A/N: Hey everyone! Yet again, another chapter of this fic! And it's getting really popular. As much as reviews are important for many of you with stories, seeing the favs and follows tells me that I'm doing something very right, and that's good in my book. And, I thank you all for the support.

Now for those of you who are confused about the Pyrrha Ghost last chapter, remember when said champion unlocked his aura? Well, me, as well as many others, believe that Jaune's aura absorbed a piece of her own, and which thus formed their bond. Hence why that even though her body is gone, her spirit still remains. Of course, Jaune will see these as tricks of the mind...until later.

Now then, enough chit-chat, let's get on with the fic!

Warning: usage of the theme Cold in this chapter, so...be warned for heartstring pulling and buckets of tears if you wish to listen to it.


Chapter 2: Won't say goodbye


Dark Future

Continent of Solitus

Former Kingdom of Mantle


Jaune gave a heave, as the contents in his stomach exited via his mouth, after he hurriedly departed the Bullhead that the man, who he now knew as Canus, forced him onto, with the argument that it will be much faster. Of course, the Arc's stomach didn't agree with the man, not one bit, at all.

Canus looked at what many called the Paladin with a deadpanned look and a quirked eyebrow*, clearly having seen it before, but the sight of it still made him question if this was really the son of the Arc Family, who were descended from the old Kings of Vale, before the last King of the Arc bloodline, abdicated his throne, and left the rule of the Vale to those over complacent fools of the Council.

"After all you went through, and all the skills you learned, you still get airsick?" he asked, and then sighed, shaking his head, "Fan-fucking-tastic,"

Jaune looked at him, the venomous glare on his face saying it all.

"I fucking hate you," he groaned out, as he looked around the area, which was the ruins of a city, with obvious signs of battle damage, from both dust rounds and the claws of grimm. Jaune also took notice that this city had signs of once being a technological wonder, like everything else on Solitus, "So, this is Mantle huh?"

The reason for the question was that he never been to Mantle before, the main reason being he and the rest of Team RNJR were too busy hunting Salem and Cinder, that they didn't have time to visit other cities, especially the former kingdom.

Canus nodded as he sadly looked around the city. It was currently nearing twilight in the evening hours, as the stars began appearing in the sky.

"Yup, the former Kingdom of Mantle...or what's left of it at least," he said, "Once the hub of the greatest technological achievements in Remnant history... until the decision to move the capital from Mantle to Atlas that is, thanks to that greedy egotistical pain the ass, Jacques Gelee."

Jaune knew what Canus by that. He met Jacques Gelee, who married into the Schnee family, while stealing the name and the company in the process, and to say he hated the man was an understatement. Especially considering what he and his little toad of a son did to his own daughter/sister no less.

However, he couldn't lament on that now as he shook his head.

"So, where do we go?" he simply asked, and Canus just sighed.

"Follow me," he said, and began walking in a random direction, with Jaune following not far behind.

As they were walking, Jaune, deciding to kill some time, pulled out his, or rather Pyrrha's after he smashed his old one during the fall, and looked up the training video that the said champion made for him. He had played this particular multiple times, and had no matter what anyone told him, he never stopped playing it... if only to keep hearing her voice.

"Alright, Jaune. Just like we practiced. Follow these instructions: Shield up...keep your grip tight...don't forget to keep your left foot forward. Ready? Go!"

Jaune could remember the nights where he would train constantly, again and again, until he blacked out from exhaustion.

He could even remember Ruby begging him to stop out of concern, not wanting him to hurt himself even more than he already was. He was even threatened by Nora to stop...or she will break his legs.

He chuckled at the memory as the video continued.

"Okay! *chuckle* Now, assuming that you're not cheating, we can take a break."

Despite being twenty years old, thanks to Jaune having it well maintained, the video was still in good shape to watch, and the sound was still perfect.

"I know this can be frustrating, and it can feel like so much effort to progress in such a small amount. But...I want you to know that I'm proud of you. I've never met someone so determined to better themselves. You've grown so much since we started training, and I know that this is just the beginning."

(BGM: Cold, Lyrics by Jeff Williams, and vocals by Casey Lee Williams)

Jaune could only frown, his heart aching in sorrow, as his grip tightened on the scroll.

He watched as a look of apprehension crossed her face, as she turned from the camera.

"Jaune...," she said, as she nervously gripped her hands together, unsure of what to say, "...I...I..."

Jaune looked at the video, begging, actually begging Pyrrha to say those three little words.

"I just want you to know that I'm happy to be a part of your life." The Spartan said, as Jaune let out a shaky breath in anguish, "I'll always be here with you Jaune,"

The recording ended after she said that. Jaune gritted his teeth, his self-loathing only getting worse.

