Hello there Internet! Journeymen here with the pilot chapter of One Man's Past is Another Man's Future! I hope you all enjoy it! Now without further ado let's get this ball rolling!

Beta: Grano_Onis

My lungs felt like they were on fire as I and the rest of the members of RWBY and JN_R ran along the bottom of a gorge in Vacuo, the moon proving us with plenty of light despite the cloudy sky. The relic of destruction was strapped to my back, Crocea Mors was broken, Qrow was holding an unconscious Oscar on his back, Ruby was clutching her bloody shoulder, and Blake was trying to push past the pain of a recently removed ear.

There was a distant roaring as a huge blast of fire was coming our way. Yang turned on her heel and cocked both her arms back. Her eyes went red before she fired off a semblance fueled shot from her gauntlets, her robotic arm being demolished from the force of the blast. However, the shot accomplished its job of stopping the fireball. As the two balls of blazing heat collided with each other, magic and dust resulted in a massive explosion that shook the ground and nearly took us off our feet. However, that did not stop the next blast of fire coming right at us.

Weiss acted fast and, using the last of her earth dust, she erected a wall of thick rock. Her aura shimmered before shattering as a result of this. The wall of stone held, tough, and was met with another roar.

"T-that's not going to hold them for long," Weiss managed to get out before her strength failed her and she fell onto a knee, forced to use her rapier as a prop to stay up. I immediately went over to her and activated my semblance, refueling her aura as much as I could. Unfortunately, even my reserves were running low, and I could only get her to about, maybe, six percent. We just didn't have enough time.

"We have to get to Ironwood," Ruby said, also trying to keep herself up with her weapon. Her right eye closed thanks to a cut above it that her aura had yet to heal. She tried to push herself to keep moving, but she stumbled. The only thing keeping her off the ground was a tired Nora who caught her.

"We won't be able to make it in time," Blake said, and I could hear the hope of escape leaving her voice. The others didn't look any different. I grit my teeth as my nails bit into my palm.

"C'mon, Jaune, you got to think of something," I said mentally.

"Well," Yang said, a small smile on her face as she laid down on the ground defeated, "Can't say we didn't try."

I felt blood leak out of my palms, I was clenching my fist so tight.

"You have to think of something!" I mentally shouted, but my mind was drawing blanks. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my arm. Looking down, I saw Weiss, who gave me a small sad smile. I felt my hand relaxed, as Weiss took my hand in hers.

"Jaune," Weiss said, her words comforting, "It's fine. We tried our best."

I looked around. I could see Ren and Nora holding each other. Blake sat next to Yang, the two just looking defeated. Ruby was still trying to push onward. But this time, Nora wasn't there to catch her when she fell. So fall she did. Then she broke down and started to cry, her Uncle coming over to comfort her as best as he could.

My eyes returned to Weiss, who held a kindness in them that I always had known was there, but had rarely seen until after Beacon. Till after everything started to go to hell. Till after her death.

Suddenly, Weiss was no longer there. Her white hair was replaced with an autumn red. Her pale blue eyes a vibrant green. I saw the visage of Pyrrha on that terrible a day. That day when she sent me flying into a locker so she could go fight a battle she knew she wouldn't win, leaving me to feel weak and helpless.

Then I remembered when I saw Weiss again. How we all reconnected at Haven. How Weiss was impaled by Cinder; of how, if it were not for my semblance, I would have lost Weiss too. I was too weak. To save Pyrrha, and I was almost too weak to save Weiss.

I looked to Weiss, her snow-white hair and blue eyes back on her face. I then looked back to the rest of my friends. Pulling Weiss up, I embraced her, and she embraced me. I pulled away to look at Weiss.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

I pushed her towards the others, grabbed the relic from my back and held it up into the air. Oscar, who had been informed by Ozpin, had told us how to use the relics. To use a relic's power, one must simply speak its name.

"Ryuu." I commanded. The relic glowed with power before I slashed at the earth right in front of me. The effect was exactly as I had hoped for: the might of the relic made by one of the brother gods himself. The ground in front of me split in two before pushing itself apart creating a thirty-foot chasm that no one could cross.

"Jaune!" Weiss screamed out.

"I'll hold them off! You guys keep moving forward." I yelled back, a smile on my face.

"Jaune you can't!"

"Vomit Boy what are you thinking?"

