Wow, I am really on a roll with these updates lol the RWBY hiatus got me feeling some type of way apparently LOL
Anyway, here's another long one. So, some things to explain real quick - I don't like writing tournament arcs. It's usually pointless fighting anyway. And as I was once exclusively a Naruto fanfic writer, I've written too many chunin exam arcs to make me projectile vomit blood until I die. I skipped it. All of it. Don't like it? Sorry lol, I'm not going back to rewrite this tournament when I have another tournament planned for way later in the story. Besides, we've all seen the Vytal festival tournament done and done and done again - it's a dead horse just begging to stop being beaten.
A side note - what happens in this chapter is something that I feel needed proper clarification and it was alluded to in the end of the first chapter. They way I word things is fucking magical. Some things are stated to have happened off screen - it's off screen because I'm not going to rehash information just for reactions and word count boosting lol that's not my style homie. (Ironic, since this A/N is going to boost the fuck out of my word count lmao)
So, without further ado
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY
Chapter 39: Eight as One
"People of the Five Kingdoms, from the tundra of Solitas, to the green pastures of Menagerie, the moment you have all been waiting for; the final fight; the final bout – Yang Xiao Long of Vale, versus, Larissa Argent of Atlas!"
Strike.
The first punch came. Yang, surprised at her strength, nearly lost her balance. Dodging back, she watched as the woman slipped past her defenses. Pressure built, wrapping around her arm. Blink, it tightened. Blink, the air itself began to ripple. Flexed arms, clenched fists, barrel extended from Ember Celica. As the woman came close, she flicked her elbow, shoving her gauntlet into her gut. Amethyst met Lilac. Flicked wrist, ignited primer, pellets unleashed.
Dodge.
She pushed through falling debris. Smoke, showers of fire and beams of concentrated energy rushed toward her. Refusing to lose even an inch of ground, nor a second of momentum, she continued her onslaught. Without relying on her semblance, remembering everything she trained for with Jaune and her team, she clashed against the wall standing in front of her. Knocked back, she slid across the arena floor, dust kicked off by the soles of her boots. A flick of her wrists, Ember Celica hissed, clicking into action. Punch, punch, punch; explosive buckshot roared from the barrels, unleashing a torrent of pellets imbued with crimson Dust. Impacts, fires, roars of agitation, the barrier shimmered into nothingness, revealing her target.
Strike.
Crowds cheered, jeered, cheered all over again. A cyclical motion, as they two moved about one another, dodging their hits, moving past the extensions of their aura. As Yang moved in, she had to readjust, punching away from Larissa, just to escape her semblance. Rolling across the arena floor, people boomed with excitement as the bout continued. Claws extended, Ember Celica burning with fury, they clashed. Punches, kicks, elbows and grapples, neither could get the upper hand on the other.
Block.
Silvery-white hair, piercing, yet empty amethyst eyes. Pale, almost porcelain white skin. The woman moved about, swiftly, almost skating on the balls of her feet, using her semblance to stay maneuverable and keep Yang's mid-close range attack style useless. She can't get hit if she can't be reached. She moved in, gloves extending razor sharp claws from her fingertips as she neared. A swing, a kick, a swing. Her movements were calculated, practiced and precise. Sparks flew, claws meeting Ember Celica, scarring the yellow paint. Her grip like iron, her strikes like steel, she refused to let her get the upper hand.
Strike!
The crowds watched with bated breath as the swings continued. Yang dipped in and out from the bubbles of compressed energy. Ember Celica exploding behind her, she shot across the arena floor, dodging Larissa's attacks and semblance. Internally, she thanked Cardin's advice. Refusing to give the Argent even a moment to breathe, the white-haired demoness brought her arms together, crossing in front of her. A near invisible force-field compressed around her. Tightening, the strange colors began to move closer, blinding her from the blur of faces and people merging together in her wide, lilac eyes. Impossible to decipher, impossible to know, she waited, closing her eyes, hoping to think.
Igniting her semblance for just a moment, the pressure awakened something within her. Strength increased, multiplying tenfold as Burn simply absorbed it. Bringing her fist back, she launched forward, punching free of the girl's trap. Springing up, she exploded forward, punching rapidly. Bullets stuck in Larissa's primary shield, visibly shaking within the barrier. There was a second in suspension, hanging above the battlefield in view of the billions watching from the Five Kingdoms. Crimson to Amethyst, the white-haired girl flicked her wrist; the shield burst, unleashing a wall of bullets retaining the save velocity. If it were not for Yang's powerful aura, she would have actually had to call it quits.
Lilac eyes returned, glancing at the stands, her girlfriends and sister were cheering for her. Fists raised in the air, with Nora cheering the loudest. On the opposite end of the stadium, the Atlesians were careful, cheering scattered within the crowds. It was more than beating her opponent, she was going to win the crowd as well. Cutting close to Larissa, she engaged in tight hand-to-hand combat.
The Argent flicked her wrists, extending claws from her high-tech gloves. Slashing, she moved in close, meeting Yang's punches and leg swipes. A kick, and claws even extended from Larissa's boots. Cut, slash, strike. They moved about each other, careful not to damage one another's hair, careful not to damage their beauty. Punch, kick, knee. Their movements were matched, unable to overpower the other. Backing away once more, Larissa's claws retracted as a contraption similar to Ember Celica shifted around her wrists.
"Like what you see, Queen?" Larissa asked with a smirk.
"You have a strange fighting style, Larissa," Yang said, not a pant in her voice, "but unlike me, you're getting tired. Your aura is well under forty percent."
"Last I checked, so is yours," Larissa said with a pointed look. Punching forward, the recoil of her gauntlets nearly shot her arm back.
Yang pushed the advantage, carefully gauging the woman in front of her. As the final contenders of the Vytal Festival Tournament, they ensured that their final bout would wow the Kingdoms. Blocking Larissa's shots with her fists, the blonde goddess popped her shells, quickly replacing the buckshot with slugs. She was intending to end it as soon as possible. As the click was heard, she moved in, punching with the same force, however, the recoil did nothing to break her oaken stance.
Slugs spiraled into the arena, trailing for Larissa like a flurry of fiery whistling missiles. Explosions roared across the field, showering the battlefield in smoke and flame. As the smoke died down, Larissa stood within a barrier, shimmering and panting for dear life. Dropping her shield, she charged, claws already extended and burning aura at a dangerous rate. Amethyst eyes met lilac, a fury between the two of them. First came her slice, blocked by the brunt of Ember Celica; then came the kick, something Yang blocked easily and her semblance wasn't even active. Slapping down, she broke the woman's advance, making her trip over her toes.
Flipping back, she grabbed Larissa's arm, throwing her across the arena floor, gathering deafening roars across the stadium. As Larissa's body disappeared over the edge, Yang sighed in relief. However, knowing her luck, she knew it wasn't over yet. No horns were blown, no alarms were rung; Larissa was not done. Thinking back on all the battle simulations she had fought in the King's Fist HQ; all the sparring sessions in Goodwitch's classes; all the personal training sessions with Carolina and Rosemary – she knew better than to fall for the bait.
