Hey y'all, just moving this over to the new story, Lux Noctis. Sorry to those who already came here and read it hoping for a new chapter. At this point, I am done taking suggestions, as I just put out the first real chapter. I hope you all enjoy.
A Fresh Start, A New Curse.
He couldn't believe it. Everything they had done. Every fight, every broken bone, every drop of blood, every shed tear. All the lives they had lost and had taken.
For nothing.
Jaune coughed as he forced his body to move. To do anything. He couldn't tell what was broken or what was even still attached. He couldn't see out of his left eye, though whether that was the blood or he had gone blind he didn't know. He didn't much care either.
They had lost Weiss somewhere along the way. She tried to save team SSSN. The only one who made it out was Sun, though he cursed himself for it every day.
Qrow had died saving them all. Salem had found them before they were ready, but Qrow saw it coming. He convinced Ironwood to get the rest of them out, while Qrow stayed behind. Almost 700 confirmed kills before they lost sight of Qrow. With no one to worry about, he had let his semblance wreak havoc.
Everyone that was left had charged this place. This wretched pit, where darkness swirled, swallowing any light that was foolish enough to enter.
They had to kill Salem. They had to move now, or they wouldn't make it.
Jaune looked around the best he could. Everyone was down. He couldn't hardly move, and his aura had long since broken. Ruby stood in front of the Witch, battered but still standing.
She won't win. The relics didn't work. Her eyes aren't strong enough. What can we do? She might as well be one of the Brothers.
Jaune clenched his fist as he saw Salem turn her smug grin on to Ruby.
You cannot rest now.
Jaune's eyes shot open. The voice didn't sound right. It wasn't the terrifying sound of Salem, but it wasn't the gentle voice of the Relics.
I am neither, Jaune Arc. Enough delay. You have one chance. Use this. End her.
Jaune felt a weight settle in his shield hand. He looked to see something that looked to be an explosive, though not one he recognized.
I will not let you fall here, Jaune Arc. But I am not powerful enough to save this world. You must do so.
Jaune didn't question it. He had a chance, and he was not going to waste it.
He dragged himself upright, the mangled remains of Crocea's shield still attached to his equally mangled arm. He hid the device in his arm, raising his ancestor's blade once more.
"Ruby," His voice could barely penetrate the air, "Move. Get them out."
"You would face me, child? Do you wish for death so badly?" Salem's horrid eyes locked onto Jaune's own.
He couldn't see Ruby, but he heard her move towards the others. He had made Ruby swear before ever coming here. If Jaune were to tell her to run with the others, she would do it. It had taken him weeks, but she finally accepted. War was nothing more than cold calculus. Jaune was more expendable than the others, simple as that.
"Come Child, face your fate. And know that I will hunt the others down soon enough." Salem opened her arms, almost as if offering a hug.
Well, waste not want not. Jaune charged forward, as fast as his battered body could carry him. He brought Crocea Mors down in an obvious arc, Salem barely moving to block the blade.
As his sword met her arm, he released his grip, surging forward and wrapping his body around hers. He fumbled for the control of the device, his fingers finally finding the small button.
"What do you think you are doing? Holding me down while that girl tries to harm me?" Salem began laughing as she raised her arm to decapitate Jaune.
A shrill tone rang out.
Jaune smiled.
Jaune slowly opened his eyes, though the scenery he greeted wasn't much better than what he left.
He appeared to be in front of a castle. The walls were decayed and damaged, as if it had been abandoned long ago. The air was stale, particles of dust stationary in the wind.
"Well, this is surreal." Even his voice seemed flat and dull.
The rusted doors in front of him shook as they opened, seemingly of their own accord. Jaune mentally shrugged as he moved toward the opening.
A long hall, tapestries hanging from the ceiling, tables with room for entire legions, all destroyed and decaying.
As Jaune continued, he made his way to what seemed to be the throne room of the castle. He climbed the steps until he saw the throne.
And the man perched atop it, wearing a rusted crown.
"You took your time." The man's grated, sounding as if it had not been used for centuries.
"I just died. I think I can be forgiven for taken a moment to get my bearings." Jaune's head was spinning. Was this Oum? One of the Brothers? Something different?
"You want to know who I am, yes?" The man smiled when Jaune nodded, standing from his throne and descending to stand even with Jaune. The man stood at least seven foot, a full head taller than Jaune.
"I have no name. None that would mean anything to you. I suppose you could call me a Watcher. One of many. Jaune, what do you know of the Multiverse Theory?" The man had begun pacing around Jaune, his steps slow. The world seemed to shake with every footfall.
"It's just a theory. An idea that says that for every decision, a new world is created. One where you said yes, and one where you said no."
"A good a summary as any. These worlds exist Jaune. Some are very similar to yours. Some, less so. Those who are like me can look into these worlds and we document what we see. We are not gods, Jaune. We cannot create. We watch over the creations others have left to us. The world you know was created by one such being, one I respect a great deal."
The Watcher stopped his movements, settling beside Jaune and resting a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"The reason I tell you this, is because all of the worlds I watch have a common factor. Do you know what this factor is?"
Jaune shook his head, though he feared the answer.
"They are dying, Jaune. They face great calamity. I cannot save them, just as I could not save yours." The Watcher took a shuttering breath, one that seemed to reverberate through the castle.
"But, I did manage to help you save yours. Jaune, I'm sorry. I changed your fate. You were not to fall in that battle. Nor was Salem to be killed. I cannot tell you what was originally intended, that thread has been destroyed. But we are presented with a unique opportunity. Jaune, the Multiverse doesn't know what to do with you. By all accounts, you should be dead. And yet, you should never have been in that position. As such, I can put you wherever I see fit, and no consequences shall befall you."
The man sighed again, moving to stand directly before Jaune, both hands on his shoulders.
"I will not lie. I am asking you to suffer. I am asking you to fight, and I do not know for how long. I can offer you a few boons, but I cannot directly intervene again." The man collapsed to his knees, holding tight to Jaune's arms.
"I beg of you. Save them. I cannot, but I know you can. Please Jaune, save Remnant. Save your friends. However many times they need you to." The Watcher remained kneeling, his head lowered.
Aw, hell. He just had to say it like that, didn't he?
"They need me? Are you sure?"
"Without question."
"What would you have me do?"
The Watcher stood, another broken smile etching its way onto his face. He clapped once, his rusted armor rattling. The world around them shook, changing to a hallway of doors.
"These are but a few of the worlds that need you. Merely pick one, and you will be put into the world. I shall grant three gifts Jaune. The first is simple, I will make sure that you will always have Crocea Mors. No matter the world, he shall be by your side. He shall never dull, nor shall he break."
"For the second, I offer you a choice. You can never remember the conversations had here. It would not do for you to have knowledge of us. But I can allow you to remember every world you visit. I will watch over your mind, keep the memories sorted and prevent them from overwhelming you. Or I can have you forget each time you move to a new world."
"For the third, I will allow you a companion. You may choose one person to stay with you. They will never know of us, your mission, or your fate. But no matter the circumstance, they will find their way into your path. They will be your trusted ally."
Jaune nodded, swallowing as he approached one of the doors.
"Hey, Watcher?"
"Yes?"
"Thanks. For giving me a shot." Jaune shouldered the door open, bravely moving to his new life.
The Watcher turned to the shattered and twisted remains of the world. Wailing and screams of terror echoed in his mind.
"Do not thank me, Jaune Arc. I have condemned yet another good man. I wish you luck."
Okay, there we go.