Chapter 1: For Them, and Only Them
Hey, so this is my first fanfic here in Fanfiction where I didn't use my Wattpad. This fic was inspired by a couple of 'Jaune Time Travels' stories. A lot are out there.
I hope that you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed racking it up in my brain :)
Footsteps echoed as a man walked through the halls of Beacon Academy. Students and teachers alike have retired to their bedrooms for the night, leaving the headmaster alone to his thoughts.
He stepped outside and was greeted by the familiar sight of the shattered moon and the 'Heroes' Memorial'.
There stood two hunters; one with his sword raised high and the other standing dutifully next to him, atop a boulder where underneath was a Beowolf cowering underneath them.
He drank in the sight; studying every detail of the statues. The headmaster trailed his hand over it, the cold stone meeting his fingertips.
"Shouldn't you be resting, Headmaster Arc?" a voice asked, pulling a now older Jaune Arc from his thoughts.
Jaune gave a dry chuckle as he turned to look at his mentor and personal confidant: Ozpin. "That's funny coming from you old-timer."
Ozpin rolled his eyes, albeit wearing a smile himself. "Great job burning a defensless old man. And while I do enjoy a good banter now and then, it's not what I came here for."
"It rarely is." Jaune said. He gestured behind him and led Ozpin inside Beacon.
"How's your arm holding up Jaune?" asked Ozpin.
Jaune smiled and raised his 'hand' to his face. Instead of an actual arm, in its place was a robotic hand, which was connected to a robotic arm. Jaune's entire left arm was now purely mechanical. On its shoulder plating bore the Arc family crest. "Ozpin, you've asked me that question every time you've seen me for the last five years. I like to think that I'm pretty comfy with this thing y'know?"
Ozpin held his hands in surrender, although a knowing smirk decorated his face. "Let an old man worry Jaune. Who else am I supposed to worry about when you're the closest thing I have as a son?", both men shared a laugh over this. The years had been hard for both men, and a small slice of humor was always welcome in their difficult lives.
Its definitely needed when you've lost most of your friends and families to a man you would have once called brother, no?
-Ten years ago-
Dark blue eyes met magenta as Jaune Arc and Lie Ren faced each other in- hopefully their last-battle. Carnage raged around them as huntsmen from all over Vytal faced both the forces of the White Fang and the endless onslaught of Grimm, all while defending the civilians who were all running around to find a some sort of protection as the battle raged around them.
So much had changed since Jaune's failure a decade ago. He was now twenty-seven and stood easily over six-feet. His hood was pulled over his head. He wore more than just shoulder pads and a chest-plate because now he now wore arm guards, leather gauntlets and shin armor. Crocea Mors hung by his waist, his hands twitching ever so slightly if the need arose to draw it. As he drew back his hood, a hastily made pony tail appeared.
Ren's change was much more drastic than Jaune's. Once, the latter stood a head taller than the former; now he stood at the same height as Jaune. He still wore the same style of clothing, but his hands were now covered in bandages. His magenta streak was still in place, but he had cut his hair short so that it only reached his shoulders. His sleeves still hid his dual pistol-blades, and with a flick of his wrists, those would appear.
Vale had been attacked by the terrorist group known as the White Fang, led by the infamous Lie Ren himself. But hope came as a small group of huntsmen was dispatched straight into the heart of the city with Remnant's 'White Knight' Jaune Arc charging into the frey.
"It's been a while Jaune" spoke Ren, ignoring the destruction around them.
Jaune nodded as he drew Crocea Mors, "You're definitely a sight for sore eyes Lie". Ren raised his eye brow, the normally stoic expression on his face dissappeared, a cold smirk taking its place.
"I thought we were on a first-name basis here, brother."
"You lost that right when you slaughtered our friends in cold blood!" yelled Jaune as he charged at Ren, his blade aimed directly at his face. Ren's smile only grew wider as he flicked his wrists, Stormflower popping out. He crossed his guns, effectively catching the sword in between its blades.
Jaune and Ren stood face-to-face with each other, their eyes mirroring each one's expressions. One reflected a face full of regret, anger, pain and determination; the other reflected a mask of calm, a stone-cold expression plastered on his face. But both showed each other's true intentions: to kill one another.
Ren kneed Jaune in the gut, sending the latter a few feet back. Capitalizing his advantage, he lunged at Jaune and swiped at his face. But Jaune was fast on the quick-draw and, out of nowhere, slammed his shield on Ren's face.
Not missing a beat, he swung at his opponent's chest in a deadly arc. Unfortunately, Ren was still unmatched in aura manipulation, being able to direct his aura to his most vulnerable area even when he's being sent flying.