While not in the GEN2 Indomitable Power Armor, she was more than enough to handle whatever the Argent had in store. A burst of energy shook the arena floor. Floor plates and steel shifted, bending and tearing as several points were suddenly pressurized into each other. Whipping around, Yang backed away, throwing herself onto the now floating pieces of metal. Getting a better view, Larissa was over the edge, standing on a compressed point in space. So, she can do that too. Just how evolved is her semblance?!
Larissa smirked, "just wait, Queen. You haven't seen anything yet."
Falling back, Yang's eyes sprang from her head. The woman disappeared, shimmering into nothingness as her point of compression disappeared. A blink, she was still nowhere to be found. A blink, something shifted behind her. Punching off the metal plate, the piece of arena floor crumpled into a ball smaller than a water bottle. Flipping through the air, Yang used Ember Celica to redirect her trajectory, dodging points of compression as she descended to the floor.
Another point, another dodge, Yang was dancing across the ruined arena floor, careful to dodge falling metal and scrap. Cheers at her back, signing in her ears, she concentrated. The timer was running and their aura still remained in the thirties. Foot forward, she slid past the falling debris, never once dropping her guard. Focusing on Larissa as she disappeared between her bubbles of pressure, she slowly caught on to the pattern. Kicking up, bashing her foot through the first compression, Larissa was suddenly thrown back into the field, bouncing on overturned beams and sparking wires. Crashing on her back, she rolled to a stop, claws extended.
A horn was blown – her aura dropped just above twenty percent.
One more hit and she was done.
Yang dashed ahead, meeting her block. Winds blew behind her as Larissa struggled to keep her stance. Lilac eyes winked at amethyst hidden in half-lidded sockets. Dropping down, surprising the Argent, she went for a low swipe kick, knocking her legs out from under her. Ember Celica raised, cocky smirk on her face, she brought her fist down, firing a powerful, incendiary slug directly into Larissa's gut.
Boom.
Larissa bounced about in a flurry of smoke and fire as her aura depleted. Rolling wildly, she didn't stop until she slid off the arena platform, crashing into the ground below. The crowds erupted into cheers as confetti trickled to the stadium below. Lights flashed, spotlights and music blared as all eyes, all cameras, turned to stare at Yang Xiao Long, Queen of Vale.
"With such an incredible final bout – Yang Xiao Long, wins the Fortieth Vytal Festival Tournament!"
As she made her way to her girlfriends, Pyrrha winked, holding her hands behind her back. A wink later, and a shuffle of hands, she revealed a crown of flowers, brimming with vibrant color. Before she could even receive it, Blake appeared, throwing her arms around Yang's neck, laughing and cheering between rushed breaths. As her grip loosened, Ruby appeared, tackling the woman to the ground, burying her face into her neck, "I knew my sister would win! I knew it! I didn't doubt you for a second, Yang!"
As Ruby slipped from her grasp, Yang walked to Pyrrha, who waited with a red-hot blush on her cheeks, "well, my Maiden."
"My Queen," Pyrrha giggled. Slowly placing the crown on her golden head, Yang's smile split her face in two, "you did incredible out there, Yang."
"See, what'd I say, Yang? Always go for the legs," Nora nodded with approval.
"Well, I was aiming to break them, but knocking her out was good enough," Yang winked, "where's Jaune and Ren?"
"King business," Weiss said, "they wanted to congratulate you, but General Ironwood and Professor Ozpin called for them."
"Oh…" Yang's smile dropped a little, "I understand…"
"Don't worry Yang," Ruby smiled, "they made sure to stay for every punch and kick!"
"I…I guess that makes it better," she refused to lose her smile.
"Yang!"
Turning around, the rest of the Fireteams gathered, barreling down the hall toward her. As Cardin burst through the crowd, he came to a skidding stop and lifted her in his arms, "thank you for beating the fuck out of that bitch, Yang!"
"A-Any time, big guy!" Yang laughed, "She was seriously getting on my nerves!"
"And now you know why we never liked her," Dove nodded, "though you really could have broken her legs and I'm sure people would turn a blind eye."
"Savages," Weiss sighed in despair, "it's a tournament – sanctioned fights, everyone. We don't need a Queen being seen by all Four Kingdoms, brutalizing an exchange student. No matter how much she deserves it."
"One day, Weiss," Coco smirked, "one day you'll be a degenerate like the rest of us. Come on, Yang, I believe a victory like this deserves some celebration."
"You're speaking my language, Coco!"
Amity was clearing. Hundreds of thousands were pouring into the airship docks and rushing to the competitor's exit, scrolls out and news crews already in attendance. Music, horns, drums and the stamping of feet ruptured through the air with the fireworks of the King's Fist blasting across the twilight skies. The Air Fleets of the former White Fang, subsumed into the King's Armada; the King's Fist Fleet and Atlas, blared colors and multi-colored lights, unveiling holographic banners of the Four Huntsmen Academies and their Kingdoms. People cheered and shouted, raising their fists together, cheering Yang's name.
Bursting into the scene, she walked with her entourage and Queens at her sides. Reporters immediately rushed to her. Before she could react, Blake and Weiss took her hands and Ruby moved in front of her, ready to protect and deflect. Questions were thrown her way and answers were thrown back, all with that grin plastered on her face. Together, they walked toward the three LAHAT and the crews waiting their departure, but a voice came from behind over all the commotion.
Whipping back, the Fireteams distanced themselves, careful not to show animosity in front of international broadcasts, "Xiao Long!"
"Uh…Orion Argent, right?" she turned to him, "What do you want?"
The white haired, amethyst eyed boy stopped a respectable distance from her. There was a pause as the boy glanced between the huntsmen and huntresses barely hiding their glares. Holding out a hand, he smiled, "good performance out there. You did me a favor knocking some sense into my sister. I'm daresay impressed."
"I appreciate that," Yang nodded. Taking his hand, despite Blake's immediate apprehensions, she shook it. To her surprise, he gave her something. The smile on his face, while genuine, there was an unreadable gleam in his eyes, "what's next for the Argents and Team ONYX and LVDR?"
"I don't know," he shrugged, "probably going to go back to Atlas, I guess. I won't keep you from celebrating, my Queen. I hope you enjoy yourself."
He turned and disappeared into the crowd. For someone with such unique features, he knew how to fade into a crowd. Shaking her head, she opened her palm, revealing a rolled piece of paper. Blake and Weiss raised brows, but neither said a thing as they turned back to the Levy's waiting. More questions, pictures with adoring fans, it never ended until the bay doors hissed shut and the LAHAT slowly levitated off the landing platform.
"Okay, what the fuck did he want?" Cardin asked.
"Language, Winchester," Weiss glared. He shrunk under her gaze, but quickly complied, rewording his question immediately.
Yang, still reading the parchment, took slow breaths, "it says that he has information for RRAYNNBW…he wants to meet at the King's Fist HQ tonight."
"Excuse me?" Dove choked, "What is that moron thinking?! He has nothing that we can possibly want!"
"I agree," Weiss shook her head, "from what Cardin told us and from that incident in the Courtyard of Beacon…those degenerates have nothing of worth to us."
