"But… but that's impossible!" Weiss exclaimed. "How could there be two Jaunes?!"
Nobody had an answer to that.
Inside the dome, the older Jaune reached up and grabbed the unbroken half of his helmet, tearing it off with a single, flowing movement, and allowing his entire face to be seen. With his head now clear, he spat a globule of blood to his right and said, "Don't call me by that name."
The knight's voice was much deeper that Jaune's, but now that his helmet wasn't distorting his voice, everyone could note the similarity in their speech.
"Oh yeah?" Jaune's hand tensed around his sword's pommel. "Then what do you call yourself?"
"Most people called me… Argon. I suppose that's the only title I've known for a while now," the now dubbed Argon responded.
"Argon…" Jaune rolled the word a few times around his tongue. It felt… paradoxically, alien and yet, so very fitting. "Well, come on, then. Let's keep at it."
Argon sighed, glaring at his younger self. "I didn't know you were in such a hurry to die."
"Don't kid yourself," Jaune exclaimed, taking the initiative and rushing towards him. "I won't die… Not yet!"
The younger blonde's sword clashed with the older blonde's, who had merely brought his own sword into a simple block. Jaune's body locked up momentarily as a burning feeling coursed through his body, but a kick to his sternum brought him back quickly. He did his best to block, parry, and return Argon's assault, but his body was too sluggish when compared to Argon's, leaving him to receive many cuts and bruises alongside his body.
One powerful sword swing later, he found himself thrust back as the strength behind the swing made him loose his footing. Panting in exertion, he stared up at the older blonde, his mind churning as steely grey eyes met his bright blue ones.
"You're a fool," Argon scoffed. "Did you really believe that your swordplay was on par with mine? You may be able to swing your sword back and forth, but what good is it if you can't even hit your target?"
The older blonde disappeared from his view, and it was only through sheer instinct that he was able to bring his shield up to stop the second Crocea Mors. The blade remained connected to his shield for no more than a second or two, but in that time, Jaune once again felt the same burning sensation pulse through his body, feeding him… empowering him.
Argon drew back, spinning a full 360 degrees and swinging his sword in a powerful, horizontal arc. Jaune was just able to bring his sword to a position good enough to take the blow, but the force behind it still sent him back, as well as uprooting the ground slightly.
However, this time, his mind was clearer. This time, his body was stronger.
This time, he could counterattack!
His facial expression becoming a determined frown, Jaune used his airborne momentum to twist in midair, collapsing his shield temporarily in order to gain more speed. Turning a full 360 degrees, he used both hands two strike at Argon with a powerful horizontal slice, which the older knight blocked just in time with his own sword.
The pair of blondes separated, the only thing defining their clash being the broken ground and the slight panting from the younger blonde man.
"I see… I wondered why you were so persistent," Argon mused aloud, bringing his sword up to his eyes. "I had heard that, much like the power that allowed me to return here, there were certain kinds of abilities that allowed one to summon themselves from a previous life, and learn old skills. I see now that it was not merely the work of the human using such an ability, but perhaps the will of Remnant itself. Every time you and I clash… you become stronger."
"Is that so? That's why I've been improving so quickly?" Jaune growled, bringing his shield up. "Keep acting cool then. It'll give me enough time to reach you."
Argon was silent, but not for long. "Reach me, you say? You have it all wrong."
Argon's body blurred, with Jaune just barely being able to bring his shield up to catch the incoming sword strike, which clanged against his shield and came to a stop.
Unlike before, Argon didn't withdraw immediately. He kept the pressure on the shield, forcing Jaune to keep up the counter force.
"No matter how hard you try, you'll never be able to match me!"
Jaune just barely heard the words, his mind once again being assaulted by images that he now understood were from Argon's past.
Death.
All he could see was death.
There was the sound of rushing air, as a sword cut through space.
A pile of bodies, not all in one piece, and a blonde knight standing just in front of the pile.
Several more sword swings, and the pile grew… and grew… and grew.