Even now, he still blames himself for not giving the Mistralian Champion, who wanted a normal life, a person who would truly love her, and had helped him through thick and thin, what she so eagerly wanted.

'I really fucked up,' he thought to himself, 'I don't even deserve her,'

Canus, who was listening to the recording by hearing, could only look at the young man sadly.

"You really do love her, don't you?" he asked, while Jaune didn't look at him, but nodded all the same. He then looked upward toward the sky, looking at the stars as they twinkled. His eyes landed on one star particular... one colored the same red as Pyrrha's hair.

"Ever since that day, I never said goodbye...I always hated goodbyes," he said, as Canus nodded at that, "And even though I lost her...I always look up at the sky, watching that red star up there, wondering if it's Pyrrha, watching over me...and somehow, I believe it...,"

Jaune allowed himself a pained smile, "Though, it still hurts...to move forward,"

He felt a firm grip on his shoulder as he stopped and saw Canus giving him a knowing look.

"Yes, it is," he said, while smiling slightly "It's hard to move forward, especially after losing the person that meant the world to you. Sometimes, people could be real dicks and try to force you move on from someone who is dead. But, in my book, it's okay to remember the one you truly loved and wished you could've spent your life with. What's worse for you though, is that she's not the only one you lost,"

Jaune nodded, as he remembered all the others who perished in the War with Salem...Ren, Nora, Team RWBY, Team CFVY, Team SSSN, the teachers from Beacon, Qrow, even Team CRDL...and their deaths had only helped driven him further into his grief.

But, it was Pyrrha. His partner, his confidant, his mentor, his best friend... his lover.

It was her loss, that contributed greatly to it.

"But one thing I can assure you Jaune," Canus said, "If what I have in mind works, you will not only change things for yourself and Pyrrha, but all of Remnant,"

Jaune, taking in what Canus said, just gave a slow nod.

With that, the two continued on their way toward their destination.


Fall Of Beacon

CCTS Tower


The three girls ran inside the tower, with Pyrrha looking around frantically before spotting another elevator and ran toward it.

"Pyrrha wait!" Ruby shouted as she and Weiss followed after her, and the red hooded girl jumped into the elevator before the champion could close it. However the door slammed in front of Weiss, making her growl in frustration and worry, before she sighed.

"You better not die up there...," she said as she looked at the ceiling, "...all of you,"


In the elevator itself, Ruby looked at Pyrrha now greatly worried for her friend.

"Pyrrha, what is going on!? Who's up there!?" Ruby said.

Said champion just shook her head desperately, before she concentrated on her semblance and quickly lifted the elevator car toward the top floor. Though with an extra passenger, that made it a little bit difficult.

Still, she was not giving up.

'Please don't die! Please don't die!'

With that thought repeating itself like a mantra, the elevator car continued it's ascent.


15 minutes Earlier


Sparks flew as the two continued to fight one another. Jaune, with his years of of experience, vast aura, and training himself into the ground constantly, had given him an edge against Cinder's overuse of the Fall Maiden powers.

He didn't hope that anyone would come to help him fight the witch in front of him. In fact, he was hoping no one will.

Jaune's sword collided with that of one of Cinder's glass ones yet again, as their two continued their duel.

However, the Grimm Dragon that was previously latched onto the tower, had pushed itself away and into the smoke-filled sky, reaching a good distance before turning around and heading back at high speed.

Back in Ozpin's Office, Jaune, after shielding himself from Cinder's Fall Maiden flamethrower, noticed the Dragon coming at them at high speed, just in the nick of time.

"Oh, son of a bit-!" he didn't managed to finish as he jumped to the side just as the dragon slammed into the tower, causing the roof to collapse away, and causing a dust cloud to form.

He coughed in an attempt to keep the mist of particles out of his lungs.

However the sound of a bowstring being drawn drew his attention, as he turned just as three lethal arrows of glass flew at him before slamming in a triangle pattern, before beginning to glow.

"SHIT!"

He managed to jump away as the arrows exploded, and rolled on the ground before coming to a stop at what was left of Ozpin's desk.

He looked up as he saw Cinder's amber eyes glowing along with the golden highlights of her red dress.

"You should just give up, Arc," the bitch in the red dress said with a snide tone, "You think you can match me, now that I have the powers of a Maiden?,"

Jaune only glared as he stood up and assumed his stance once again.

"I don't care if you have the powers of the Gods," he growled out, "You're still mortal just like any other human or Faunus. Just because you have yourself a little boost, because of something you stole, doesn't make you a God in any way! It's just makes you arrogant and stupid! And that's what would lead you to your downfall, bitch."

Cinder's eyes narrowed angrily at that, feeling insulted by this man's audacity to call her those, in her opinion, taboo titles, as her hands ignited into flames.

"I'll make you eat those words, fake," she snarled out, and then used her powers to propel herself forward like a rocket.

