Dreams of Paradise, a rwby fanfic

Dreams of Paradise

Summary: Jaune Arc wasn't strong or smart, he knew this. He wasn't skilled or talented, he knew this. He wasn't cut out to be a huntsman, he knew this. Even so, he dreamed of a world where he was. He dreamed of battle against fantastic beasts, times spent with his friends… He never expected the dreams to be more than that… Or for those dreams to start bleeding into reality.

Warnings: OP! Jaune, multiple crossovers, lots of craziness, definite harem.

I: Felling of the Sky Demon

Roars of laughter erupted from myself and the people around me as our companion blushed, cheeks as red as her hair. A glare was firmly set on her face, as if that would make us stop laughing, which it didn't.

"Shut up!" She snapped. "It isn't funny!"

"It's hilarious and you know it, Kallen!" A girl with light blue hair snorted lightly. "I can't believe that is how you met Jaune! No wonder you always changed the subject whenever we brought it up."

"I was a Rookie Adventurer and I was nervous, shut up! Anyone could have made that mistake!"

"Yes, anyone could have," I chimed. "But it was you who made it, bestie!~"

Her cheeks flushed to a deep crimson. "I will throw you through this table, Arc!"

"Oh, we are gonna tease the fuck out of you now that we know about this!" Another girl with black hair grinned evilly. "You're never going to escape from this one."

"Raynare!?" Kallen squawked. "You're supposed to be on my side!"

"Shocked, Kallen?" Raynare smirked. "I bet you are, much like you were when you stumbled on Jaune covered in Goblin blood and thought he was some weird hybrid monster!"

"Do you wanna go!?" The red head growled.

"Is that what you said to Jaune when you saw him?" The blue haired girl snickered.

"Sinon, I will fuck you up!"

"As a matter of fact, she did say that," I told them, making them all laugh even harder.

"Jaune!"

"Just telling the truth, Kallen!"

I smiled as I leaned back in my seat, laughing with everyone while Kallen glared at us, her face as red as a cherry.

This was my ideal life, and I wouldn't trade it away for anything.

Hello. My name is Jaune Arc, the strongest S-Ranked Huntsman on the planet, and leader of the Huntsman Team: JNKL (Jonquil). I was a weapon master, granted the alias 'Emperor' by the Hunter Guild.

My teammates were those I'd gathered over my journey as a huntsman, starting at the Huntsman Guild as a solo act before I slowly gathered them and we formed the strongest team known to man and feared by beast.

First was Kallen Scarlet, though she preferred people call her Kallen Kozuki as it was her mother's last name. She was the first person to join me on my journey as a Huntsman, and a martial arts master and brawling queen. She was given the alias 'Crimson Fist.' I met her when I was cleaning up a goblin raid, and the Rookie Huntress came across me.

I looked back on that day with fondness, she looked so different back then compared to now. She used to be a stuttering, shy mess of a girl who often needed me to pull her ass out of the fire. But she'd grown into a beautiful, powerful woman whom I wouldn't want to get into a tussle with. Girl packed a mean left hook.

The next to join the team was Sinon Lazuli, an expert sniper. There was no shot she couldn't make, and I'd not once seen her miss a shot ever since she joined my team. She was known by the alias 'Goddess of Guns.'

She, much like Kallen, was a rookie adventurer when I met her, looking to make a name for herself. I ended up saving her from a pretty bad situation, and she followed me for days on end after that before she finally mustered up the courage and asked if she could join my team.

And then there was the final member, Raynare Nero. She was a master of light-based magic, and was amazing at using her magic in revolutionary ways. She was granted the alias 'Fallen Angel' due to her violent and sadistic behaviour, mixed with her gorgeous appearance.

I first met her when she tried to kill me. She wasn't always a huntress, instead taking up a job as a bounty hunter and going after people to get easy cash. She thought I was just another rookie who got a big name, but I showed her otherwise. For months, she continued to try and kill me, but failed, until finally the two of us ended up in a tough situation and fought out of it together, bonding along the way.

After that, she gave up bounty hunting and became a Huntress, completing the team as it was known today. All four of us went on many adventures together, and almost died more than once… But, in the end, we always managed to come back home, victorious, no matter the odds stacked against us.

This was my team, and I wouldn't trade them for the world.

"Hey, what are you grinning about?" Kallen yelled at me, pinching my cheek.