"Remember what Jaune said?" Pyrrha piped, "he didn't want to make a move on the Brotherhood unless there was evidence that we could pounce on. This…this might be what we're looking for."
"I don't know, Pyrrha," Cardin crossed his arms, "you don't know them like we do. They are liars and thieves and most of all, cannot be trusted."
"But if it's something that can help us end these conflicts, so we can focus on the real one," Blake rested a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder, "then this isn't something we can just pass up."
"You're the Queens," Cardin raised his hands in defense, "besides, that's not something we should worry about right now. We're going to celebrate your victory, Yang!"
Everyone in the LAHAT cheered wildly, nearly causing the pilot to veer off course. Curses and shouts from both pilot and copilot, the students burst into uncontrollable laughter, shaking in their boots and shoes as the gunship struggled to maintain a flight pattern. As the HQ came into view, the LAHAT hovered into a stop, landing in the rooftop hangar bay. A hiss, a click and a latch, the bay doors opened, revealing the Command Center completely silent. Hundreds of King's Fist personnel stood in attendance as Yang stepped from the gunship, flower crown and all.
"So, the Queen finally has a crown," Blanche called, clapping his hands. Little by little, everyone present cheered her name, many running up to her, snapping selfies and group pictures with not only Vale's Queen, but the victor of the tournament! She could not get a moment to breathe as hundreds waited in line, some in large groups snapping pictures, asking questions and giving endless well-wishes.
"Could've been you, birdy," Velvet slapped Cardin's butt, "in your junior year, it'll be CRDL's turn in the spotlight."
"Heh, I don't think I can handle that kind of attention," he chuckled.
"Well, if you don't want it, then I'll gladly take the victory next time," Sun smirked, "Atlas will be hosting the next Festival, so make sure you're bundled up."
"Says the idiot who doesn't know how to close his shirt," Cardin glared.
"Please, I'm a Faunus, and I have Aura," Sun rolled his eyes.
A cough joined them, Doré giggled, "good luck next time – CNDR won't play around. Maybe I will be the next winner. Sun, you gonna give me a flower crown if I do or what?"
"Uh…yes. Yes, I will!" Sun smiled, "only if you give me one too."
"I…" Doré's brain shut down, "I hate you. Come on, let's go find some food."
Across the Command Center, as the thousandth picture was taken, Yang's smile began to drop ever so slightly. Biting her lip, she shook her head. Another picture, another group, another smile. Looking side to side, her friends, RRAYNNBW as they liked to call themselves, remained, but missing a few key members. Their absence was a gaping wound, one that continued to fester, the longer she tried to ignore it. Nowhere to be found, nowhere to be heard. They were family, they were one; they couldn't just abandon her in her moment of triumph. The smile faded further as another flash, another pose and another smile, forcing itself on her face.
Yang took a deep breath, shaking as another group moved in, moving to either side of her. Peace sign up, smile raised, pose given. Flash. She gulped; he was supposed to be there. They were supposed to be cheering her on and congratulating her at the end of everything she had done. Fists clenched as she bit her lip. Pose, smile, flash. She blinked, trying to fight the doubts growing in her heart. Shaking her head once more, the smile returned, happily, less forced.
Smile, pose, flash.
A blink it was another group. A blink, it was another scroll. A blink, she was sitting at a table, stacked with food for true monarchs and emperors. The food Beacon served paled in comparison and there was an actual swordfish. Lilac eyes glanced through the twigs of the crown, gazing at Pyrrha as she laughed with Ruby and Nora. At Blake, as she and Weiss discussed proper portions for meals and appropriate feasting etiquette. As literal Princesses, Blake, a recent one, they hoped to share as much of what they knew to ensure they remained proper, even in front of their comrades and soldiers.
Cardin cheered from the far side of the feast hall, laughing with CFVY, ABRN, SSSN and CNDR. MSTN and Lightning Squad ate and spoke freely with the members of RRAYNNBW. The shattered moon was high above them, visible through glass rooftops and hanging chandeliers. Colors and lights flickered across the banquet hall as hundreds had gathered to celebrate their Queen's victory. She sat, silently, smiling as Blake's hand slipped under the table, grabbing hers. Neither looked at one another, simply melting in the embrace.
"Yang," Blake said, "I love you."
Yang smiled, turning to her, "I love you too."
"Good, now eat," the Faunus motioned to the plate in front of her, "it's medium rare A5 Steak. One of the most expensive cuts of ribeye. No one will let you live it down if you waste it."
"Believe me, I can't even hold myself back," she smirked, but that smile quickly faded, "I just…it just doesn't feel right without Jaune or Ren. Jaune's the love of my life and Ren, he's the brother I never had. We're one group, one family, one heart. It's…wrong to be celebrating like this without them."
"I know how you feel," Blake said, putting her fork down, "the eight of us are truly something else. Not even in the White Fang was the camaraderie this strong. As for Jaune…the five of us…we never took the time to really…be significant others to one another in a while – not since before Menagerie. Jaune has been distant with all of the King stuff happening and…now with Cinder dead…his absence only seems to become more frequent than not. But, Pyrrha, me, Weiss; we're all here for you, Yang. You said it yourself – one heart. Not just with him, but us too. Tonight, let's…after the celebrations are done, me, you, Weiss and Pyrrha, we should have some time together, just us. Ruby and Nora can go and play games with CRDL or something, I don't know. But tonight, will be about us."
"Blakey, are you implying a lesbian orgy?" Yang wiggled her eyebrows, "I'm not against it, but I never thought you'd be so bold."
"I'm not implying anything," she rolled her eyes, "look, we never crossed any boundaries and we've all been taking this poly-am relationship really well. Aside from the kissing, the hugging, the hand-holding, the cuddling; being significant others is more than the physical stuff – it's about time we got to the emotional. Agreed? Something's been bothering you and it's not just Jaune's distance lately. We're here to listen to you, Yang."
She was silent for a moment, picking at her ribeye, "I know. I'm sorry, Blake."
"No need to apologize, my Queen," Blake winked, "it kinda hurts not seeing your smile light up a room."
Yang's head tilted as her cheeks reddened, "gods, I love you. All of you. The things you say, the things Pyrrha does, the mind and intellect of Weiss, how Jaune bares his feelings for us, it just makes me…it makes my heart flutter."
"Yang," Blake leaned in. Lilac and Amber met for a moment. No words shared; they closed the distance. Lips touched, a spark igniting. Pulling away, their smiles were mirrors, reflecting the joy bursting within, "you know…I'm really proud of you."
"I can see it," she said.
Taking her hand, she rested her palm against her chest, "now, feel it. This is all for you, every firework, every cheer, every roasted slab of meat. You earned everything that has happened today with your own hard work and toil. Not only am I proud to have you as my partner, but I'm proud to one day call you, my wife."
"I like the sound of that," they leaned in once more, resting their foreheads against one another.
Digging her fork into her steak, she munched, almost blushing at how tender it was. Garlic butter, scorch marks and the mashed potatoes topped with garnish and butter. Her taste buds exploded on her tongue as she moved for another cut. Pyrrha to the side, giggled with Weiss as they drank their fancy wines, older than the Great War. Across the table, Ruby told a joke with NDGO and FNKI, their laughter and banging fists, making her own giggle grow in her buxom chest.