Ren skidded to a halt and fired round after round at Jaune, imbuing small bits of his aura in the bullets to add more damage.
Jaune had raised his shield in defense, but the aura enhanced bullets were knocking him back. Ren walked forward, still firing at Jaune, keeping his defenses up and not letting him go on the offensive. Jaune gritted his teeth, trying to come up with a plan.
Jaune channeled aura to his legs so that he wouldn't be pushed back when a force like a wrecking ball slammed his shield and knocking him back to a side of a building. From where he stood, Ren was watching him as pink aura coated his palms.
Jaune shook his head and regained his composure. "Is this really the best Remnant has to offer? I always knew you were weak Jaune, but right now you're down right pathetic." Ren mocked. "But it's no wonder you survived so long, seeing as how you surrounded yourself with people stronger than you."
"SHUT UP!" Jaune roared as he leapt and brought down Crocea, bent on impaling Ren on the spot. But in a flash, Ren had caught the blade between his palms, once again holding them in a stalemate.
Ren grinned at the frustrated expression on Jaune's face, "Tell me Arc, what were their last words to you? What promises did you tell them you would keep; how many final wishes did you try to finish Jaune?"
"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!" Jaune yelled, pulling his sword away and slashing at Ren, but the latter was as quick as ever as he drew Stormflower and met Jaune's strike.
"You don't know anything Ren!" He said as he hacked at his former best friend. "You. Don't. Know. ANYTHING!" with every word he spoke he slashed at Ren. However, the gunslinger remained impassive, dodging every strike.
Jaune brought down Crocea with all of his might, but Ren blocked again with his guns. Stepping closer in Jaune's guard, he slammed his head in Jaune's face while coating his forehead with his signature pink aura. As Jaune stumbled back, Ren roundhoused kicked him in the face sending him flying a good distance back.
As Jaune landed on his back, Ren leaped into the air and slammed his palm into Jaune's chest, sending a force so powerful that a crater was formed from the inpact. Jaune's face contorted in pain, but his aura took the brunt of the damage. Ren-not letting up-thrust another palm into Jaune's chest. And another. And another.
"Pathetic, Jaune. Simply pathetic" slamming another palm strike. Jaune's aura shield was powerful, yes, but Ren would break through. "I expected more, but of course I was wrong to do so." Once more Ren continued his onslaught.
And with every strike, Jaune could see their faces-Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang, Nora, Pyrrha-all of them in their final moments in life, begging him to stop Ren and end the insanity.
Strike.
"Do us proud V-vomit boy..."
Strike.
"Y-you dolt. I-I know what's going to happen, so just... just do me a favor."
Strike.
"Never really got around t-to hanging... out with you Arc. I regre tha-"...
Strike.
"Lady-killer, that you? Huh, everything's... everything's going dark Arc. You better not do anything with Ruby when I'm g-gone..."
Strike.
"B-bring Renny back okay? Please Jaune, I'm on my last legs here..."
Strike.
"Let me see your face one more time Jaune. Please, just let me see you one last time..."
Letting out a guttural cry, he grabbed Ren's wrist and slammed his fist against the side of Ren's face. With his enemy stumbling off of him, he flipped on all fours and sideswept Ren's legs, but he managed to flip on his palms and vaulted to safety.
With some breathing room, Jaune grabbed his sword and shield and pointed the tip at Ren's direction. The battle around them had died down, leaving them to be the remaining two combatants.
"This ends now Ren."
Ren smirked "I suppose only one lives, right Arc?" Jaune simply stayed silent, his eyes never leaving Ren.
Seconds of silence passed, but it felt like hours for the both of them. Their muscles tensed, ready to jump into action.
Both of them lunged, determined to end this war once and for all.
Both sides in the battle had suffered severed casualties, but civilian loss was low thanks to the efforts of the hunters. Both sides had retreated, leaving the city as a playground for monsters.
Two monsters to be exact.
These two warriors had been fighting for hours but both refused to give in. Buildings had come crashing down because of the battle; vehicles upturned or demolished; and grimm carcasses were fading all over the city.
Ren slammed his palms against the side of a car, sending it flying at Jaune's direction. Jaune flipped over the vehicle and charged straight at Ren. He made swift strikes at any vulnerable spots of Ren, while the latter was quick to defend.
Jaune slashed from the side, which Ren was able to block but he had left his side exposed. Jaune spun and kicked Ren in the gut. Ren stumbled back, clutching his stomach, when Jaune bashed Ren's face in with his shield.
