Jaune vaguely heard someone scream from a short distance away as he dropped Crocea Mors, two screams actually, and both from familiar people. But the Deathstalker stinger that had just stabbed its way through his chest distracted him from trying to think of who the screams belonged to.
When he killed the Ursa Major that had attacked Cardin after Jaune broke a jar of sap against his chestplate, he really should have expected that more Grimm would be nearby, the sap didn't just attract Ursa, but all Grimm. The deathstalker hadn't even really fought him either, just taken him by surprise as he fought a few Alpha Beowolves who had managed to drop his Aura into the red.
It was probably his stupidest mistake.
Boy was that saying something too.
Before he could ponder any more on what an idiot he was, the stinger was violently ripped out of his sternum and the bent remains of his chestplate. Out of the corner of his eye he could see his friends rapidly approaching him as he fell backwards. Weiss had decided to totally encase the giant scorpion in ice, leaving it totally immobile for quite some time.
Pyrrha and Ruby were the first to reach him as the others held back the Grimm and called desperately for Miss Goodwitch.
"Jaune!" They both cried as the got to him, Ruby having got on her knees and grabbing his hand barely holding back her tears, while Pyrrha broke down the moment she got to him and cried into his side.
"Hey, girls…" he coughed up some blood, "...looks like I goofed up big time huh?"
"No Jaune! You'll be fine! I promise!" Ruby said to him desperately, trying to convince herself more than him.
He smiled weakly at her through half-lidded eyes, "Not this time Little Red, I don't think even Professor Ozpin could survive this."
Hot tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she began to sob like the Spartan next to her, "No, you'll be okay, you have to be okay, I can't lose my best friend, please..."
Their sobs broke his already heavily damaged heart, "Hey Rubes, it'll be okay, we'll meet again, I promise."
His statement was met by deaf ears as more and more Grimm began to show up, attracted and intoxicated by the fear and sadness that was blasting like a beacon to the clearing, and the others were forced to fight harder in order to keep the grieving girls safe as well as fight their own shock and sadness. Nora was the most devastated of the fighters and fought brutally with clenched teeth and tears streaming down her face.
Jaune became desperate to keep his friends safe, even while his vision began to darken, and with his last breaths, he began to weakly sing…
We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
Even through the roars of the Grimm, the gunshots, and the shouts of his friends, his voice seemed to cut through and was heard by all.
Keep smiling through
Just like you always do
'Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away
Ruby and Pyrrha looked up to him, fresh tear trails staining their cheeks.
"J-jaune, please, we l-love you, you c-can't d-die, p-please!" Pyrrha sobbed, confessing both her and Ruby's secret.
So will you please say hello
To the folks that I know
Tell them I won't be long
They'll be happy to know
That as you saw me go
I was singing this song
Jaune's eyes were still open, but he couldn't see, but he heard the confession.
We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
Jaune's remaining senses began to deteriorate, he could not longer feel the two girls holding him, or the soft grass below him, but he kept singing.
Keep smiling through
Just like you always do
'Til the blue skies
Drive the dark clouds far away
Now his hearing was completely gone, and he could no longer hear the sounds of battle and Grimm, which he was happy for. Unfortunately, Ruby and Pyrrha's voices now seemed forever lost to him. But he kept singing.
So will you please say hello
To the folks that I know
Tell them it won't be long
They'll be happy to know
That as you saw me go
I was singing this song
We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
He stopped as the song ended, and all was dark.
Until there was a bright white light