"Ow, ow, Kallen!" I exclaimed. "Knock it off!" I swat her hand away. "I was just thinking about how I first met all of you, how we all ended up here."

Raynare's lips quirked, no doubt reminiscing on our first meeting herself. "You are, without question, the most annoying bastard I was ever hired to take out… And I'll always be grateful that I ended up failing to kill you at every turn. I never would have ended up as part of this group, this family, without you."

"The same for me," Sinon agreed. "Of all the people that could have pulled my ass out of the fire that day, I'm glad it was you. Going on all these adventures with you is the most fun I've ever had."

"… Ditto," Kallen agreed, though she didn't say any more as her cheeks were still really red, likely to avoid teasing.

"I wouldn't trade you guys for the world, I hope you know that," I gave them the widest smile I could, which prompted them all to smile back.

There we were, chatting and talking…

Ring! Ring! Ring!

Before a ringing echoed in my mind and I sighed. "I'm gonna check in early," I told them.

"Are you alright?" Raynare asked, her teasing smile gone and now replaced with concern. "You've been checking in early a lot lately. And you look like you aren't sleeping very well, it takes you a while to wake up now."

"I'm fine, just a couple of rough nights," I promised them. "Not sure what it is, maybe the air is getting to me, but I'm sure it'll wear off eventually. See you all tomorrow," I turned and made to leave.

"Jaune," Kallen spoke up, making me look back at her. "… You know we're here for you, right? Just like you were here for all of us."

"… I know," I smiled. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," they all chimed, casting me worried glances.

I turned and headed towards my bedroom.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

I sighed softly as I made it to the bedroom, slowly laying down on the bed and staring up at the ceiling. I didn't even bother removing my armour and clothes, just thinking in silence.

"Well…" I sighed. "No use just staying like this…" My eyes slowly sealed shut as I fell asleep.

"Good luck…"

…

Ring! Ring! Ring!

A groan escaped my lips as I slowly woke up to the white ceiling of Beacon Academy's dorm room, feeling awful about waking up. What I wouldn't give to just close my eyes and go back to sleep…

Sadly, I didn't have that option.

I let out a sigh and slowly got up, pressing beside the bed and silencing my scroll. I looked around the room, eyeing my sleeping team members… It seemed they hadn't woken up yet…

Good… I couldn't bare to face them right now.

I let out a sigh and slipped out of bed, quietly gathering my things for the school day, before I slipped into the bathroom, closing and locking the door.

I set my things down and stared into the mirror… There were bags under my eyes from lack of sufficiently needed sleep, my skin was noticeably a shade paler than when I started Beacon, and my hair was even more dishevelled than usual.

"What are you even doing…" I mumbled as I stared in the mirror.

Hello. My name is Jaune Arc, the worst student at Beacon. I maintain a C-average, barely, and I've never won in even a single combat class spar or simulation.

I'm… A cheat, and a fraud, who faked his way into Beacon out of desperation due to my own laziness. Always fascinating about being a Huntsman, but never putting any actual work into seeing my dream become a reality… I panicked, contacted a guy who owed me a favour, and got in by lying my ass off.

I was a disgrace. To my team, my family, and myself. I'm not cut out to be a Huntsman, but I'm still here, trying and struggling in futility to try and make something out of myself.

I'm not even on speaking terms with my team at the moment, because I'm a fucking idiot… Pyrrha, my partner, offered to help train me and I said no. I, who had no training, refused the help of a fucking three-time champion. And out of what, pride? What pride did I fucking have, I was a cheat! I should have said yes, but I didn't…

And brothers above, I regretted it more and more every single day.

I wiped my eyes before the tears could form, stripping out of my onesie and slipping into the shower, hoping the hot water would help clear my thoughts.

I wasn't strong, smart, talented, or skilled. But even so, I dreamt that I was.

In my dreams, things were so different. I was powerful, the strongest Huntsman in the world, surrounded by beautiful women who cared for me and helped me. Not just my team, but many friends I made along the way in my journey, all of whom supported me and helped me.

But, at the end of the day, my dreams were just that: dreams. They had no place in reality and, no matter what I did, I wasn't going to grow and evolve into the kind of man who my dream self was.

