Author's Note:
I had this idea whirling in my head for a while now, and I finally feel like I have a good enough grasp on it to work with. So here's what I've written out for the very first few chapters. Please let me know what you guys think. I wanted to infuse some more Norse mythology into the story but for now I think I got a pretty good balance going on.
This story is heavily inspired by one of my favorite games of all time. I'll leave it up to you good readers to figure it out. The hint is it was during the playstation one's hay day. This story is still very much a stand alone story and does not require knowledge of said game.
Also disclaimer: I do not own RWBY nor do I own the game which I just vaguely mentioned so please don't sue.
Jaune Arc: Einherjar
Chapter 1: Heroes Never Die
Floating… he felt like his body was floating. Everything seemed so light, like he weighed less than a feather.
Which was a strange feeling considering Jaune knew very well the feel of his body, and this… this definitely did not feel like it.
Almost as soon as he recognized his dislike, the light feeling was overpowered by a tight clutching pain in his chest. He gasped, but found that he could not breathe.
His face contorted in pain, his hands grasped close to his chest.
This was bad… this was very bad…
"Calm yourself, Jaune Arc," a simple clear voice spoke out. It was feminine, but firm. "The pain will pass. Steady yourself."
At her words, he gasped a painful breath.
Who was talking? And where was he? The last thing Jaune could remember was…
Wait… What was the last thing he could remember? Deep into the recesses of his mind he went, searching for any remnant, any clue as to where he had been before this light and pain... but he found nothing.
It was no use. Try as he might he was drawing a blank. His breathing was beginning to get ragged again as panic started to set in.
"WHERE-guh!" The pain intensified, but the blonde knight clenched his teeth and powered through the heat he was feeling. "Where am I?! Who's there?! And how do you know my name?!"
His eyes darted around, searching for the speaker, but all he could see was the stark white of the void, of nothingness. All of his senses were telling him to panic and he probably would have had it not been for the company of the voice.
"This one's a loud one…" Another voice spoke, this time deep and burly.
Voices, Jaune corrected himself.
"I could have told you that, Gandry," a third chimed in, giddy and positive. It sounded like… a child? And how many were they? "He looks more like a talker than a huntsman," the child-like apparition continued.
Jaune resented that remark. He probably would have contested it too - had it not been for the remarkable pain that still griped him. "I thought you said… gah… that the pain was temporary… My chest feels like it's on fire!" His voice was higher than he wanted it to be, but at least he was speaking.
"To be fair, lad, you did take an arrow to the chest," the burly voice stated simply.
What?
"I… What?!" His words echoed his thoughts.
Immediately his head darted downwards, his eyes combing his chest, his hands running across it with a desperate disbelief. A sigh of relief escaped his mouth. No trace of an arrow of any kind was there. The pain also vanished just as quickly as it had came.
"Gandry," the first voice spoke up, clearly not amused by the light hearted comment.
"My apologies, Miss, but he's going to find out sooner or later. Might as well be now. "
He couldn't see the talking figures, but Jaune had a feeling the female voice just sighed in frustration. "There are certain protocols to follow, Gandry."
"Since when has that ever stopped you, Lady Sigrun?" The third voice chuckled as it spoke.
Okay this was just getting weird.
"Um…" He didn't exactly know what to say so he continued to sit… float?...whatever his body was currently doing. On the bright side what they told him seemed to be true. The pain was definitely receding. "I…" Again he closed his mouth, unable to remember anything, or to find words for how confused he was.
Still the trio continued their chatter like they had not heard his cries of confusion.
"Honestly, of all my retainers, you two are the worst. Whatever am I going to do with the two of you?"
Retainers? Was she some kind of Royalty? She couldn't be. No monarchy had existed in Remnant for hundreds of years now.
"...We live only to serve, our Lady Valkyrie."
"...We live only to serve, our Lady Valkyrie."
The two answered in unison, unwavering conviction laced their tone as they spoke the clearly well-practiced phrase.
What did they call her? A… Valkyrie? Wasn't that Nora's last name? Somehow he didn't think the voice was related at all to his chipper teammate.
"Uh… could someone please explain what's going on? I have like a bazillion questions right about now."