"Jaune!"

"God damn it kid get over here!"

"Jaune, please!"

"It's too late," I called out, "I can't make that jump you all have to go without me."

"Jaune," Ren cried out, "Pyrrha wouldn't want you to go out like this!"

"I'm not doing this for Pyrrha!" I snapped. "I have always been too weak. I was too weak to get into Beacon, too weak to stand up for myself against Cardin, too weak to help Pyrrha, and I was almost too weak to save Weiss!" I yelled back, not even realizing that tears were in my eyes. "I will be damned if I am too weak to keep my friends from dying here in the middle of a fucking desert."

I was breathing heavy. I could see them all looking at me in various stages of shock.

"You guys better get going. I can only hold them off for so long, and that chasm was really meant for you guys." I joked holding a smile before I turned away from them. Facing towards the rubble. Where I saw the fist of a Beringel punch through the earth.

"Go! Now!" I yelled out.

That seemed to snap them out of it. They all reluctantly started to make their way out.

"Jaune!" Weiss cried out. I looked over my shoulder to see her standing there. Crying. "I'm…sorry. I never got to tell you..."

I gave her a wide goofy smile.

"Hey! Cheer up, Snow Angel. Everything going to be just fine." I assured her, she gave a broken laugh as she wiped away some of her tears.

"Goodbye Jaune. I love you." That last part came out as a whisper, and by no right of physics should I have been able to hear it due to the pounding and the roaring from the Grimm. But I did.

"I love you too." I whispered back, before getting into position. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Weiss leave.

I gave a hollow laugh. "Well, Jaune, that leaves you O for two with relationships. Guess I didn't show enough confidence." I looked out to the rock wall to see it breaking down. "Well, might as well lend them a hand." I held the sword up. "Ryuu!"

I then slashed downwards, and from the blade came destruction as the Rock wall and any and all Grimm were obliterated and turned into dust. All but two things. Or should I say, people? No, things work. Walking in her long dark robes was Salem, who had a magical shield around herself.

Next to her, covered in a similar shield, was the body of a woman that was once known as Cinder; now nothing more than a husk, a suit of rotten meat and bones for the Grimm that took her body. All that was damaged by Ruby's silver eyes was completely transformed while the rest was skin that as pale as her master's. On her left side, the side Ruby's eyes had damaged, one could see the remains of her organs that were kept in place by black bones. Her right eye shined with the powers of the maiden. But I knew that there was only a sliver of the women in there, only being kept alive so that the maidens power would stay in the body. It probably hurt like hell.

"Oh Cinder, you're looking good." I joked. The body remained unresponsive, but I saw the one good eye glare at me.

"So," Salem mused, "You decided to stay behind to save your friends? How noble." Her voice was thick with sarcasm.

"Actually, I just wanted to see what Ozpin ever saw in you. Frankly, I just don't see the appeal." I taunted.

Salem gave me a glare before a smirk appeared on her face. "You are brave. Foolish, but brave." She then looked at the relic in my hand and gave an amused look. "I see, you think a relic has the power to destroy me?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, destruction is in the name, so."

She actually snorted in amusement. "Ah, so the fool has some jokes. And I'm in so dire need of a jester in my court." She then held out her hand. "Come, fool. Hand over the relic, and I shall let you live."

I gave her a disbelieving look. "You really expect me to believe that?" I asked.

She smiled. "Hmm? Perhaps you need more insurance." She said, with a hint of a seductive tone.

I gave her a flat look. "How was it that you were able to charm kings?" I asked.

She frowned at that. "Very well. Cinder if you would."

I saw the body bow to its master, and, from what I could see, the fragment of Cinder's mind looked happy to carry out this order. The maiden formed a sword in her hand before lunging towards me at inhuman speeds. I was barely able to put up my shield in time as her blade scraped up my shield, the force of the impact blowing away the dust around us. I tilted my shield to throw her off balance, but she struck at me with the claws from her Grimm arm, forcing me to use my aura to block the claws. I then went for a stab with the relic, but the body used the maiden powers to summon some wind to push us both apart.

"Ryuu!" I shouted, sending out a blast of destructive energy. Before the blade entered its cooldown of thirty seconds, Cinder tried to make a shield with her magic. However, she was only a maiden, someone who had only a quarter of Ozma's original power. It was nothing compared to the power of a relic. The shield turned to dust, and Cinder eyes went wide before she too was hit by the wave of destruction. I watched in satisfaction as her body slowly started to turn into dust.