My dream self was everything I wasn't. Confident, strong, smart, talented, skilled, charismatic, and deserving of the pride he held in himself and his team. He could talk the talk, and back it up with one hand tied behind his back. He could kill Trolls barehanded, crush Deathstalkers under his feet, even hit a Beringel with a god damn German Suplex!

He was everything I wished I could be, but would never amount to… But I was okay with that, because he was me. I would immerse myself in him in my dreams, become him completely and totally. In my dreams, I didn't have to be Jaune the Loser, instead I was Jaune the Hero.

But alas, it was never meant to be… I wasn't a hero. I wasn't even a huntsman…

And I knew that, one Cardin was done exploiting me to do his homework and be his bitch, I wouldn't even be a huntsman in training.

Instead, I'd just be a criminal… A public disgrace rather than just a private one.

I hit my head against the wall of the shower softly, feeling the tears starting to streak down my cheeks and blend with the shower water.

I knew that I had nobody to blame for this but myself. There was no one I could point fingers at besides myself for my current predicament. My family tried to prepare me, offers to train me galore, but I always waved them off and said I'd do it later.

Always later, never now.

And then it was too late to start.

I punched the wall of the shower to let out some frustration. I didn't even coat my hand in aura, I wanted to feel the sting of pain as it helped snap me out of my thoughts slightly.

I turned off the shower and dried up, putting on my combat uniform. We were going to Forever Fall today, collecting sap… Sap that I was allergic to. Sap that Cardin made clear I was going to be collecting for his team so they could all kick back and relax.

I wanted to fight back, but what could I do? I was weak, pathetic, while they had power I didn't.

They were at the lower ends of class, but that was still so far above me that it stopped being funny and started being sad.

Might made right in this world of bloody evolution.

And I was at the bottom of the food chain.

I slipped out of the bathroom silently, casting a glance to my still sleeping team, before I slipped out and closed the door behind me as I made my way to the cafeteria to, once again, eat alone…

And, as I walked down the halls, I couldn't help but think about what exactly I wanted to do now.

What could I do?

Honestly, the smartest option felt like telling Ozpin about my transcripts so that maybe I'd get off with a lighter punishment when all was said and done. I knew fraud could get about ten years in jail, maybe I'd be able to shave off some time or get out on good behaviour?

Maybe I should just return to my family… If I quit, nobody would have to find out. My family wouldn't even care that I gave up, they'd just be happy that I came home alive and safe.

I ran a hand through my hair, closing my eyes and stopping in place.

What could I do to fix my situation? Nothing came to mind, nothing legal anyway…

I wished, more than ever, I could have been dream Jaune. He would have an answer, a way for me to get out of this and still be the hero I wanted to be.

But I wasn't dream Jaune.

I wasn't a hero.

I was a loser, no matter what Ruby said.

I was nothing but a fucking failure.

And, at the rate I was going, I was going to be one forever…

…

I didn't even sigh as Cardin's team dragged me away, and I started gathering their sap for them. I couldn't fight back, unless I wanted my transcripts leaked and my ass kicked. Probably not in that order.

"Get to work, Jauney boy," Cardin jeered at me while his teammates laughed and relaxed, literally kicking their feet up and doing absolutely nothing, the bastards.

I only sighed as I got to work, closing my eyes up as I started filling up the six jars with say.

Why six?

I didn't know, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know. For some reason, there was a sinking pit in my stomach as I pondered it.

I let out a soft sneeze, while Cardin and his teammates talked about random things while they relaxed, mentioning how they were lucky that their 'friend' Jaune was so willing to do all the work for them.

That was the one thing that really ticked me off.

Friend? I wasn't their friend, and they all knew that damned well. The fact they called me their friend infuriated me, the fact they acted like they were friends and this 'friendship' was why I helped them out with so much shit pissed me off to no end.

I sniffled lightly as I filled up the sixth jar of sap, carrying them all back to Cardin and his team. I set them on the ground before I wiped my nose… Fucking allergies.

"Good job Jauney boy, I told you it wouldn't be that bad!" Cardin told me.

"… Yeah, it wasn't bad at all," I said with a strained voice due to the allergies. Hopefully they would settle down…

"Now, I bet you're wondering, 'why did my friend Cardin ask me to get six jars when there are only five of us?'"

"… That is one of the questions I asked myself today, yes."

"Well," Cardin gave a grin that made me shudder. "Come with me, and you'll find out."