"As I am sure you have, Jaune Arc. Questions I would gladly answer all in time if you would only answer one of mine." The voice of Sigrun stated this simply, clearly meaning it as a request, definitely not a command.
"Um, okay? Sure, I guess." Jaune shrugged.
What choice did he have? It's not like he was going anywhere and they seemed to possess all of the cards.
"What is the last thing you remember?" Her words cut right through him.
The last… thing he remembered…
"I..."
Jaune! Please… please, please… Open your eyes!
A voice in the wind called out his name. His head glanced around, looking for the source of the cry.
"...Pyrrha?" He recognized the voice, and the name felt near, and dearer to him than he could describe.
A tidal wave of emotions threatened to engulf his entire being as flashes of images began to surge forth.
Pyrrha.
The Grimm.
Beacon.
The Tower.
Cinder.
The last one snapped everything into place.
Cinder!
"Pyrrha… What was all of that?" Jaune could not fathom what he had just witnessed, he had hoped that his red headed companion could explain.
"I…"
Before she could reply a rumbling noise seized their attention. That woman Ozpin had been fighting was somehow propelling herself to the top of the tower.
With no headmaster in sight.
"But… Ozpin!"
Jaune's words conveyed a grim undertone indeed. There could be no way… Oz was once hailed as an accomplished huntsman during his youth. One of the best even. How could he have lost?
He didn't know if Oz had lost, died, or let the girl go, but before he could fathom this puzzle Pyrrha's voice interrupted his thoughts. "There's no time." She spoke with a commanding certainty Jaune did not feel. "Go. Get to Vale and call for help."
"Huh?" Jaune was confused. Could they not do that together? "What are you gonna do?"
The Invincible Girl of Mistral looked out once more, her eyes dead set upon the broken tower that was once had been Beacon's pride and joy. A symbol of how far mankind had come.
The realization hit him hard. "No." Even to his own ears, the protest sounded weak, easy to push aside. But as the truth of her intentions sunk in, his tone grew more forceful. "No." He repeated with conviction. "Pyrrha you can't. You saw how powerful she is! Pyrrha, I won't let you do-"
Strong yet gentle hands cut him off as she pulled his head closer to hers. Her soft warm lips silenced his protest. His entire self was enamored with her scent and her body warmth. He couldn't help but lean closer to her, his hands reaching out for her, until they wrapped firmly around her slim waist. For a moment the fear, the battle, everything stopped as he returned the kiss.
His first kiss.
With the most amazing girl he had ever known.
It only lasted mere moments, but the moments were like a millennia of bliss. Something he would never ever forget. It was she who broke away first. Their face still mere inches from one another, he could feel the hotness of her breath.
The most beautiful girl in the world was in his arms… and it only took him till this moment to realize what they had.
His blue eyes met her green ones. He could feel her hands resting upon his chest and his cheek. Her touch was intoxicating. Jaune never wanted to part from her ever. He thought she must feel the same way too.
And yet…
"I'm sorry…"
She smiled meekly; one of the few things she ever did weakly was smile. Before he could process her words, her meaning, she was moving. With a simple gesture, Pyrrha's semblance activated and pulled him into an open weapon locker, the impact causing the doors to close and lock in place. With him in it.
"Hey Wait!" She couldn't be serious!
"Stop!" There was just no way…
"Stop! Pyrrha, please don't do this!" He pleaded one last time, hoping his feelings would reach her.
But his words fell as uselessly on her as his fists did upon the locker door. She continued to ignore his cries as she began to type methodically the coordinates into the weapon locker. With one last loving glance, she gazed at his face for the final time before the locker ignited and ascended, carrying him away.
He could read the last words she was mouthing to him while her form became smaller and smaller in the distance. "Goodbye, Jaune."
No!
No!
Noooooooooooooooooo!
He wasn't going to accept that. Desperately he looked around. He only had mere seconds before he reached the stratosphere and he would be way too far to act.
A slight dent on the upper corner caught his attention. With no hesitation he pulled out his weapon, the shining blade of Crocea Mors gleamed despite the cramped and dark prison he was in.
Sorry Great-Grand-Pappy, he apologized in his head. He was going to be rougher with the ancestral weapon of clan Arc than usual.