My satisfaction quickly turned to ash as the body of Cinder shattered like glass and was replaced by that of a familiar, petite assassin.

"You didn't honestly think I would send my maiden against a relic wielder, did you?" Salem asked bemusedly.

I turned to glare at her, only to notice that Cinder was not here at all. Realization hit me as I turned back to where my friends had gone.

"Oh, I'm afraid it will be too late for them," Salem said, "Not even that silver eyed girl will be able to save them this time."

My grip tightened as I turned back to the pale witch. "You...bitch." I growled out.

Salem smirked, "Such a foolish thing to say."

Before I could blink, my back collided with a wall as an unseen force pressed up against it. Salem held an outstretched hand, her magic holding me in place without its user even breaking a sweat.

"Now, if you will hand over the relic, please." She commanded.

I glared at her. "Never."

I felt a new wave of magic blast me further into the wall. I felt like my bones were all going to shatter, but my aura held strong.

"Honestly," She said, while walking slowly towards me, "I don't think I could ever understand you, creatures. The gods wiped out all of humanity and replaced them with you weaker species who could not even use magic, and yet, when we had the chance to replace them with the rightfully superior species, Ozma instead decided to betray our family and damn the both of us to being the last of our kind. All for you. Why?" She asked that last word with a mixture of curiosity, venom, and...pain?

Well… I didn't care.

"It was probably because you're a psycho." I gritted out.

Salem frowned as she got closer. "I think I am tired of that tongue of yours." She said.

I smirked. "Funny you should say that. I'm tired of being pinned up against this wall." With that, I channeled my semblance, and I felt her magic lose its grip on me. A fun fact I had learned: while using aura, magic has a lesser effect on you; and with a semblance like mine, I could completely negate its effects on me or others. Now, Salem was too close to back away in time.

"Ryuu!" I called out as I made to slash her chest. Salem made to form a magic shield, but she was too late. The sword cut into and then severed her arm. Her body then slowly turned to dust. Salem started to scream in pain.

"That's for my friends." I declared. Then I felt my aura shatter and I was forced to use the sword as a crutch I fell to my knees.

"DAMM IT!" I screamed. I punched the ground with as much force as I could muster. "DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!" I yelled with every word being actuated by a punch. "Why? Why wasn't I fucking strong enough!" I ignored my bleeding knuckles as I tears escaped my eyes. "I had just one job to do. ONE FUCKING JOB! Stall so that my friends could escape, and what happens? I am the only one FUCKING LEFT! What kinds of sick joke is this shit?"

The heavens seemed to answer as the rain started to pour down from gathering storm clouds. I didn't care though. All I cared about was that my friends were now most likely dead. It could rain as long as it wanted in the desert. I didn't care anymore.

"I know your pain." A sympathetic, vile voice said. I looked towards the pile of ash to see that Salem was there once again. Before I could even make a move. I felt her magic, grab a hold of me, locking me in place. "I know what it is like, to lose someone you love." She said, taking slow methodical steps towards me, "To try everything in your power, only for it to not matter in the end." She knelt down and I felt her icy cold fingers grab my chin and force me to look into her beady red eyes. They actually held sympathy.

"I know your pain child, and that's why I offer you one last chance. Join me, and I shall help you get revenge on those who wronged you." She said.

I glared at her. "Who would that be?" I spat.

She smirked. "Why, the very gods themselves who bring pain for those undeserving. Those who seek to own us when they lost the right long ago." She stated.

I laughed. It was a bitter, empty laugh. It was all I could manage.

"You know something?" I asked, looking directly into those red orbs, "I think you just described yourself perfectly."

Salem frowned. "I see." She then rose, grabbing the relic from my hand as she did so. "You have made your choice my child. I hope you find solace in the kingdom eternal."

She then rose the blade to make a decapitating swing. I closed my eyes, whispering one final word.

"Goodbye."

With that, I felt the blade hit my neck for a split second before all I knew was the sweet embrace of death.

…

…

…

Why don't I feel any different?

When I opened my eyes, I was greeted to... Well, nothing but darkness. Strangely enough, though, I could see my own body in perfect clarity.