I could only nod silently as Cardin led us back towards the other teams, and my eyes widened as I spotted Pyrrha moving away from the main group.

"Cardin…" I said slowly. "What's going on?"

"Payback," Cardin responded in a cold voice.

My eyes snapped to Pyrrha. "… P- Pyrrha?"

She was crouching down, filling up another jar with sap, completely ignorant to what was happening behind her.

"What are you-?"

"That's the girl," Cardin said scornfully. "Red head, know it all, thinks she's so smart…" That was when Cardin reached back and pulled out a box marked with a W.

My eyes widened in shock.

'No…' I thought to myself. 'No, he isn't seriously…'

"Alright boys," Cardin said. "Last night, Jaune here managed to round up an entire box of rapier wasps and now, we're gonna put 'em to work."

Russel shook me in congratulations, but I could only feel dread as I gave a weak laugh.

"Now," Cardin continued. "According to one of the SAs you wrote for me last week, these nasty things love sweets. And I'm thinking it's time we teach her," he nodded at Pyrrha. "A thing or two."

I looked around as CRDL all got up, and Cardin pulled me up before handing me a jar. "And you're gonna do it."

"Do… What?"

"Hit her with the sap," Cardin told me. "Either that, or I'll have a chat with Goodwitch, and you'll be on the first ship out of Beacon."

I looked down at the jar, trembling lightly.

I could already feel it, this was the make-or-break moment. This was the one action that would decide everything for me… This would change my fate.

I turned towards Pyrrha and lifted the jar, arm trembling as she stood up and I saw her turn lightly to look at something.

I saw her eyes.

Those beautiful, wondrous jades in her sockets.

… What was I doing?

Is this what a hero would do?

No.

Fuck no.

A hero would always do the right thing, no matter how hard it was. Dream Jaune would do the right thing, even if it hurt, even if it cost him something in the process…

I may not be dream Jaune… But damn it, I wanted to be.

Even if it cost me something in the process.

"No."

"What did you say?" Cardin asked.

"I said… No!" I smashed the jar into my chest, covering myself in sap as I turned to Cardin. "You can do all you like to me! Make me do your homework, whatever! Treat me like your bitch, fine! But you leave my team out of this! They are innocent in all of this; all they're trying to do is get through Beacon! They've done nothing to earn your ire, so leave them out of this!"

"Oh, you've done it now…" Cardin smirked. "Fine then, you'll make a find target for the rapier wasps instead…" Cardin lifted up the box, ready to open it… Before all of us froze as we heard a sound.

The sound of a terrifying, almighty roar.

It was a sound none of Team CRDL had heard before… But me? This roar was a familiar one, one I'd heard before in my dreams…

A terrified shiver ran through my spine as I backed up. "No…" I whispered.

"What- what was that?" Russel asked, looking around nervously.

"A Grimm," Cardin said, pulling out his weapon. "Come on, gear up! You too, Jauney boy, you'll be the bait! Do it, and I might forgive you for fucking up my plan!"

I debated doing just that, before I felt a shudder of fear run through my spine, invading every sense of my body.

"It's not a Grimm…" I told them in a haunted voice, body trembling as that roar once again echoed through the area. "No this… This is far worse than any Grimm could even dream of being… Something far more…"

"Far more what?" Cardin demanded, sounding freaked out.

I didn't respond as a gust of wind burst forth and I looked up, my scream getting caught in my throat as I saw it flying in the sky.

All of CRDL followed my gaze.

Unlike me, they had no issues screaming and running at the beast that soared through the sky with malicious intent.

Scales black as the void.

Wings dark as the night.

Eyes of golden flames.

A glowing jade symbol on its chest.

"Evil Dragon Fafnir…" I whispered in horror.

It couldn't be here.

This… This wasn't possible.

This was reality. This was not a dream. Even if it was, I had already slain Fafnir in my dreams! I had felled the demon with a powerful, ultimate strike!

So why then did it soar through the sky, as if to mock me!?

"Jaune!" Pyrrha ran over, no doubt having heard the roar and come to get me. "We've been ordered back to Beacon, that thing is heading there! We need to go!"

I didn't respond, forcing Pyrrha to need to physically drag me as I began to hyperventilate as dark clouds blotted out the sun.

They didn't know.

They couldn't know.

What we were about to face wasn't a Grimm.

It was far, far worse.