On every face, there was only sadness, anger, or despair.
Every time, the knight seemed to fold into himself. His stance became weaker, his shoulders dropping lower and lower.
And just when the pile of bodies seemed to reach the sky, and threatened to fall and consume the man that knelt beneath it…
It dissipated, like so much smoke in the wind.
And with it, the man lifted his head, blue eyes becoming a steely grey as the area around him combusted, surrounding him in fire.
Jaune gasped as he felt his shield be wrenched from his arm, blearily hearing it being tossed aside. He was just barely able to bring his sword up, catching a powerful diagonal swing on the flat of the blade that sent him flying back, a cut appearing on his temple despite the amount of aura he had left.
He stared up at the older blonde, his armor easily giving him an intimidation factor. As the images replayed over and over in his mind, his eyes widened, and his stomach jumped to his throat.
'That couldn't be…'
"You look sick. Didn't think you'd have such an expression on your face, unless… you know now, don't you?"
Jaune didn't answer, staring at Argon with wide eyes and heavy breaths.
"Let me confirm it for you, Jaune Arc," Argon said spitefully. "Everything you saw is true. All of it happened… and now, I will undo it all."
Before Argon could strike Jaune again, however, a voice stopped both of them.
"STOP!"
The exclamation drew both of them short, as the voice was one both knew and could not, to this day, deny. Together, they turned to the source: the red-themed reaper looking into the dome with wide and wet eyes, chest heaving as she gathered the wind she had lost in the scream.
"Stop…! Please…!" she sobbed. "You… you're Jaune, aren't you?!"
Argon stared at her blankly. "Not anymore, I'm not."
"But you were, at some point!" Ruby pressed on.
Argon continued to stare at her, then sighed. "Yes… but that was long ago, in my eyes."
Ruby continued to stare at him in despair, but this time, Weiss stepped in, her voice full of disbelief and doubt. "Please, if nothing else, answer us this, 'Argon'. Why? Why are you trying so hard to kill Jaune?"
"Why do you even need to ask?" Argon responded, staring at Weiss critically. "It's very simple. I cannot accept him as he is, and now that he knows of me, he is the same."
"But… but how can that be? Just looking at you, I can see that you are the embodiment of what Jaune has been trying to achieve since entering Beacon!" Weiss exclaimed. "You two are the same person! How can you rebuff your own self?!"
Argon continued to stare at Weiss, and this time, Jaune sensed that this wasn't just in response to her question. When he finally did speak up, his voice was filled with disdain. "Once again, it's simpler than you think. Like with Beacon Academy, I didn't reach such a level entirely on my own merit."
His words shook them all.
"I am no hero," he continued. "All I am… is a Protector."
Jaune wasn't sure what that was, but some in the audience did, for he noticed Weiss, Blake, Sun, Coco, and Yatsuhashi draw back in shock.
"A… a Protector? You mean, those guys that work directly under the Council?" Sun asked with a faint voice.
"But that means… You serve humanity, and help shield its existence, by being a restrictive influence on whatever may harm it," Weiss continued. "And if that is the case, then you are a hero, Argon, no matter what you may say."
"And that is where you are mistaken, Weiss Schnee," Argon immediately rebuffed, walking up to stand just in front of her, with only his own aural shield between them. Weiss looked up at him, her eyes wide and confused, while Ruby, Blake, and Yang took up positions around her. "A Protector isn't a hero. All we do is clean up the low ends of humanity."
"W-What? But, Argon-."
"No… you know what? You're right. In a sense, I did become a hero… just like Jaune Arc wanted," Argon suddenly refuted himself, closing his eyes momentarily. "And that is the reason why I realized… that Jaune Arc's life is one with no value whatsoever."
"A life with no value?" Weiss asked faintly. "But… but how can that be? You became what you wanted to be; what Jaune wanted to be. How can you say that? You're the realization of Jaune's goal!"