Cardin to the side, fed Velvet a spoonful of quinoa, giving her nose a little boop. Yang swore she threw up in her mouth a little. As cute as it was, they could at least think of the children. No one wanted to see that. Cutting another piece, she quickly chomped, relishing in the juice. Reaching for her Strawberry Sunrise, she sipped on the bendy straw, playing with the little umbrella. Even though Junior wasn't there, she was glad the people in charge, knew exactly what she liked. Setting it down, she clapped her hands as she realized her entire plate was cleaned, even the juices were gone.
Huh, when did I do that?
Before she could even say anything, the empty plate was quickly taken and whisked away. Opening her mouth, she quickly closed it like a gaping fish. In its place, a new plate was placed carefully, holding the most beautiful slice of cheesecake she had ever seen. Mouth dripping with saliva, she watched as Blake's own plate was taken and replaced with a deep-dish pan filled with a thick chocolate chip cookie at the base, topped with three scoops of cookies n' cream ice cream. The cat gave her a sheepish grin as she raised her spoon.
"What?" Blake shrugged, "What can I say? Ruby has good taste."
"Can I have a bite?"
The festivities and feasts slowly came to a close. As Ruby and Nora ran off to hang out with CNDR, SSSN and CRDL, the girls walked the halls of the HQ, bottles of tequila and vodka in their hands. Stumbling down, they giggled, hiccupped and shouted to one another, drunk and hazy. Pyrrha laughed as she made a series of flowers sprout from her hands. Weiss had somehow activated gravity glyphs, hoping to stabilize everyone, but it only served to plant them in a single space. Blake accidentally let a meow from her lips, creating more ruckus, simply making the girls laugh harder.
Stumbling from door to door, Yang held out her scroll to a door handle, weak and ready to pass out. A ding was heard and the door hissed open – she plopped forward, collapsing on the carpet of her room in a resounding thud. The girls behind her cackled like madwomen as they stumbled to get her on her feet. One by one, they piled into the room until the four of them lounged around, sitting on her bed or the beanbag chairs strewn about. Bottles were passed, stories were shared and innocent, angelic giggles echoed between them.
"I…I know we're here at first because of Jaune," Blake began, "but gods, do I love each and every single one of you. Everything we've been through, all the bloodshed, all the fighting and the wars…I wouldn't want anyone else beside me, in the battlefield or the bedroom."
"I agree," Weiss set her tequila down, "at first…I guess I was jealous of all of you."
Yang and Pyrrha sputtered, "you, jealous of us?!"
"What?" Weiss's face bled red, "I told Jaune this…Blake, you remind me of Righteousness. You are, for a lack of better terms, a beacon for the rights of all. You are the shining example of sticking out in the system and bending the system to you and your will. Pyrrha, you're kindness. Never, have I seen you lose composure, even against people who…who might deserve harsh treatment. That's a willpower, I lack. Yang, I think of Power. I don't have incredible strength, nor the same physical willpower you do…surrounded by all of you, even Nora and Ruby…I felt, for so long, that I brought nothing to the table, except for the things I was most afraid of being sought for."
"But, Weiss," Yang choked, drinking a glass of cold water, "y-you're so smart, so elegant and graceful…how could you be jealous of me? For all intents and purposes, I could be considered as nothing more than a country hick! My mom's a Bandit and my dad's…well my dad."
"That's just it, Yang," Weiss giggled, taking a sip of cold water, "you're humble, despite your arrogant fighting style."
"Hmm," Blake smirked, "I don't think she's drunk enough yet! She's still being nice!"
Pyrrha and Yang giggled hotly as they sipped their waters, "Look! W-What I'm saying is…you three are the most beautiful and incredible women I've ever met. As much as I love my sister…you three…you mean more than the world to me. Nora, Ruby, Ren and Jaune…the eight of us…I know in the future-past, Jaune said that things we completely different for us. Our futures, if not for all of this that he had built, would be bleak. He…all of you…all of us…it gives me hope that we won't face that future…"
It might have been the alcohol, but the tears welled immediately, "if-if…if we lost any of you…even if eight turned to seven…I don't know…I don't know what I'd do! I never…never, thought I'd come to a new Kingdom and meet all of you. I never thought I'd know what it feels like to love."
"Me neither," Pyrrha said, drawing eyes to her, "there were many reasons for why I turned down Haven Academy…and not one of them aligned with finding love. I just wanted to be normal, I wanted to live life as a regular girl, not the Invincible Girl, not the Four Time Mistral Champion and especially not the Pumpkin Pete mascot, third year in a row. I wanted to try something new, but here I am…"
"I wanted to find a way to escape my past," Blake frowned, "all the things I've done and all the things I've had to suffer to get here. I just wanted a new start, a new life away from the nonsense and somehow, maybe find a way to get back into fixing the mistakes of my past. Above all of that, I just wanted a way to hide. But none of you would let me."
Yang giggled, "for me…I just…I always believed I would be somewhere, riding my bike into the sunset, fighting Grimm and finding the next life-threatening, reckless thing to do. I don't know, jump from the highest floating island over Lake Matsu; go skinny dipping in the frozen lakes of Solitas; build a sandcastle in Vacuo. I'm a thrill seeker, I just want the next adrenaline rush. Thanks to my…real mom…Summer, she taught me that saving and helping others was important too. So, if I could help people while I got that high…all the better right? But now…"
"Gods, we're fucked up," Yang chuckled.
"I'm…I'm not even going to bother scolding you," Weiss sighed, taking a sip of her tequila, "you're not wrong though. How did we all end up like this?"
"My mother abandoned me," Yang shrugged.
"My whole life was in the hands of an abusive ex-boyfriend," Blake said.
"My entire youth, since I unlocked my semblance, was spent in front of cameras and microphones," Pyrrha shied away.
"Gods," Weiss sighed, "I think I need another drink."
Lifting her tequila, she sipped straight from the bottle, gaining raised brows across the board. Blake giggled, lifting her whiskey, sipping the heat without a cough, "Jaune loves whiskey bourbon, kinda got used to it."
"Blake…let me ask," Yang began, "what do you see in us?"
Wiping her lips, she raised a brow, "What do you mean, Yang?"
"I mean…why us?" Yang said, "you could literally have anyone you want, but you chose us. Weiss gave us a dictionary, I thought you'd have a reason too."
"Hey!" Weiss glared, "I thought it explained how I felt."
"I think it was beautiful, Weiss," Pyrrha held her hand, "Yang is just…Yang."
"You're hanging around me too much, P-Money."
Blake's cough, brought their attention, "you want to know? Yang, you are my rock. You are what I rely on when I'm weak. Jaune is great, he is everything I wanted Adam to be, but he has his own team and recently, problems only Ren can help him with. Even before Jaune and the King's Fist, you are my partner and you understood me in a way that others just didn't."