…

Almost as soon as the ship landed, everyone filed out and were quickly set into their positions. I heard someone mutter it was a miracle we made it to Beacon before that thing, but I knew better than they did.

It wasn't a miracle.

Fafnir was a beast that loved to play with his food. More than that, the Evil Dragon just wanted us all in one place for the maximum amount of carnage. When he attacked, he wanted to leave an impact. That was why he was an evil dragon.

"We can't win…" I muttered in a hollow voice.

"It's just one Grimm, Jaune," Pyrrha told me, her voice stern but still gentle. "We can handle it."

"That isn't a Grimm."

She looked confused. "Jaune, what do you mean? Of course, it's a Grimm."

I looked at her with a look of mourning. "No Pyrrha, that beast isn't a Grimm… That beast-"

"Incoming!"

"- Is a monster."

The ground shook as Fafnir descended, landing on the ground and looking over all of us with a twisted grin on that monstrous face of his. His huge, black wings spread out, somehow seeming even blacker in the darkness of the clouds.

With a war cry, the attacks began on the Evil Dragon Phenomenon.

The first years were mostly relegated to attacking from a distance, meaning I was just the north side of fucking worthless, I had no distance attacks or weapons, meaning all I could do was stand there and watch.

Watch as Fafnir toyed with us while everyone else did their best to attack.

"I'm starting to run low on dust!" Weiss called out to the others. "I can't seem to get through the thing's scales!"

Of course, she couldn't! This wasn't a Grimm; this was a dragon! Not just any, but fucking Fafnir! His scales were harder than diamonds, no huntsman weapon was made to cut through diamonds, only flesh!

There was no way for us to win.

Not against that monster.

"If we run out of ammo, then we'll just have to take the fight to it!" Ruby exclaimed. "Come on, there must be something we can do to help!"

"Ruby, even the fourth years can't do shit to it!" I told her. "What are we supposed to do!?"

"I don't know!" She yelled. "But there must be something! We can do! Come on!" She called out to her team, leading the charge.

I stayed in place, watching in mourning… Never before, in my entire lift, had a feeling of powerlessness ever overwhelmed me like this.

"Jaune…" Pyrrha's voice came.

"Pyrrha, we need to go and help!" Ren told her, hurrying on ahead with Nora.

Pyrrha cast one last glance at me before she turned and followed them into battle.

I clenched my fist.

Did I want to help?

Of course, I fucking did!

But what could I fucking do!?

Unlike the rest of them, I had no training! The only thing I had going for me were my aura reserves, and I didn't know how to properly manage them, which was why I always lost in combat class!

Even if I could fight, this wasn't the dream world! I didn't have any magic, any powers, any skills or weapons that would help me defeat Fafnir in battle!

What was I supposed to do!?

"Why am I so weak!?" I yelled at myself as the screams of battle echoed through the area, the scent of burning steel filling my nostrils as Fafnir unleashed a breath attack. "Why can't I do anything right!?

"Why can't I be a hero!?"

As if those were the magic words, the world around me came to a halt, and my eyes widened in shock as I looked around.

Everything was frozen in place. People hovering mid jump, flames frozen mid flicker, even Fafnir himself didn't so much as twitch as time looked like it had come to a complete halt around me.

"What the fuck…"

"I must admit, Jaune, I never thought I'd find you in this situation…" A sultry voice spoke, making my body freeze as I turned to someone familiar to me.

Someone who should have only existed in my dreams.

She had beautiful silver hair and matching eyes, white skin like that of fresh snow, and a perfect golden ratio. Clad in a black and red dress that flowed with her body beautifully, exposing much of her stomach and breasts, with matching flower shaped ornaments in her hair.

"Q… Queen Freya…?" I said in shock, taking a step back.

This was impossible… This shouldn't be possible in the slightest sense of the word.

Queen Freya was the Queen of the Kingdom of Vale, but only in my dreams. Queen Freya did not exist on Remnant, Queen Freya was but a figment of my imagination…

So, how was she here!?

"Indeed, dear Jaune," Freya smiled as she walked towards me, making me take another step back. "Hm? Why are you moving away from me?"

"You can't be here…" I whispered. "This is the real world, not a dream, how can you be here? This is… This is impossible…!"

Freya giggled softly as she stepped in place, a hand resting on her hips as she gave me a sultry smile. "Come now, Jaune, didn't you yourself say that the word impossible doesn't exist?"