With a strength born of desperation, he jammed the blade against the slight opening, applying pressure downwards. Never in his whole life had he ever used their treasured family heirloom as a mere tool but there was a first time for everything. He could reforge Crocea Mors. He couldn't afford to lose Pyrrha. Not after today.
With a metallic screech the door suddenly gave way and a gust of wind and air assaulted Jaune's body. He sheathed his sword back in its place. Fighting against the strong gale he found the courage to leap out, parachute or no parachute. He told himself this was no worse than his first lesson in the forest. He had grown much since then.
He was falling at a very rapid pace, the wind flapping his hood all over the place.
Think! Think! Think! He needed to stop his fall. He spotted a nearby broken building. That would have to do. He tucked his hands, and twisted his body into his fall, attempting to get closer to his intended target. Once more he made Crocea Mors sing as he shouted out a wordless cry of both exhilaration and desperation. Both hands gripped the strong sword before plunging it into the concrete side of the building. The blade sunk in with effort on his part, the handle almost ripped from his hands as his own weight and momentum caught against it. The building creaked, the sword squealed with the sound of stressed metal... But somehow Jaune's arms did not tear off. His fingers managed to just hold on, and he could feel the sword fight against the brick and mortar as his descent began to slow down.
His crazy plan had worked! Also, it hadn't killed him! He had come to a complete stop just mere feet away from the ground. For a moment he was amazed that he had actually managed to do something that cool! But he knew he had no time to celebrate. He had a girl to save! Which was also cool… and very confusing.
Jaune's feet exploded with power. There was no stopping him. He needed to get to her. But it didn't mean he had to do it alone. Not stopping for one second Jaune pulled out his scroll without delaying his run. He dialed the last call he had made. "Weiss!"
"Where are you?!"
The concern in her voice was shockingly genuine. Maybe months ago he would have given anything to see that part of Weiss, to hear her open and honest, worried about him. Not now though. Now it meant less than nothing. Now Pyrrha meant everything.
"Weiss! I'm going after her!"
"Wait! What? Going after who?"
Thank God she wasn't wasting time. "Pyrrha! She's going after that woman at the top of the tower. She doesn't have a chance!"
"Jaune, What are you talking about?! Where are you?!"
Nevermind.
"I said I'm going after Pyrrha! She needs me! She needs all of us! I'm going to the tower! Send anyone who can help! I'm going to save Pyrrha!"
"What? Jaune please do-"
Jumped over a debris and landed hard. His scroll slipped from his grip, and the tiny device went crashing down on the ground, hard. There was no time to stop and get it. He had to push forward.
He needed to make it in time!
The tower was just ahead. He could feel Pyrrha's presence. Instinctively, he knew she was close. He smashed through the remains of a window. His body tumbling forward, his breath heavy from the dive and the full out run. His eyes darted at the nearest elevator.
Damn.
All of them had been taken out of commission.
He grunted in frustration and anger before forcing himself to get back on his feet. He would have to do this the old fashion way.
The ascent upwards on the stairway seemed never ending. His pace was gradually slowing down.
Move Arc! Move your worthless body for once!
His self-flagellation motivated him to find a second wind. His calves were on fire but they answered his command. With renewed vigor he found himself rapidly jumping over every other step.
The sounds of battle and the shaking of the building was telling him he was getting closer to his destination. He could practically feel the sizzle in the air.
She was definitely there, fighting against that woman who had been with Oz. She was fighting without him! When he got there he was definitely going to give Pyrrha a piece of his mind. For a time thinking of what he would say was all that kept him going.
"How selfish can you be?!" he shouted out loud to himself. Yelling made it harder for him to breathe while running up the stairs, but the motivation it came with was worth every searing gasp. "Goodbye?! What a load of crap!"
His eyes blazed with anger and determination. "My Pyrrha NEVER says goodbye!"
With that last shout he kicked open the final doors to the top.
For a moment he could not process what he was seeing.
The sight that greeted him horrified him beyond anything else. Pyrrha was on her knees… His beautiful Invincible Girl was on her knees, looking so defeated. She was about to lose, and she was so far away...
"Do you believe in Destiny?" Pyrrha's voice was so soft that he could not even hear a whisper of her final words, only see her lips moving.
No…
Cinder stood triumphantly over her before answering coldly, "Yes."