"Pyrrha, you are just…so unbelievably kind. No one, not even my mother, who is one of the kindest people in the world, comes even close. You're so willing to put your live on the line just for the sake of others, I can see why you and Jaune are just so great together. You are both shields, protectors, stalwart defenders, no matter what you face. Grimm, soldiers, ignorance. You don't do things because there's something to gain, but you do it because it's the right thing to do, because you still believe in the good of people."
"Weiss," Blake gave her a smirk, "at first, I thought you were petulant. Annoying. Cold as ice. A little rude and so full of yourself. I thought you were the queen of bitches and so arrogant, you wouldn't know if–"
"I get it already!" Weiss blushed hot, shrinking under Yang and Pyrrha's laughter.
"But I was wrong," Blake smiled, taking her other hand, "I was very, very wrong. You, like me, like all of us, had to cut yourself off to protect yourself. The walls you built weren't to keep people out, but to protect yourself from anyone else who would seek to harm you. Despite everything you suffered at the hands of Faunus, at the hands of greedy men, you still fight, you still stand on your two feet and spit back at those who would do you harm. While you may not have Pyrrha's incredible fighting skill, my survival skills, nor Yang's indomitable strength, you have something none of us have – an incredible mind and elegance."
"Without you, Yang wouldn't have gotten out of her slump; without you, Pyrrha might not have an anchor to hang onto; without you, I wouldn't know a thing about being a Princess. Despite everything we have, I'll be the first to really admit it – none of us really understood what it meant to be Queens, but you did. Without a second to waste, you went straight to work, bringing the people to your side, to see that you were more than the Schnee Heiress, but the Fourth Queen of Vale."
"You have words to apply to us, I have my own," Blake looked between them, "Ren, is serenity; Nora is light; Jaune is hope; Ruby is purity; Pyrrha is unconditional love; Yang is strength…but you…it was defiance. Defiance of titles, of chains. You have all changed me, so much, I can't state enough, how much you mean to me. All of you, all of RRAYNNBW."
"As our First Year comes to an end, I hope that nothing will tear us apart," Blake said wistfully, "I know this might sound childish, but I want us to be together…all eight of us…forever. Life is too short, life, especially with the Grimm…with Salem looming over our heads…no matter how short, even if we only have a few years, I want to spend those years together."
"Then we will," Weiss nodded, "we will. That's a promise I don't intend to break. To think, ten months ago, we met for the first time, now here we are, drinking and thinking of the future."
"Welp," Yang slapped her lap, "I think it's time for the lesbian orgy Blake promised."
The three women groaned, "Yang!"
"I didn't promise anything!"
An airship decorated with cerulean banners slowly descended on Beacon's landing pads. Doors hissed open, revealing a grizzled blond man and another with a barrel chest and burned orange hair. Towering in height, they nodded to their guardsmen as they stepped onto the school grounds. Under the light of fireworks and footsteps muted to blaring music in the city proper, the pair moved through the grounds toward Beacon Tower. Coming to a stop at the entrance, they were stopped by a platoon of King's Fist infantry.
"Lord Arc, Lord Winchester," the sergeant in command saluted, "Qrow Branwen and Glynda Goodwitch are waiting for you at the elevator."
"Thank you, soldier," Tanager nodded. As they walked past the checkpoint, the Winchester turned to his old friend, "what are you thinking, Claude?"
"I don't know what to think," the old Arc said, "Jaune said some damnable things over the scroll. But he said I wouldn't believe it until I saw it for myself."
"What are you thinking we'll see?" Tan wondered, "you told me about this Salem character, but it doesn't make much sense. I just find it convenient that the Grimm, of all things, has a leader."
"Seeing is believing, Tan," Qrow grumbled, drinking from a flask.
"Tan, Claude," Glynda smiled, "I'm glad you two made it. We weren't too sure if you would actually come."
"Glynda," Claude smiled, wrapping his arms around her, "it has been too long. Well, we were in Vale, enjoying a concert opera with our wives but Jaune gave us a call. Some things just didn't make sense…he's from the future?"
"Among other things," Glynda nodded, "I can't explain it in a way that makes any sense, so you'll just have to see it for yourself."
"The gods are real?" Tanager frowned as the elevator shut in front of them, "I was never a religious man, but…to think they're real?"
"No," Glynda said, "they don't exist anymore. Your son, Jaune, and his teammate Lie Ren, are in a way, merged with the gods. What Jaune said is true – though this kind of information isn't something I would have said over a scroll call. What was he thinking?"
"Hey, the kid's got a reason," Qrow shrugged, "at least it got them to come here. Listen, what he has to show isn't going to be spoken of outside of this Circle, understand?"
"Why are you keeping this a secret if it's so important?" Tanager asked.
Glynda pinched her brow, at Qrow's shrug, "because the chaos that would erupt would be impossible to contain. Hundreds of millions, maybe even billions would be at risk. The Grimm are innumerable and Salem's control over them is almost like a Hive Mind. From what we understand, and what Lionheart has told us, she operates with a Grimm we wouldn't know about if it weren't for Jaune calling Lionheart out for being a traitor."
"It would seem, Salem has her clutches in the Huntsmen Academies. Even criminal organizations are working for her; fallen Huntsmen," Glynda said, "with agents in the field and in high places of government, she knows when to strike and where. Grimm in the wilderness attacking random villages, pulls Huntsmen away from Salem's movements. Some may die, but the goal is to distract and stretch the Kingdom's defenses. That's how she has operated for millennia."
"Alright, we're here," Glynda said, "just be ready. Since Salem revealed her pawns, Jaune has been…well…"
"Kid's brutal," Qrow finished as the elevator door opened.
Walking through the halls, a series of grunts and thuds echoed. Soldiers of the King's Fist saluted as they passed. Louder and louder, the strikes became more defined. Spatters like liquid, or blood, splashed about. It was fresh, visceral. Coming to a stop, Qrow motioned his head to the door, as cool as he always tried to portray. Glynda rolled her eyes, pushing up her glasses and opened the door, revealing several men and women gathered within.
"Dad?" Rosemary blinked, "So, you actually showed up?"
"This is the second time I've heard that since coming here," Claude shook his head, "why is everyone doubting me all of a sudden? I just want to see Jaune in action…and hopefully get some answers."
"Not doubting, it's just…this is a lot to take in," Rosemary frowned, "you're not even getting the same treatment Doré, Clair and I, got. What you're going to see will be a show of trust from Jaune. I hope you understand that."
"Speaking of Jaune, where is he?"
"Well…look for yourself."
Glancing toward the glass wall, Jaune was seen, slamming a bound Faunus's face into a table. As the man recoiled in shock, Jaune punched, ramming his fist into the man's cheek. Blood, teeth and spit spatter on the already bloody floor. The King lifted Adam from the seat and slammed him into the walls behind, punching and pushing him about. No questions were asked, no words were said. Taking a knife, Jaune dragged the edge across the bull's face, cutting deep, to the bone. Skin removed, Claude paled as the flesh quickly reformed, shimmering with a dark aura as smoke trickled off the former wound.