"So you are finally awake." A deep, dark voice said.

I was then greeted to the sight of a man at least twelve feet tall and ram horns on his head. His entire body a dark purple, and his face possessing no features at all. It was almost as if someone just made an outline of a ram Faunus and had yet to make their features.

"W-where am I?" I asked.

The being looked displeased. I don't know how, but it did.

"Foolish boy," It said, "You have died, and you are now surrounded by eternal darkness. Where do you think?"

My eyes widened as memories of my last moments came into my head. My hands then curled up into a fist.

"Gods damn it!" I yelled out.

I felt the featureless figure glare at me.

"Do not curse me when I am in front of you, boy."

I froze up. "You-your?"

The being nodded his head. "Yes, mortal. I am the God of Darkness, Brother to the God of Light," He said before he transformed into a mighty dragon, "And it would be wise for you not to test me."

He then transformed back into his imposing twelve-foot tall figure. "Now, boy, there is a reason for you being here."

I gulped. "W-why is that?" I asked. And I, once again felt, not seen, felt the deity smile as he reaches out his hands, palms up.

"To make a deal." Then, out from his hands sprouted four items: a shield, much like my own, with ram horns on the upper corners; a ring with a red jewel that was held by a pair of red horns that also acted as the band; a necklace with a silver chain, the bottom having three silver discs with their own unique engravings and swirls with purple gems in the center of them; and, finally, a full suit of armor without the helmet. The pauldrons had two ram horns on each side that curved downward near the forearm but managed to stay out of the way, and an exact copy of the head of the god's dragon form on the chest plate.

"My brother has seen fit to undermine me by creating relics of his own power after resurrecting Ozma, an act in which he abhorred when I did it. So, I seek to do the same to him to restore balance to the world you call Remnant. I shall resurrect you, and gift this world with relics of my own." He then sucked the relics back into himself. "Do we have a deal?"

I wanted to say yes. In fact, I almost did right away, but something was telling me to wait, to think this through, and, more importantly, ask some questions.

"Why me," I asked, "and what's the catch?"

The god let out a laugh. "Ah good, you are cautious. The reason I choose you is that you hold some unique opportunities to entertain me. The catch is that I can not simply gift you the relics all at once. Even now, my brother is surely coming to try and stop me from restoring balance in the way that is not in his favor. So, I can only give you one. Now, choose wisely."

He then resummoned each of the relics, all four of them floating in a rotating circle in between us. I looked each of them over.

"What do they do?" I asked.

The God of Darkness first picked up the shield. "This is the Relic of Strength. It allows the user to have the strength needed to conquer the hardships of life. I have also taken inspiration from your weapon. Its command word is Ryoto." To show what he meant, the shield then suddenly collapsed into a sheath, the ram horns acting as the rim on the top. He then turned it back to a shield before sending back to rotate with the other relics.

He then picked up the ring. "This is the Relic of Change. It lets you shed off your old self and become someone new. Something better. Its command word is Varen."

He then returned the ring and grabbed the necklace. I could sense a small iota of pride in his voice as he described this one. "This is the Relic of Emotion. It lets you control all that makes life worth living. Its command word is Oaklee."

I gasped as I took another look at the necklace. To think something like that could control one's emotions. Something that makes someone human. IT was scary. However, the god either did not notice or care as he returned necklace and raised up a set of armor.

"This is the Relic of Resilience. It grants its wearer the power to survive the world's toughest hurdles. Its command word is Balethiva."

"Now boy," The god said, returning the armor to the rotating circle of relics, "Choose. And I would hurry if I was you."

I nodded my head dumbly. These things were all dangerous. Without the command phrases, though they would be practically useless, so I didn't have much to worry about it. Still, I didn't know when I would be able to get the other relics, or even how to go about it. I looked to the god for answers, and he seemed to understand my unspoken question.

"I shall gift you with the power to sense when one of the relics are nearby. Do not worry about someone taking them before you get to them. I will leave insurances so that no one but you shall be able to get them."

Those worries assuaged, I looked at each relic. The power to persevere, the power to control emotion, the power to push through life's hurdles, and the power to constantly change into something better. It was a very hard decision. Each one held incredible burdens in their own right. To control one's emotions sounded too much like manipulation to me, and after everything Ozpin pulled, I did not want to deal with that any time soon. The shield was interesting, but I wanted to try and find my sword. It was my ancestor's blade after all, and I didn't want to leave it there in the dirt. I also had to go back there anyway. I had my friends' bodies I needed to bury.