Jaune tackled Ren and slammed him into the ground. Silence settled in as Jaune held Crocea Mors at Ren's throat. He glared straight into the eyes of his former best friend.
"I win" Jaune stated. Ren gave a pained chuckle as his aura healed his wounds. Both of their auras were dangerously low due to their fierce battle. "Then I suppose you'll cut off my head and bring it back? Finally win this war, right?"
"Don't make me Ren. I've won. No more need for any more blood to be shed."
Ren laughed harder even with the blade close to his neck. "As if you had the balls to end me Arc. We both know you won't cross that line." Then his expression became cold "Besides, even if you killed me, what would you do next? The damage is done hero. Remnant has been brought to its knees, and with the number of hunters at an all time low the onslaught of the Grimm will finish you." His voice dripped with venom as he said it.
And he was right. Even with the war over, the cities if Remnant were either destroyed or exposed and with the negativity and death all around the Grimm would be attracted to it like a shark smelling fresh blood in the water.
Gritting his teeth, he grabbed Ren's collar and was about to haul him back to base when Ren mumbled something that stopped him dead in his tracks.
"What did you say?" Jaune asked.
Ren smirked, "Going deaf soldier? I said 'What about them?'" he grinned from ear to ear, a mad glint in his eyes, "What about you? No one's there for you anymore Jaune~" he said in a sing-song voice.
Jaune held his rage back as he stared at Ren's growing smile. "You're coming with me and you will be held responsible for your actions."
"I'm trembling Arc, I really am. As if the council will actually do anything. And when I go to prison-or heaven forbid, execution-will that help you finally sleep at night? Will that ease your suffering without them?"
Jaune was close to snapping as he clenched his fist tight around Crocea's handle. His breathing was heavy as he tried to keep his anger in check when he felt something shift in his grip.
Then all he felt was pain.
Because of the fight both were drained in terms of aura, but Ren had always been a master at controlling his aura usage. With Jaune distracted by his words, Ren had directed his remaining aura in his hand and karate chopped Jaune's exposed shoulder.
He had sliced off Jaune's left arm.
Jaune screamed in pain, but his body had acted on instinct. Without meaning to, his other arm had stabbed Ren in the stomach.
Jaune-although in severe pain-was horrified by his action, but Ren simply grinned, showing of his bloody teeth. Jaune held Ren's body as the latter kneeled to the ground, still wearing that shit-eating grin.
He coughed blood and stared into Jaune's horrified face, "N-nice one Jaune. I knew you had it in-" he was cut off by a series of painful coughs of blood.
"Shut the hell up Ren. Just shut up..." Jaune murmured, tears swelling up in his eyes as he held his former friend in place.
Ren was losing a lot of blood but he forced himself to smile. "Looks like I'll be going ahead of you Jaune...".
"Nononono... shut up dude. Please!"
"Last words time Mr. Arc."
"Fuck you! Don't die on me man."
Ren chuckled, and as he drew his last breath he said "All I want you to know is that I... never hated you. No matter what, I always saw you as my brother."
Jaune couldn't believe what he was hearing. He shouldn't at all!
"Then why kill them? Why take my... our friends lives?"
"It was a war Jaune. I was the traitor. You people were the enemy, but I never hated any of you. It was merely circumstance." Ren looked down at where the blade had impaled him and felt the last of his aura ebb away. He grasped Jaune's hand and said, "Bye fearless leader."
With that, his hand went limp as the light in his eyes dimmed.
Jaune felt a dam break as he let out a guttural scream as tears streamed down his cheeks. He held Ren's body close as he screamed his throat until it was raw.
He yelled for death to come take him and let him join his friends.
He yelled for life to bring his friends and family back.
He did not notice that blue fire had flared up around him, replacing his gentle white aura with azure flames that threatened to burn the area.
He screamed. And screamed.
Until he passed out; lying next to his lifeless brother in the middle of a lifeless city during a lifeless era.
Jaune was in a state of shock. His mentor and friend was offering him the impossible.
"Let us bring them back. All of them."
Yey! Happy New Year to all!
So the story kinda mirrors the whole 'Naruto and Sasuke' ordeal (Complete with over-the-top flashbacks with serious feels!).
Jaune is 37 years old in this chapter, but that won't be for long. While I have no FUCKING IDEA how old Ozpin is, I'm going to make a wild swing here and think 'maybe Ozpin is 30 something years old so he'd be around 50 here.
Once again, I hope you like it. If you're a pal, go to my Wattpad account if you like Percy Jackson fanfics! (Miguel Carocha is the name fellas :D)
Don't be a stranger!... Well you guys are but whatevs.