Shards black as the night formed into a deadly bow in her hands. Calmly she drew back the weapon while a black feathered arrow materialized before her.
Within seconds she let loose the dreaded shaft.
"Pyrrha!"
Jaune had no idea if it was possible to close the gap between them. Time seemed to slow down, all he could see was Pyrrha and Cinder. And that black arrow. HIs muscles burned. He knew there was no way he could get there, and if there was there was nothing he could do-
But he couldn't accept that.
With everything in him, he flung himself forward, in between his best friend and their dreaded foe. The sheath of Crocea Mors was in his hands, ready and transformed into its intended form. A shield.
Time and time again he had complained about the lameness of his hand me down weapon. How it just couldn't compare to the others. He was never going to do that again. A shield, he knew now, was meant to save lives.
And he was going to do that.
…
For a moment he wasn't sure if he had done it.
Then he realized he felt a stinging pain in his chest.
Jaune looked down. The black arrow had pierced through Crocea Mors like it was made of paper and had penetrated through his armor and was now lodge deep in his chest. The sight of it made him feel sick, and afraid.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" He could hear Pyrrha's pained voice behind him.
...Of all the rotten luck.
Guess it was just meant to be.
They say the Arcs were famous soldiers and warriors throughout history. Accomplished heroes who gave their lives for their country and their beliefs. Who was he to break tradition?
A sad smile crept upon his face as he slowly fell backwards. He was sure he was going to feel the cold pavement of the ground smash into him, but instead two strong arms wrapped around him, keeping him steady.
He felt cold now...and sleepy...maybe...just a small nap...
"Jaune!"
He remembered.
He remembered everything.
"Pyrrha…" He looked up at the sudden realization as tears flowed down his face freely. "So I'm… I'm dead?"
"Afraid so, Lad," the deep voice of Gandry spoke up first, a hint of familiar sadness in his voice as if he had given this message of sorrow countless of times.
"Wha… But that can't be right. I mean I'm standing here talking to-"
He stopped. Talking to who? There was no 'them.'
"We're not of the living world, Jaune Arc." Sigrun's voice was calm and unflinching. "At least not anymore. We have not been in a long time."
"No, no. No. You're… you're pulling my leg." He nodded to reassure himself of this - clearly he was still alive.
Sigrun's voice made a pensive sound. "I had hope to spare you from this, but if it will convince you of the truth then I must show you."
All at once the world of white disappeared and Jaune was the audience to the sad play that was taking place before him. Pyrrha had barricaded them both inside a metallic shell composed of gigantic gears and metallic sheaths, while Cinder continued to pummel the outside of it with flame and fire. Pyrrha's crying form hugged his lifeless body as she continued to cry out his name like a desperate mantra.
"Jaune! Jaune! Please… Please please please please… Open your eyes!" She wailed out desperately.
And his heart sank. "Pyrrha! Pyrrha! I'm right here! Pyrrha!"
"She can't hear you," Sigrun explained plainly. "The lamentations of the dead are not meant to be heard by the living."
"This can't be happening." Was this how it was meant to end?
"You are a strange one, Jaune Arc," the disembodied voice of Sigrun continued. "We came to this world, to this time, to this exact place, to seek a coveted soul..."
A ghostly image began to form before him. A young woman, hair golden like the sun, like his. Her armor gleamed silver. She was hauntingly beautiful. Jaune saw her point her finger at the now crying Pyrrha. "...Hers."
"What?"
"She was the one who was fated to die tonight, not you." Sigrun calmly looked at him, like he was some kind of rare specimen. "And yet here you are."
"It's a brave thing you did, Lad. Not many can say they would give up their life for another." As he spoke, the form of Gandry's apparition appeared, standing beside his ward.
Jaune couldn't make out much about the man, considering he was covered from head to toe in plated steel armor. He towered over Sigrun by a good foot and a half, and the golden haired maiden was just as tall as Jaune was.
"Not many say that, except for beings like us!" It was the third voice's turn to appear. A small figure materialized sitting on the towering, armored titan's shoulder. Her hair cut short, silver like Weiss, a warm smile beaming from her face. A giant crossbow was slung across her back. "Salutations, Jaune! I'm Isara. And well... You already know these two!"