Slammed against the table once more, Jaune punched and stomped, throwing him into the glass wall, painting it with black blood. There was no rest, as the one known as Ren raised his hand, revealing a pink glyph, similar to the Schnee's. To his surprise and disgust, Grimm arms sprang from the glyph, but they weren't the usual colors. The limbs were a light grey, as apposed to the usual black, and the bone plates and spines, were a light pink. Wrapping around the Faunus's face, the man screamed in fear, for the first time, making noise. Ren growled, whipping his arm back. Like ropes, the Grimm arms were elastic, swinging the man back into the wall, spraying black blood all across the surface.
Jaune, with antlers on his forehead, he lifted Adam into the air and slammed him back into his seat. With a quick punch to the cheek, the Arc marched back to the glass wall, glaring at the men and women within. They didn't speak, pacing around the bull Faunus. Nothing they tried worked but at least they got to take their building frustrations out on him. Taking a slow breath, and regaining composure, they simply settled on glaring at the man covered in black blood.
Jaune and Ren stood arms crossed in the dimly lit room. Chair thrown across a wall, dents and burn marks shearing across the tiles. Horns protruding from their heads, they were careful not to go too far. Looking behind him, Jaune gave Junior, Ozpin and several others a frustrated look. Slamming his fists into the table, he reached forward, pressing his glowing hand into Adam's branded eye. Screams, shouts, howls of a broken man, the Faunus said nothing in his agonizing delirium. Thrashing, fighting back, he tried to move, but with Ren's own powers, glyphs appeared underneath him, revealing pink and grey Grimm arms, latching onto his limbs, holding him steady.
Within the room, the procession of men and women stood silently. Rosemary and Carolina were quiet, carefully examining their movements and ensuring Adam's facial expressions did not betray what left his lips. Ironwood and Ozpin were more reserved, almost surprised by what they saw. Unlike Reggie, who was next to be interrogated, they never went to the extremes as this. At the front of them all, Junior, with Lieutenant Roux and the Malachite Twins were writing down everything that happened within the interrogation booth, down to the decibels Adam's screams rang.
"This…" Claude said shakily, "this is…unlike anything I've ever seen…"
"Claude, you said you wanted to see your son in action," Ozpin said, "with his and Mr. Ren's consent, I've allowed this. The King has already told you about Salem, now you see the lengths we must go to get information about her."
"Adam!" Jaune bellowed, "How did you get to Vale? Where was Cinder Fall hiding all this time?!"
Slamming another hand into the table, it shattered into hundred pieces, almost exploding. Another gasp was heard, from a larger man with burnt orange hair and indigo eyes. Tanager narrowed, "that's like Cardin's semblance…"
"I believe your son has told you about the King," Ironwood said, "through aura transfers, he's able to copy and use other people's semblances to supplement his own true semblance – Aura Amp."
Jaune flicked his wrists as the horns grew in intensity. Twirling, twisting and curling, while Ren's straightened, the negativity, the hatred and frustrations grew, inverse to their souls. Suddenly, the shards and remnants of the table merged together, hovering and shifting until several spikes formed from the remnants. Heat grew, as Roux suddenly reacted, rushing to buttons on the console, "everyone might want to step back. This is something else. We have documented every semblance he has in his arsenal, but we don't recognize this!"
Junior moved, pushing and directing, "the last time he used a semblance without thinking, it nearly collapsed a hallway. It took days to repair and clean."
Little by little, the spikes neared Adam, slowly piercing his skin. The shouts continued, reaching a new pitch. He tried to fight, crying black tears. The burning continued, the stabbing deepened, but his words would not form. He refused to speak, knowing nothing the King did could compare to what Salem would do. Glass shoved into his flesh, digging through his muscles and skin, like Centinels. Crawling, superheated and dragging its bladelike edges, blood as black as night, dripped to the floor.
"Adam," Jaune said once more, "where was Cinder Fall staying? How did you get to Vale? Where did you come from?!"
Releasing him, Jaune punched the window, unknowingly superheating the cracks, "you come here trying to kill Cinder – why? You're corrupted by Salem, Adam. Whoever you are, or were, it doesn't matter anymore; you are nothing more than a tool for Salem to use, abuse and throw away when you have nothing left! So, tell me, save yourself any last shred of dignity, and tell me what I want to hear! I don't mind cutting off a few limbs to get an answer – I know you'll just grow that shit back. Want to look at Reggie? I butchered her, several times, over and over again, just to get answers, but even then, she kept growing them back."
"We are nothing, if not patient," Ren glared.
"I…I have nothing to say to you, King," Adam said. Spitting blood from his lips, he scowled, "hurt me, maim me…you aren't getting a word from me about my mistress."
"You think she cares about you, Adam?" Jaune asked, "in the future-past, she didn't give a shit that you died. You were nothing more than a footnote, a side quest at best. Now look at you…you're a slave."
"This isn't some future bullshit! I am more than that!" Adam roared. Frustrations rising, the Grimm arms latched around him, snaking around his neck. Choking him, forcing him back into his seat, the man bellowed, crying out, "I am Adam Taurus – I am not worthless! I am not a slave! You don't know anything about me!"
"You don't even know yourself!" Ren shouted. Pink eyes focusing on him, he could see a series of multicolored petals fluttering around him. A flurry of confusion, a mess of emotions unchecked, "you are a husk of a man, struggling to even accept that you have fallen from grace. You are less than a slave."
A pink and grey creature crawled from the Grimm arms, skittering toward Adam's neck. Biting him, the Faunus shuddered, bubbles frothing from his mouth. As he fell forward, the Grimm arms tightened once more, forcing him to sit upright. Black tears trickled down his burned face, revealing the SDC branding was no more, absorbed into the hand shaped burn mark covering the left side of his face. He snapped, twitching, shaking and shivering in the grip of the monstrous creatures. Crying, weeping, sobbing, he couldn't stop the clenching of his heart, the turning of his stomach.
"You are Adam Taurus, son of Afra Taurus and her boss, Bora Candida, a Foreman of the SDC," Ren started, gaining a harsh reaction from the bull, "you were conceived when your father raped your mother in a Dust Mine, a few years before the Faunus War."
Ironwood looked away, "it was a different time then…I had just joined the Atlesian military…"
"It doesn't excuse what happened," Claude glared.
"Neither of you knew about your relation to one another, but you had suspicions about it when your mother mysteriously gained promotions and Lien from gods know where," Ren continued, "one day, you made a mistake in the mine. You slipped while you pushed a mine cart. It continued on the track, bumping and tumbling until it hit a fresh Dust Vein, agitating everything around it. Thirty Faunus died that day, collapsing the Dust Mine. With the Faunus wars having ended and your people gaining several rights, Jacques Schnee would not let this incident go by without saving his hide for shareholders, who choose morality over Lien value. Before repercussions could be doled, Bora knew he would lose his job, his life, the mine, worse yet, he would lose his slaves. He wanted to make sure at least some punishment could be delivered, so he branded you over your eye. You were only ten years old."
"It was that day when you learned he was your father all along. You went out of your way, using your weapons to strike back at the man who ruined your face. With Dust you stole, you and a gang of Faunus raided Bora's home the night before his trial. You murdered his wife, his children and in the end, murdered him," Ren said, gaining a hot glare from Adam, "after you did that, you went back home, only to find that your mother didn't appreciate what you did. She cursed you, despised you. For all Bora did to her and you, she still believed that he would love her. You tried to calm her down, but she killed herself, unable to believe what had transpired."
