fourteen skills from that one skill book. What in the actual hell!? Why would they give me something like that for a bloody tutorial!?

This game really was trying to make me overpowered.

I quickly opened my skills list, just to see my new skills.

[Aura (Passive) – Rank D – Lv. 1]

The light within the souls of all mankind, given form as a barrier to block out the evil of the Grimm. Passively increases Strength, Dexterity, and Vitality by 30%, and reduced damage received. Cost: 1MP per 10 damage.

[Unlock Aura (Active) – Rank D – Lv. 1]

The power to awaken another person's aura. While you always succeed in doing so, the cost is hefty. Though it can be reduced with experience. Cost: 50% of total MP.

[Hei Long's 2000 Years (Passive) – Rank E – Lv. 1]

Two Thousand Years ago, there was a man who was said to be a demon upon the battlefield. Unshakable, undefeatable, unkillable. The fearsome stance of the undefeated Black Dragon. Increases damage of 'Black Dragon' Skills by 10%.

[Black Dragon's Seismic Steps: Advance (Active) – Rank E – Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Seismic Steps: Retreat (Active) – Rank E – Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Seismic Steps: Evade (Active) – Rank D – Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Seismic Steps: Attack (Active) – Rank D – Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Seismic Steps: Clone (Active) – Rank C – Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Round Kick (Active) – Rank E– Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Sickle Kick (Active) – Rank E– Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Fangs (Active) – Rank E – Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Pulse Breath (Active) – Rank E – Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Upper Thrust Kick (Active) – Rank E – Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Shockwave Fist (Active) – Rank D – Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Rising Back Kick (Active) – Rank E – Lv. 1]

[Black Dragon's Enlightenment (Active) – Rank B – Lv. 1] (LOCKED)

I just shook my head again, closing the skill list, and opening my status. I wasted no time as I allocated my stat points. I placed 3 points in Intelligence, and one point each in Strength, Vitality, and Dexterity.

When the changed occurred, I could feel it. It was like a fog in my mind I'd never known about had cleared slightly, and I felt my muscles squirming, changing. The changes on my body weren't as drastic as those on my mind, though that was likely because I'd used more points on my intelligence.

I looked in the mirror… And I couldn't help but grin to myself. Somehow, for some reason, the planet had chosen to bless me. To 'Bring a new age' for man. I wasn't sure I was the right guy for the job. I was only fifteen. But if the planet thought I was worth something, then I would use this gift from it and abuse it to become as strong as possible.

I swore to become a hero, and train really hard-!

Grrrrrrooooowwwwl!

… Right after I'd gone downstairs and made some breakfast. I was hungry.


Publish Date: May 6th 2020

Word Count: 4,789

A/N: Yes, I'm back. And I'm not dead, hazzah.

Many of you have been constantly asking for an update to Stacking the Deck. Sadly, that won't be coming for awhile, though I have a reason that I'll explain now.

Stacking the Deck was something inspired by other people's Jaune Class Card story, and Stacking the Deck was my own little spin on it. I wanted to take the story in a direction that was uncommon, something people hadn't seen before. Which is why I think so many people seem to love and adore it, because it is something new.

Sadly, that 'something new' also leads to its own issues. Before, when I wrote stories, I tried to stick closely to the canon. The reason is abandoning the canon and going on your own path is something much harder to do, because there isn't a 'set' story line to follow. There is a 'timeline,' but depending on what you do that timeline can change and be thrown out of whack. I'm currently at the point where I'm honestly at a loss of how to start the Second Arc of Stacking the Deck. I do have a general idea of the direction I want to take it, but I'm just at a loss of how to begin, if that makes sense.

I also had an issue with Stacking the Deck, though not with the story, but with one of the characters: Ruby. Personally, I don't hate or love Ruby. Though I've spent most of my time hating her, mostly in part to my girlfriend who cannot stand Ruby, and it passed onto me. When I started writing Stacking The Deck, I was at a point where Ruby was kind of just neutral to me and I didn't have any issues. That was until someone- whom I shall not name- said something that ruined Ruby for me as a character and made me unable to continue since she's kind of important to the story line overall.

As is now, I've mostly managed to get over that hate for Ruby. But, at the current time, I'm having other issues with Stacking the Deck that is preventing it from continuing at the present time. Don't worry, I fully intend to keep writing it, just not until I've resolved those issues.

In regards to those who are excited for 'Gaming Alone,' I decided I needed a break from Percy Jackson stuff. I love Percy Jackson, but that fandom has always been one of the... Most difficult for me to write and read about. I blame Rick for making what is, in my opinion, such a brilliant and seemingly perfect story. Trying to improve on the Percy Jackson story is very hard to do, because it's such a fantastic fucking read that 'improving it' just feels wrong.

Don't get me wrong though, I love writing Gaming Alone. I've written Gamer stories before that I never published, but none of them were ever fun for me to write until I started writing Gaming Alone. I have intentions to keep writing that one too but, again, that one is having its own issues that I need to resolve before I keep writing it.

Which leads us to now, why did I start writing this story?

Honestly... Because I really wanted to. I've always wanted to try doing a RWBY Gamer Fic, but could never figure out a basis. Until, just a few days ago as of posting this, a thought filtered into my head 'What of all of the RWBY story had just been Jaune's dream?' Not a coma story, as some of you may have thought, but just a story where Jaune was denied Huntsman training by his family at a young age, and locked himself away from reality and began to dream of a world where he was a Huntsman.

'But wait,' some of you may say, 'Why are Ruby and Weiss and others in there if its just a dream? How would he even know about them?'

All things in due time, my dear readers. All things in due time.

Anyway, thanks for sitting through this author's note. I hope it answers the questions of my returning readers, and the questions of any readers who have recently discovered this story and read some of my other ones.

This is Ezras Hargrave, signing off!