"Wait… I don't understand."
He shook his head. If he was dead… then what were they? And what do they mean beings like them?
"Gandry is right," Sigrun said, sensing his confusion. "Selflessness is not a trait commonly found in humanity's nature. As such, you've earned your right to be here just as much as that grieving warrior there." She gestured to Pyrrha's weeping form as she spoke.
"Right to what?"
"To stand by us. To be one of my chosen Einherjar."
"A… what?"
She simply smiled at his bewilderment. "Not to worry. It is something I can explain given time. All you need to know, Jaune Arc, is yours is a noble soul. One worthy to be hailed as a hero. So come…" She beckoned him to come with her open hand, inviting him to come to her side. "You have earned your rest, hero."
Hero.
All he had ever wanted was to be called a hero.
He stepped towards her, one foot placed in front of the other. A part of him wanted to take her up on her offer. What has been done, has been done. There was no more use crying over the past.
As if to question that line of thinking Pyrrha's cries echoed louder than ever. Pulling his attention once more back to the girl… his Pyrrha.
"Pyrrha…" He softly spoke her name as if it was the only thing that was still shackling him to the living world. He knew that wasn't true. He had friends… Family… but it was her crying face that he could not ignore. There were also some things - many things! - he had not gotten the chance to do yet… Things he needed to see through… "My Pyrrha…" He didn't want to let go yet, but the words were useless now.
"What's the matter, Jaune Arc?" Sigrun curiously looked at him.
"...I can't. I can't go…" His voice cracked as he spoke, but he didn't care. He had to try. "I don't want to go… Not like this. This isn't how I wanted to leave… I didn't want to leave her!" He confessed.
Sigrun glanced upward at her silent guardian. Gandry shifted uncomfortably. "Lad, I...we all lost some-"
Jaune didn't want to be turned down again. "I can't go like this!" He shouted out loud his true feeling. He could see the concerned face of the child like Isara, while Gandry and Sigrun remained a mystery. One hidden behind a metal helm, the other showed no emotion. "Please!" he pleaded to them. "C-can't you do something?! I know you guys can! You said you were some kind of warriors, right?! So please… Help Pyrrha! I beg you!"
The trio stood still, unsure of what to make of his desperate request. "...It's not that easy, lad. Only a Valkyrie can mediate between the nine realms." Gandry folded his arms together across his powerful, steel chest.
A… Valkyrie… His eyes turned to Sigrun. "Isn't… isn't that who you are?"
Sigrun's eyes narrowed. "I know what you mean to ask," she started.
"Sigrun!" He ran to her. It was an act which clearly caused the maiden some concern as she stepped back slightly, but he threw himself at her feet. "Please! I will do anything! Anything you need! Anything I can give I will give it! Just please! Help her!" He grabbed the hem of her battle skirt as he groveled on the ground, ashamed of the tears that would not stop. "Please… I'm begging you."
"I cannot," she tried to explain. "It was your choice to die saving her."
"But she's not safe!" Jaune shouted. "That's not fair! I didn't… even in death I haven't made her safe. She needs help!" Tears were running down his face now, and he wiped at them furiously.
"Uh…" Isara looked at her lady liege. "...Lady Sigrun… Isn't that a loophole? So, maybe… Just this once?"
Silence fell between them and only the cries of the recently deceased Jaune and the broken Pyrrha could be heard.
"...You said you would do… anything, Jaune Arc?" The Valkyrie maiden knelt and lifted his chin to match her cold gaze. "Did you mean what you said?"
Jaune took a moment before nodding slowly.
Sigrun smiled mischievously, something he thought that beautiful, serious face would not be capable of. "Then I will take everything you have to offer."
In a moment's lapse her phantom disappeared and reappeared behind the crying girl. He could see the smile still upon her face. "Well then…" She pulled a sheathed blade from her hip and pointed it to the heavens.
"Oh…" Isara shook giddily atop the steel giant. "Here comes my favorite part."
"To my side… My noble Einherjar."
All at once Jaune's world disappeared as everything in him screamed for air, for him to take a deep breath.
So he did.
Gasping, he could barely hear her astonished cry, but he could feel her strong arms wrapped around him, shaking uncontrollably. "Jaune!"
He was back.