"When will you shut up!" Adam screamed. Frothy bubbles spat from his split lips.
"After staying in Atlas, doing what you can to fight back against the SDC and humans like your father, you heard about Ghira Belladonna and Menagerie. Saving money from all the stores you've robbed and Atlesian nobility that you've murdered, you took a smuggler's ship to Anima where you met Sienna Khan. That was where you met Koa Grey and first encountered the Brotherhood," Ren narrowed, struggling to comprehend everything the Grimm was telling him, "in your journey to Menagerie, that was where you met Blake."
Suddenly, Ren's horns curled, darkening, causing Jaune's to straighten and smooth, "that was where you groomed a child. You groomed Blake, didn't you?! She was a child, you freak! She…she is my friend, my sister, you disgusting piece of filth! I see it all…every memory, every kill…you tortured her mind, you played mind games, you made sure her impressionable mind aligned with yours…you convinced her, you played her, you molded her to fit your vision!"
Grimm spikes extended, digging into Adam's head, "you murdered and convinced her what you were doing was right. You continued to play this game, testing boundaries, hoping to find the line she was unwilling to cross, and break it. You wanted her to become as jaded as you, you wanted her to fall as far as you have! You were the reason she abandoned her family; you were the reason she couldn't think for herself until it was too far! Everything you put into her head; it was a lie."
"Ren…" Jaune called.
Grimm tightened, thickening as the spikes embedded, bringing screams from Adam's dry, shredded throat, "You poisoned her, Adam! You twisted her and you knew what you were doing! She didn't know about your past murders, nor your past crimes. She didn't know the terrible things you've done and you ensured that your image wouldn't be tarnished until you knew she wouldn't turn her back on you. You didn't want a relationship; you wanted a slave. The very thing you hated, you wanted your own, didn't you? You wanted the power your father had, you wanted to know what it felt like to control others, like your father!"
"Ren!" Jaune said forcefully.
"You…" stopping midsentence, he took a deep breath. His body shaded into slate grey. Meditating for a split second, he calmed down, "there is no happy ending for you, Adam. Just do the right thing for once and tell us what we need to know."
"And then what?" Adam panted, "Let me go? Kill me? I'm dead regardless of what I do…"
"You only have yourself–" Jaune started, but Ren's look, silenced him.
"As you poisoned Blake, Salem poisoned you," Ren said, "thanks to my powers, Salem isn't the only one who can control Grimm…I intend to find out what afflicts you. No matter what you answer, you aren't dying anytime soon, I can promise you that."
Horns faded from their foreheads. The Grimm arms slinked away, vanishing into dust, leaving Adam alone, bound to the chair. Giving one another a look, they turned away, walking to the metal door at the end of the room. Giving the signal, Qrow and Glynda appeared at the other end of the door, neither saying a word. Slamming the door shut, several locks hissed and with the upgrades of Atlas, new binds were created, hissing and ensuring the door would stay shut no matter what.
"Son," Claude began, "I…I don't know what to say…"
"Then don't," he replied, "there is nothing to say. Now you know what I do and why I do it. Lord Winchester, dad; can I rely on Viridian Hollow and Orléans support? The other Huntsmen Academies, Atlas and Menagerie are already in agreement. I just need the councils of Vale, Vacuo and Mistral to get their heads out of the sand and work with me."
"Yes," Tanager replied quickly, "Viridian Hollow is yours. You have done more than enough to earn my trust, Jaune. You changed my son…can you believe he called my wife his mother? It was something I never thought would happen. That alone, is more than anything I could ask."
"Dad?" Jaune turned to Claude.
"You will always have my support, Jaune," the grizzled huntsman nodded, "but not until after my trial."
Ren and Jaune gave each other a glance, "trial? What trial?"
"I haven't been honest with you, son," Claude frowned, motioning him to follow, "during the Battle of Vale, the Kingdom's council was losing control. In the chaos, your friend, Lie Ren, announced to the entire Kingdom that you were King. Factions in the Valean Council did not appreciate that and accused me of treason and attempting to usurp control from the Council. Needless to say, with everything I've seen for myself, the trial will be a long one. Alexios Argent of Dale has been desperate, trying to take more from us Arcs and Winchesters. With this new and sudden powerbase, he knows he will start to lose control. That is something the Argents don't want."
"Dad, this is beyond the fucking Council!" Jaune groaned, "This is what I don't get about you people. There is more than goddamn bureaucracy at stake! The entire world could end if we do not stand together and stop Salem! Do you not understand that!"
"I get that, Jaune!" Claude returned the tone, "but these people, they will not believe it until they see it; and some people, don't really care about the world, if you haven't noticed. In chaos, there will always be those who see an opening to take control – there's a reason they call times of crisis, power vacuums. Every aspiring man will find a way to take control for themselves. It has happened time and time again, Jaune. Lesser men always ride on the actions of great ones who've fallen."
"I…" Jaune hissed, clenching his fists, "it's always the same with people. It doesn't matter what time period it is. There's always a price, always something to gain. Why can't people just look past that and see the bigger picture?!"
He was about to continue, but Claude's hand rested on his shoulder, "and that's why people like you and your friends exist. Some people only see the value in action, whether it is worth the expenditure; others see things as nothing more than Lien to spend and gain. But people like you and your friends…it's life itself. There is no price, no value, no Lien that can contend with the worth of life and soul. You keep fighting the fight you need to and Tanager and I will keep fighting our fight, Jaune."
"Dad, just be careful," Jaune said, "if anything happens, or if you need help just let Junior know. The King's Fist is here to help."
"I'll be fine, son," Claude waved him off, "just…just don't do anything drastic should the trial not go the way we want it to."
"How wouldn't it? Give me a few weeks, I'll have this sorted out–"
"No, son," Claude shook his head, "you're barely finishing your first year at Beacon. Don't waste your time with a trial that could last months. You are just starting as King and as a Huntsman – you're going to have to concentrate on all of that first."
"But dad, I can't just let this happen," Jaune said, "it's just so frustrating that no matter what I do to make life better for everyone, someone always stands in the way, or tries to hurt those I love. I can't keep letting my enemies walk over me and my people."
"That's enough. You will keep being King, you will keep fighting the Grimm and Salem," Claude frowned, "I will do what I've always done, aggravate the Argents and ensure Dale doesn't rise over Orléans. Let me handle this myself, son, please."
"F-Fine…" Jaune looked away.
"I know what you said about the future," Claude said, "though I find it odd that you have no information on the Argents or the Brotherhood, but I will make sure we don't suffer the same way. Not this time, remember? Not this time."
"R-Right…" Jaune nodded.
As the man walked away, taking Tanager and Junior with him, the hallway quickly thinned of people, leaving only himself and Ren in the flickering lights. As the hall ever extended through shadows, Jaune took a slow deep breath, trying to calm down. Ren was about to say something but quickly shut his mouth. It was a question that didn't need to be asked. Horns extended from their foreheads as their bodies ignited with light. Hallways disappeared, shadows and flickering lights were replaced with a white ceiling. Lights danced in the distance, as they stood upon a ticking clock.