"But you're just a dream!" I yelled at her. "I made you up! I created you in my sleep! How… How can you even be here?"

"The girls brought you to me after you fell asleep, worried that something was wrong with you," Freya told me gently. "I used my magic to peek into your mind and see just what was happening. Imagine my surprise, to learn that the world as we know it is nothing but a dream, a figment of your imagination! And yet, we all feel so very real. Very much alive."

I took another step back, my heart beating faster. "What do you mean?"

"I'm afraid we've little time for that," Freya told me. "I would love to explain more, but time won't be frozen forever. Jaune, you must step forth and strike down Fafnir."

"I can't!" I told her. "I'm not the same as in the dream! I'm not strong, smart, talented, skilled, charismatic, I've got nothing! I'm just boring old Jaune Arc!"

"You don't believe that," a familiar voice came, making me whirl around and see Kallen standing there, glaring at me.

"K- Kallen?"

"You don't believe that, and don't you dare say it again!" Kallen snapped at me. "You were the one who took me under your wing, helped me become the adventurer I am today! You think you're weak? Bullshit, you're strong! Maybe not physically here, but the strength of your heart far exceeds anyone else! How dare you talk down about yourself!"

"Kallen, you cannot be here," Freya warned. "You will disrupt my magic, and we will be sent back."

"You shut up; I'm not done!" Kallen snapped at me, grabbing me by the collar and lifting me up, my eyes widening in shock.

Any thoughts this was a dream went out the window. This… This was far too realistic. The fact I could feel her told me that I wasn't hallucinating this any more than I was hallucinating Fafnir.

"You are Jaune Arc!" Kallen snapped at me. "Your power has always come from within, you always told us that! Our true power lies within! We took those words to heart, used them to shape ourselves into the people we are today!"

"But I-!"

"But nothing!"

Smack!

I held my cheek in pain, falling down on my ass as I felt my cheek burning from the force of the slap.

"Don't you dare fucking make excuses!" Kallen said as she began to flicker, like a glitch. "Your strength has always come from within! You killed that dragon once; you can fucking do it again! Now stop being a little bitch, and show everyone why you are called the Emperor!"

"She's right," Freya agreed, though looked a bit unhappy with Kallen putting it in such a crass manner. "Though I would not have put it like that, she is right. Rise, 'Emperor' Jaune Arc, Defender of the Innocent, destroyer of the wicked, and strike down this beast…"

And, just like that, they were gone, the battle continuing around me. I would have believed I'd dreamed it up, had my cheek not been burning from the force of Kallen's slap, her words ringing in my mind.

Because she was right.

All this time, I'd been making excuses. Even when admitting to my faults, I was making excuses, trying to blame them on my past self… If I should blame anyone, it was my present self. I needed to stop making excuses, I needed to stop being such a coward… And I needed to call out to the power that lay within.

I turned towards Fafnir as I rose, closing my eyes and sheathing Crocea Mors.

Please…

The sounds of battle raged around me.

I know I'm not perfect…

Screams filled the air as the dragon let out growling sounds that I knew to be laughter.

I know that I'm a failure…!

I clenched my fists as I felt the heat of the flames, holding my hands in front of me, as if holding a sword.

But even so, I want to be a hero! If you're in there… If you really are me… Then give me the power we both worked so hard to obtain!

There was silence…

And then I felt a warmth rush through my body, the image of Dream Jaune appearing in my mind with a confident smirk.

Took you long enough.

With those words, my eyes snapped open as I saw I was holding a blade, a familiar one.

It was no mere sword, or a two handed one, it could only be called a Great sword, with a cross guard and the same cross on the bottom of the blade, running down it about the quarter of the way.

On the hilt of the blade rested a blue gem that almost seemed to glow with azure fire.

I knew this blade.

And I knew it was what I needed right now.

As the screams and sounds of battle echoed…

"O' Sword…"

A lone man stepped forth…

"Let thee be filled."

And a hero was finally born.

The gem glowed before a blue light with a flame like appearance burst forth from the blade, shooting into the sky and piercing through the dark clouds, letting a single beam of light rest upon me.

All sounds of battle stopped, everyone turning to look at me. Even Fafnir halted in his advance, staring at me with familiarity and fear.