"Do you really believe that?" Argon asked in a deathly whisper. "I may have become a hero, in a sense… but I never achieved my dream. All I had, since I began that damned life… was nothing but a multitude of regrets."
Everyone around the older blonde could only stare at him as he spoke, transfixed by his words.
"As a Huntsman, I helped people survive by fighting and killing the monsters that threatened humanity, the Grimm. As a Protector, I merely became a force without a mind, only following the orders I was given, and my abilities were turned inward, towards humanity itself. The Grimm fighting was left to the Huntsmen and Huntresses… What I hunted were those that attracted such a force to humanity's doorstep."
Everyone's eyes widened as they finally understood where he was going with this.
"I killed… and I killed… and I killed… I killed once and again, never stopping. I killed… until I finally stopped caring about my actions. Humans that threatened others, such as Cinder Fall; humans who would indiscriminately cause chaos and destruction; and worst of all… humans who simply could not help their situation. Heartbroken men and women… lone survivors of Huntsmen groups… depressive, miserable, and antisocial humans, who perhaps reached such a point because of a loved one dying… Innocent men and women, who could not help their situations… I killed them all… all under orders."
The horror was now beginning to settle into them, understanding just what had happened to Jaune's life to turn out like this.
"Every life I took meant hundreds, if not thousands, more would survive…" Argon continued to speak, his eyes lowered as he recalled his life. "Every time I was called to action to do battle, it would always be the same. And by and by, I came to realize that no matter how much longer I went… I would never achieve my goal."
Silence permeated the air. No one around him could think of anything to say to such a statement.
"I didn't want to create a world without fighting altogether. I knew that was impossible. All I wanted… was to know that no one around me would have reason to feel sadness, loneliness, or despair.
"And that's why I believe… that the dream of that boy… is nothing but shallow idealism."
"No…" Ruby whispered, tears pooling in her eyes. "How… how can you say that? How can you believe that?"
"Because it's the truth," Argon responded directly, uncaring of what she may feel on the matter. "One person cannot save everyone. That is the height of foolishness… but I don't have to tell you that, do I, Ruby Rose?"
Ruby looked up, directly into the man's eyes, but his sharp glare was one she couldn't hold contest to.
"All I did as a Protector was find those whose happiness was in death, and grant it to them. You could say I saved a great many lives, and isn't that what a hero does? There you have it, Weiss Schnee." The older blonde turned to the albino girl, whose eyes were shining with unshed tears. "That is what my life became… and despite the fact that I took my title with the hope of eradicating despair in those I helped… I caused more than my own share of suffering, and through it, entered a vicious cycle."
Everyone had been staring at Argon during his rant, but one bunny-eared Faunus, in fear of what the man was saying, turned to the younger version of him. To her despair, she could see he was despondent, his head bowed and his hair shadowing his eyes.
"That is the true nature… of Protector Arc, otherwise known as Argon. Do you understand now… why the world would be so much better without him in it?"
Argon turned away, not giving anyone a chance to respond, and to their surprise, tossed his own blade towards the younger blonde. Jaune didn't react as the blade slid to a stop at his feet, the metal glinting ominously.
"Now that you've heard this… go on. Kill yourself, Jaune Arc."
Everyone's eyes shifted rapidly to the younger blonde, who didn't move from his spot. One person, however, still had something to say.
"Argon," Yatsuhashi spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to him. "I do not believe you betrayed your ideals. Could it be, perhaps, that you yourself have been betrayed by the ideals you held in your heart?"
"I concur," Sage spoke up after Yatsuhashi. "There is much trouble and strife in your past, but you would not be attempting to atone for your sins in such a manner if this was not the case, would you?"
Everyone turned back to Argon, hoping to see some positive response to these claims. To their surprise, Argon closed his eyes and smiled, then, shockingly, laughed aloud at this.
