Crossing Styx
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY.
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FEAR has two meanings.
Forget Everything And Run.
Face Everything And Rise.
The choice is yours.
-Unknown
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The driver, the only one trusted to drive the train, doesn't even look back as the door opens. "How's it going back there?" he asks. "The Heroes going to break through?"
"Probably not," Jaune says. Not if the cheers on the radio as the Schnee went down were any indication. Not if the Paladins and White Fang up top were telling the truth about pushing back the Reaper back and hurting the Invincible Amazon they'd been putting so many rounds at. So much fire power, forewarned… Huntresses never had a chance to stop the Breach, did they? He'd been right not to put his faith in Heroes.
The driver nodded as if agreeing. "Unless they get here in the next minute or two, they'll be too late. This will be the crime of the century- a legend in the making. The White Fang will go down in the history books for sure."
"Probably," Jaune agrees. "Unless you hit the break and stop us now."
The driver laughs. "Are you kidding? This is our chance! To strike a blow against oppression! To tear down the corrupt world order! We're going to be heroes! Wait for this?" He laughs some more.
["I'll be there when you wake up and it'll be alright, Jaune Arc," she promised. "Just don't give up. Wait for me."]
"Yeah. Right," Jaune chuckles back, eyes hidden behind red glass.
"Not a chance," the faunus dismisses. "Think they'll remember our names when this is over?" he asks wistfully.
"Probably not," Jaune answers, right before Jaune Arc takes control and hacks the unarmed man in the back with his weapon. It's short, brutal, and bloody work, a betrayal that could be called murder, one lacking a Hunter's finesse or a better person's quick mercy. But it gets the job done. He doesn't gloat and he doesn't shoot off a one-liner or give any witty banter afterwards- good enough men kill because they don't see any other choice, not because they enjoy it.
(Just Jaune is off-balance, surprised that Jaune Arc was actually capable of stabbing a man in the back like this. But while Jaune has killed better people for worse reasons, Jaune Arc can take responsibility for this. The ghost of Tukson hovers over him, broad chest still bloody, and nods its ghastly head.)
"Why?" the dying man wants to know. "This was… our chance… to… be… legends…"
"You made your choice," Jaune Arc answers, strangely calm in his resolve. "Me?"
Jaune Arc takes the chance to step over the dying man, but it's Just Jaune who puts his hands on the lever.
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(In no other time, in no other place, did this happen before. There is no precedent. Even the World holds its breath.)
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Author Notes:
Dun dun duuuunh!
Prepare for a mind-blowing showdown! Prepare for the most re-written chapter in the entire story! Prepare to hope, to fear, to suspect, to doubt, and to realize and believe!
Prepare for a chapter with only three words of plot progression! But damn, what a three!
But really- prepare for my favorite chapter of the entire story. My advice, whether you've followed this fic from the start or are a late arrival?
Reread the entire story from start to here again. All the clues, all the foreshadowing, and all the subtle things leading up to this point are already there. And then leave your thoughts for this final showdown of Jaune vs Jaune: who is going to emerge victorious, and what will happen? Anyone who guesses right, and can guess why, will have the smug satisfaction of being right.
I can all but guarantee you you're going to want to re-read the story after tomorrow, just to see for yourself.