Moving on to the armor, I looked at it with awe. I may not have that much knowledge in forging armor, but I could tell this was possibly one of the best sets I have ever seen. It even had a really good bonus to it. I moved on from it, though, and I considered the ring. If I wanted to beat Salem, I was going to need to constantly adapt, constantly change. Constantly break through barriers thought unbreakable.

Picking up the ring, I slid it onto my finger, and I watched as it magically shifted to fit my finger perfectly. I smirked to myself before looking at the God of Darkness.

"I'm ready." I stated. Now, armed with this ring, I was ready to avenge my friends and stop Salem once and for all. Then, hopefully, I could meet them in the afterlife.

The God of Darkness nodded. "Very well. Goodbye, Jaune Arc, decedent of Salem and Ozma."

I blinked owlishly as my mind processed what the God of Darkness just said

"Wait wha-"

I was cut with a wave of the god's hand, and darkness consumed my vision.

God of Darkness Pov…

I smirked as I looked where he once stood with a smirk. "This will be fun."

I turned around to see my brother standing there, fuming.

"Brother, "I said welcomingly, "What brings you here?"

He glared at me.

"What have you done?"

I tilted my head. Really? He thought he had the right to be mad at me? Amusing.

"Whatever do you mean?" I asked and my brother shook with anger.

"Don't play coy with me!" He yelled, his voice booming, "Why have you disturbed the balance of that world?"

I chuckled. It was fun getting a reaction out of him. He was always so bland. Arrogant, too, and that made it so much better whenever I got the upper hand on him.

"Disturbed? Why, brother, the way I see it, I was fixing the balance. Your influence was too strong there. I merely put in my own."

My brother glared at me. "Your creatures of Grimm were influencing enough, don't you think?"

I deadpanned. "They might have been had that woman not taken control of them."

My brother gave me another look before sighing. "We are supposed to leave them alone."

"Oh?"I said, anger entering my voice, "Is that why you have two immortal beings wandering the planet? Or why you have your relics? Or do I need to bring up your silver eyes as well?

"I sent relics to summon us when humanity is ready, and Ozma is to be their guide." He said, trying to save face.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, and look at what a fine job Ozma has done." I said. Before my brother could, reply I took a step forward and put a hand on his shoulder. "Face it, Brother, in trying to fix our creation, you made a mess instead. I am just cleaning up your mess. So why don't you just sit back and enjoy the show?"

My brother stared at me for a bit before speaking. "We will speak of this later."

And with that, he was off in a pillar of light.

"You say that every time I win an argument." Seriously, being the god of "light" does not mean he's always right. We both make mistakes, but he always tries to wheedle his way out of it whenever it's his fault. Ah, well.

I looked down in time to seeing Jaune waking up from slumber.

"Now, let's see how you handle things from here, Young Hero," I said, watching with rapt attention. This was going to be amusing and, if the boy succeeded, so satisfying.

Jaune Pov…

Walking up, I let out a groan as I rubbed my eyes.

"Ugh, my head."

"That's weird," I thought, "Why does my voice sound so high pi-"

I stilled as I saw my hand. My really small hand.

"Did they send me into the body of a five-year-old or something?" I asked.

I took a look around the room and a lot of stuff that a five-year-old would have. "Gotta say, the kid has good taste. Reminds me a lot of my old room. Just wish that I didn't take the body of someone so young," I said with a guilty sigh.

"Welp, nothing for it now," I said to myself. "I better go see what I've got to work with."

That settled, I went into the bathroom that was in this kids room. I locked the door behind me and got to the sink before I realized that I was way too short to see myself in the mirror.

"Seriously? Couldn't you have put me in a body of fifteen-year-old, at least?" I asked the heavens. Getting no answer, I grabbed a stepping stool that was nearby and put in place so that I could get up and actually see what I looked like. Once I was able to see myself, though, I froze. Staring right at me was a five-year-old version of myself. My reflection blinked owlishly before I did what any sensible man in this situation might do.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

Well, here we are. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. IF so be sure to vote for this story in the polls! With that being said. See you all next time.

Next chapter

A Brothers Wager