However, while the Old Jaune would've been intimidated, everything that ever happened to him, all the misery, sorrow, and loss he had to endure, had hardened him to the point where only death will free him. And thus, Cinder's little Rocketeer trick, didn't scare him in the least.

He waited till she got closer, and just when she was on him, he quickly sidestepped out of the way, before slashing overhead, and clipping the ashen hair woman on the shoulder, the blow surprising her and making her stumble.

"Oh would you look at that. I managed to surprise you," the Paladin mocked, making Cinder's amber eyes glow hot with anger, as she gritted her teeth.

Jaune knew at this moment, shit just got serious.

Cinder raised her hand up firing a larger blast of fire at him, making the scion of the Arc duck away. But Cinder was not planning on letting him dodge as she followed him, persistent on turning this pest to a blackened husk if it's the last thing she ever does.

"I'll burn you ashes you little insect!" she shouted, "And I will watch with a smile as I scatter the ashes in front of your soon-to-be-dead partner's horrified face!"

When she finished that sentence, something in Jaune snapped, as his eyes widened, gaining a dangerous glint in them, before he reached out his hand and a black glow surrounded one of the fallen gears of Beacon Tower and yanked from the wall and then threw it at Cinder, who had no time as it came at her at high speed before slamming into her, and into a wall, while stopping the flamethrower from hell.

After the dust settled, and she regained her bearings, her attention was then drawn to the growing white glow, and her eyes widened when she saw the Arc covered in the glow of his aura, his face a visage of pure rage, as he glared at Cinder with unbridled hatred.

"You...," he growled, his grip on Crocea Mors tightened to the point where the grip was creaking from the stress, "Will not..." his eyes narrowed to slits, as the glow of the aura began to encompass his eyes, "Go anywhere near Pyrrha, ever again. I WILL MAKE SURE OF THAT!"

With that he launched himself toward Cinder. And it was in that moment she knew...

...she fucked up.


Meanwhile, somewhere in Vale.


Why did she do that?

Why did she believe that she could fight someone like that?

Why did she kiss him, only to push him away?

These were the thoughts that were currently plaguing the young teen who was now in anguish at what his partner, and could've been lover, had done.

He had just now fully realized his feelings for the red haired Mistralian girl, who had helped him ever since initiation. Now... she was up that tower, and no doubt about to throw her life away for a stupid belief in destiny, and what he felt, was no doubt his fault.

He felt helpless, useless, and a another whole myriad of self-loathing titles.

He managed to contact his fellow team leader of what happened, and had begged them to save his partner...but, he knew in his gut that they will be too late.

He choked out another sob, as the tears flowed out of his eyes. Images of a red haired, emerald eyed, circlet wearing champion entering his mind.

"Pyrrha...Please... Be okay...,"

He continued his self loathing, never knowing the figure who carefully approached until he was just a few feet in front of him.

"It's not the end, Jaune Arc,"

The now name, and younger, Jaune Arc snapped his head up and saw a man dressed in a grey cloak, with the hood shadowing his face, hiding his features.

"Who...who are you?" he asked, and he heard a sigh, before a grey sleeved arm, with a black fingerless gloved hand came out from the cloak, reached up, and pulled the hood away, revealing a man, with greying brown hair, and full facial beard, and grey eyes.

"My name is Canus, and I'm here to inform, that the one you love is now safe and unharmed," he said, making the younger man's eyes widen in hope and shock.

"...Pyrrha's okay?" he gasped out, and the said man nodded, but the sad frown still remained on his face.

"Yes, but now, she will learn how her actions affected you," he said, making Jaune now worry again. And what Canus said next will make him have a panic attack.

"And she will learn the experience, of losing someone very precious to her. But would also give her resolve to insure that it will never befall you,"

And Jaune, feeling new strength come back to him, immediately stood to his feet.

"What do you mean by that!?" he demanded, and Canus just smiled sadly.

"Tell me, scion of the Arc Family," he said, "Do you believe in Time Travel?"


A/N: And it was in that moment that Cinder knew...she done fucked up!

Hahahahaha! Oh dear God I love that line!

Ahem, sorry about that my friends. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, as well another flashback of the older Jaune's past in the possible canon future (Which I know is a possible AU.), and it looks like Canus is about to get the younger self of our favorite knight well informed. How much will he tell him of the alternate timeline. *Shrugs* I don't know, but I believe it will world shattering.

Also, as you noticed, I'm running out of ideas for fight scenes. If any of you guys could help what I should put in the next chapter in Old Jaune's fight against Cinder, do so, by PM to avoid spoilers.

Until then, leave a review, fav, and follow, and I will see you in the next chapter!

Later!

*: If any of you are fans of Star Trek, you would recognize the look of our favorite Vulcan.