"Atone for my sins, you say?" the older blonde said, his chuckles dying down. "You cannot be serious. You aren't wrong, Yatsuhashi. I was betrayed in my life, many times. A person who aims to lay down his life for others without rhyme or reason is someone that is rarely understood. And that is why, when the Council deemed my time under their contract finished, I was set up as the instigator of a coup against a major city… and executed."
There were gasps all around.
"What?" Yang spoke up, her eyes wide and unbelieving. "That… that's impossible. That's how you died?!"
"Well, almost," Argon shrugged. "I was believed dead after the chase that occurred. A chase led by none other… than SDC heiress Weiss Schnee."
Weiss stepped back in shock, refusing to believe that.
'I couldn't… I'd never betray my friends like that… could I?'
The doubt in her mind made her fall to her knees, her only support being Ruby's hand on her shoulder.
"'No one could survive what he went through', they said," Argon continued. "'Miss Schnee is the cream of the crop, and anyone that came before her blade would surely fall.' And they would have been correct, in any other case. Unfortunately, for them and me, I was always a tough bastard. If there's one thing I can attest that I have, it's survivability."
"That… that can't be…" Blake whispered.
"So if I had any sins to speak of, I believe I fully atoned for them then, Yatsuhashi, Sage," Argon said, looking directly at the two parties. "I never asked them for gratitude, or to be acclaimed a hero. All I wanted… was a world where those I knew had no reason to cry. But I couldn't even have that." Everyone stared at the older blonde in shock. "Neither as a Huntsman, nor as a Protector, could I actually save anyone. All I did was kill. I tried my best, hoping that one day I could save at least one person in trouble. But it never came."
"Are… You… You weren't able to save even a single person?" Ruby asked faintly.
"No. On the contrary, I've killed the very people I wanted to save… all because of my stupidity and naivety as a child. I'm sick of it, but due to my contract with the council, my soul itself is bound by those rules. However… if I can avoid this long before I even hear about the Protectors, I can break this."
"That would never work!" Blake objected. "If you truly came from some far-off future, then your fate is already sealed. Your very existence proves that!"
"True," Argon shrugged. "It's merely a chance I have. But even if it doesn't, I will at least be able to live with the knowledge that the mistake that is Jaune Arc's ideal of a hero from this world."
The silence was palpable as he turned to his younger counterpart. "What's the matter, Jaune? You heard and saw firsthand what your life will become. End it now, and spare yourself the pain of that."
Everyone's sights switched to Jaune, who had yet to move from his position.
Their breaths caught in their throats when he finally did, slowly taking a hold of Argon's sword and lifting it to hold it horizontally, as if examining its design.
"Jaune..?!" Ruby asked, her voice caught between panic and anger.
"No, he wouldn't…" Weiss whispered.
"Don't even think about it," Ren growled.
Jaune ignored them all. He tilted the sword this way and that, looking at the golden patterns on the blade, then suddenly spoke. "Argon, answer me this… do you regret your life?"
"Of course," Argon responded bitingly.
Jaune paused in his examination, then gave a short sigh and said, "Well… then you wasted your time coming back. We're no longer the same person."
"What?" The question was made not just by Argon, but the rest of the students there as well.
Jaune backhandedly tossed Argon's sword at the man, who caught it in a reverse grip, watching Jaune with narrowed eyes.
"I don't care what happens to me. I will never regret anything in my life. I promised myself that after that night." Jaune's glaring eyes pierced into Argon's like lasers. "If you are supposed to be my ideal… then I'll have break past that mistake myself."
Everyone stared in shock at Jaune, startled by the pure determination in the young man's gaze. Argon, meanwhile, simply closed his eyes.
"That kind of thinking… is what caused all of this in the first place. One day… you'll find yourself in the same place as me."
"You're wrong," Jaune responded simply. "I will never reach that point. Your present will not be my future."
"You're not wrong, I suppose," Argon sighed, twirling his sword momentarily. "If you will not run or give up, then there is no future for you."
The pair stood there, gusts of wind crossing between them. Then, by unspoken consent, both parties dashed towards each other, their swords clashing with a powerful impact.