"Jaune," Ren began, "what's wrong?"
"I should ask the same," Jaune gave him a weak smirk.
"Don't deflect. When we started the interrogation, things were smooth, but just like with Reggie, things got out of hand way too fast. I'm not coming at you because of how you acted…I lost control for a moment when I learned of Adam and Blake's history. It made me so…so angry."
"Yeah, I think I've heard Blake tell me all about it before," Jaune sighed as he turned his head to the white expanse, "several times before. I'm just so…tired. He didn't give me what I wanted and I just snapped, man. I attacked him without even thinking. Just seeing him and what he's become, no matter how many times I've fought him, no matter how many times he's tormented Blake and Yang – some things just never change. I just…I just want this done and over with for once. Let me be a regular student again."
"I know how you feel, Jaune," Ren frowned, "but with your title and mine, and with these powers we've gained…you know that's not possible anymore."
"I know…gods, Yang, Pyrrha, Blake and Weiss are gonna be so pissed at me for ditching again," Jaune slapped his forehead, "damn it! Just when I thought things were finally fixed and that we could have a moment to breathe – that piece of shit just had to finally wake up!"
"When will you tell them that this isn't the first time you've gone back in time?" Ren asked, "our friends' reactions will only worsen the longer we wait."
"It's not that easy, Ren."
"I know…" the boy frowned, "but…it needs to be done, Jaune. I had a feeling since the day we met, but I just didn't have any proof to go with it, until now."
"How, Ren? H-How the hell do I tell them that I've watched them die a total of forty-nine times? How do I say that every time I go back in time, something changes?" Jaune hissed, pacing around the white void, "how the hell do I say, that my sisters aren't the same sisters I started with? That with every change, so too did their personalities and names? That, even our own mother and father changed?! I'm not the same person I was before I got these powers, and with every death, it just makes things worse! How do I tell them that everything in this timeline that happens, is because of me?!"
"I know," Ren frowned, "every time you went back in time, changes were incremental but carried over into every new timeline."
"That's just it, Ren," Jaune frowned, "forty-nine times, I tried to stop Cinder from starting the Fall of Beacon; forty-nine times. Forty-nine times, I tried to kill her and each and every single time, I failed miserably. But now, I don't know what will happen. I'm literally shooting blanks here. Nothing I can think of, none of my past experiences, there's nothing. I've been thinking for days, since I killed Cinder."
"The gods showing up is something that has happened only once, before this. They were in the process of destroying the world," Jaune said, "it was four lives before my last one…and since then, they were nowhere to be found. The last one was the longest I've lived and we both know what happened there. Everything keeps changing, Ren and I'm literally losing my mind. I just can't wrap my head around it."
"I stopped Cinder, that should have saved Amber – which means, Pyrrha, shouldn't have become the Fall Maiden! Yet, it still happened! I'm freaking out…if she still becomes the Maiden, does that mean that her death is something I can't avoid? Does that mean that our deaths are something I can't stop?! I believed killing Cinder Fall would end this game, that it would give Salem no choice, but it keeps changing, things keep happening that just keep slipping out of my control."
"Forty-nine times, I watched Pyrrha die. Thirty-nine times, I watched you and Nora die. Forty times, I watched Ruby die. Thirty-nine times, I watched Yang die. Thirty-five times, I watched Blake and Weiss die. I have been kissed by Pyrrha, forty-nine times; I almost marry Yang forty times. I almost marry Blake thirty times. I almost marry Weiss fifteen times. I almost marry Ruby twenty-two times. How many times will I have to relive these mistakes, how many times will I have to lose those I love?!" Jaune panted. He was panicking. He shivered as his body turned grey, "Everything that's happening now, is the culmination of every life I've lived and lost, lived and lost, lived and lost, and yet, even with every change, every victory and defeat, nothing has changed. Pyrrha still became the Fall Maiden."
"If…if this time just becomes another notch in the timeline…I don't know if I can lose all of you again," Jaune wiped his tears, "I don't know…I don't know if I can handle that, not after everything we've built here. Ever since I merged with my past, present and the God of Light, I've regained every memory, every life, everything. There's nothing I can do to stop it as everything merges into one memory. Who my sisters were before everything, is gone. Who my parents were before all of this, is gone. The live I had before all of this…that's gone. All I have now…are memories merging with life I had before this. My longest life and even then, I was barely in my late twenties."
"Pyrrha asked me if I believed in Destiny…I've heard that question too many times to stomach," Jaune hissed, "is it my destiny to die young? Is it my destiny to fail, no matter what I've done to stave it?"
"The only way you can fight it, is if you accept it," Ren said, putting his hand on his shoulder, "the only way to accept it is to be honest with the rest of us. It's not just you or me; we have six others we care deeply for, Jaune. I have my own other four. With everything on our shoulders, we alone, cannot shoulder it. The relics are nothing more than magical artifacts since the gods are no more – it's just us now and our aura and semblances and magic. How many times did you merge with the gods before this?"
"Never," Jaune said, "No matter what I did, no matter how hard I fought and no matter how many times we got the Relics together, Salem still beat me. She was too powerful, and I never even fought her. She just kept using proxies and armies of Grimm and machines. Every time, it was something different, but it always ended the same; I was alone, standing in blood and death and she was ready to pull the magic from my body even if she had to skin my alive to do it. But they are slowly fading. Memories of my furthest lives are disappearing."
"Then, it's time to be honest Jaune," Ren said, "you need to do this."
"I-I can't…not yet," Jaune whispered, "not yet."
Tell me what you thought!
Since this is a time travel fic, I've also been greatly influenced by the TVA from the Loki series on Disney plus. I forgot the proper terminology they used in the show to describe something that will happen no matter what, but in the RWBY series, I've decided certain points and plots are very important to the overall progression to the story. As described; Pyrrha's demise and the transference of the Fall Maiden.
As for the introduction of the Brotherhood, my names I chose for Jaune's family, all the crazy things that's been happening in this story, that only vaguely resembles canon, it was my glorious retcon. Agree with it, or not, it's what I've decided on after hours and days hyped on insomnia and depression lol took some inspiration from some other time travel fics I've read on this site, with some added twist.
I don't know, it makes sense, but it also doesn't but I've already written over 10k words, I'm not going back to remove or change anything man
Also, happy 300k words! This is officially the longest work of literature I've ever created!
Speaking of retcons, I'm thinking of going back to old chapters and doing some much needed rewrites to fix the wonky dialogue and give it a serious makeover without changing too much. Unlike my first fanfic ever written, I'm not deleting the damn chapters from existence so all y'all can enjoy this nonsense without interruption. Sound good? Cool. I agree. Anyway, I'll probably have another chapter up soon!
(I still can't believe it took me 40 chapters to finish Volumes 1-3 of the RWBYverse lol)
Now, it's on to an unrecognizable future, where I'm basically pulling shit out of my ass to keep this shit entertaining until the next major arc, which will be coming around chapter fifty probably. Till then!
Ja ne!
gottahavekyuubi