Everyone stared, unable to look away even if they wanted to. Staring upon the blue light that pierced the dark sky like a beacon of hope, a symbol of salvation, a sword of victory.

What I held was not the promised blade that assured victory but, to them, it may as well have been.

Every single drop of aura I had flooded the blade.

Every single ounce of willpower I had filled the weapon I held in my hands.

Every single muscle in my body tensed in preparation for one, single, ultimate swing.

"The Evil Dragon falls!" I roared out, the blue light of the blade reflecting in my eyes as I lifted it high above my head into the sky.

As if told by another force to move, everyone scrambled away from the dragon as it roared and charged at me, trying to reach me quickly.

"The world shall see the twilight!"

Fafnir roared as he thrust a claw at me, trying to pierce me and kill me.

Too slow.

"FALL!" I roared as, with a ferocity and intensity I didn't know I had, I swung down.

"BALMUNG!"

For many, at that moment, it was as if time had come to a grinding halt as they watched something, they'd begun to believe was an impossible feat.

They had all seen as something changed in the dragon's eye, the amusement now shifting to something more akin to annoyance. At that moment, they all felt the dread filling their bodies.

The dread that came with the fear of death.

At that moment, they had all known they would die. All known that soon they would return to dust, just as the Grimm did.

And then, it appeared.

The light.

The battle cry.

The swing.

The name of the blade etched itself into their hearts as they witnessed something impossible.

Something incredible.

Something amazing.

Something… Heroic.

The head of Fafnir spiralled through the air as it was cleaved from the Dragon's body, soaring up into the sky, before landing on the Dragon's body with a dull thud, the mighty form going limp and staying in place, never to move again.

Blood burst from where its neck was, splattering all over me, bathing me in the monster's life liquid. My whole body was covered and, almost as soon as it was, the blood stopped and seemed to dissipate from around me in a golden glow.

I panted heavily as the dragon's body went limp, the great sword falling from my hands and clattering on the ground. It glowed with a blue light before dissipating just like the blood, the particles of light entering my body.

Every muscle in my body gave out at once as I fell back on the ground, breathing heavily…

I really had put everything into that single swing. I could barely feel my body right now, it hurt a hell of a lot, and I felt more exhausted than I ever had before in my life. All I wanted was to sleep…

But then the explosive sound of cheering filled my ears, making me wince before I heard a rush of footsteps and saw everyone running towards me.

For a moment, confusion filled me, before I yelped as I was hoisted onto their shoulders as they all began chanting my name.

My eyes scanned the crowd, and I saw Weiss staring at me in disbelief. Ruby was grinning widely as she joined in the chanting. Yang also looking just as shocked but with a wide smirk on her face. Blake was shaking her head slowly, as if disbelieving of what she just saw, but with a look of relief.

Nora was on Ren's back, squealing as she moved erratically, no doubt yelling at Ren about how awesome what she'd just seen was, while Ren was just staring at me dumbly in shock.

And Pyrrha?

Pyrrha was giving me the most radiant smile I'd ever seen in my life, one that set my heart racing.

At that moment, for just that moment, all of my doubts faded away.

All of my feelings of self-loathing and hatred vanished as one thought ran through my mind:

'I deserve to be here.'

Nobody in the world could have foreseen the arrival of the dragon at Beacon. Nobody in the world could have foreseen the dragon being defeated by a no-name huntsman in training from Beacon Academy.

But it was a day that would go down in history as the first chapter in Jaune Arc's Legend.

When historians spoke about it many years later, it would be referred to as 'The Felling of the Sky Demon.'

Still not the biggest fan of RWBY, so don't expect anything on Stacking the Deck or Ephemeral Dream. Just felt inspired to write this after reading a lot of Jaune fics, and hearing a certain song.

For those who guess the song, you get one clap.

That's it. One. And no more.

This is probably what Ephemeral Dream should have been, rather than a gamer fic. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say, and I'm actually somewhat excited to be writing this.

For those wondering where other chapters are, being worked on. To write chapters, one has to be motivated, and my motivation for writing comes and goes sporadically. Sometimes I can churn out a chapter a day, other times I'll need weeks or months. That's just how writing is.

I honestly had more fun writing this chapter than I thought I would, and it was honestly a nice fresh of breath air that has made me like RWBY again just a little bit.

Not a lot, but a bit.

Anyway, I'm out! This is Ezras Hargrave, signing off!