Chapter X
Today You Get to Be Happy
The blue sky and the soft fall breeze brought with it a nostalgic warm. The feeling of grass on his hands made Jaune calm as he laid on the floor contemplating the clouds. Fresh air, peace and quiet, it was enough for anyone to just forget their troubles, many would give anything for a moment like this, a moment of serenity in which there was nothing else in the world that mattered, only your thoughts and dreams….And yet…he couldn't feel like that. Something just didn't let him rest. It was a feeling of anxiety that kept telling him to stand up and run. But why? What about this place was bugging him so much? He was tired, tired of fighting, tire of running, tire of losing. He just wanted a bit of peace, a moment to let all the burdens weighting him down off his shoulders. He just wanted to let it all pass…and yet.
Jaune stood up, looking around a bit disoriented. As maple leaves flew with the wind, he was graced with the view of Beacon Academy. The place he called home. The place where so many friends entered his life. In the distance there were his friends of team RWBY. Ruby as usual was cheery and energetic, together with Yang they were trying to make their teammates laugh, something that Blake tried to hide with a shy smile while Weiss refused to admit how funny her friend's shenanigans were. On the bench next to them, Ren and Nora stood dancing, it was always a bit awkward for them to show their love for each other, Ren just wasn't the type of guy to show much emotion, but Nora was a tank full of energy and cute feelings. Even with the awkwardness, Ren still gave it his all to make Nora happy, he was a great dancer and even though he found it embarrassing, it didn't matter, everything he could do to make her smile was worth it. Next to them clapping and cheering them was the newest of the group, little Oscar, the two had a rough start but with time he had become like the little brother Jaune never had.
Jaune saw his beloved friends with nostalgia, missing all their jokes, their cheery smiles, their kind hearts.
He didn't notice the change, but he was now sitting on a bench. He paid no mind to it, he just contemplated the joy on his friends' faces, that joy that he deeply wanted to share with them…and still. There was still that feeling, that burden, that weight in his heart that kept bothering him. He saw his friends laughing and he only wanted to cry. He wanted to feel joy like them, and yet all he felt was sorrow. He couldn't explain why…but at the same time, he knew.
"There is no time". A voice next to him told him…a far too familiar voice. Jaune turned to see with dismay the milky white skin, the golden armor and the red hair…covering those emerald eyes he desperately desired to see once more.
A booming sound surprised him as the sky, once blue and bright, turned black and engulfed in darkness. Ashes rained all around. Beacon Academy, the school they called home, laid in nothing but scorched ruins. The roars of Grimm surrounding them. The sounds of explosions and gun fire. The flames coming from the basement. They all sent a sour message. Professor Ozpin, had perished. Beacon, had fallen. So many lives, lost in a single night.
His heart raised; his breath became harder. In a panic, he stood up and turned back at where his friends use to be…and only saw suffering. There on the distance, Yang laid with an arm missing, Blake had a sword through her stomach, Ren was kneeling holding Nora with despaired screams and tears, Weiss laid with a glass spear piercing her side, Oscar had his back against a tree and his head down…and Ruby…all the life on her silver eyes…was gone.
"Go. Get to Vale and call for help".
"What? What are you gonna do?!".
She stood there…her hair covering her eyes and not a single word coming from her mouth…he already knew the answer.
"No….Pyrrha you can't! You saw how powerful she is!" His voice started to crack, the mere thought of what could happen was breaking him in despair. "Pyrrha, I won't let you do…".
She stopped him…with a kiss. A sweet sign of her love. A kiss she wanted to give him for so long, and never had the courage to do so. Soft, sweet, warm…painful. To love someone and not take the time to tell them, it's a regret that they both carried. That soft kiss, they wished they could have just stopped time all together, just for that kiss to last forever. But that's not how the world works. Even the sweetest kiss can turn sour and bitter…when the reality of things comes crashing.
She pushed him inside a nearby locker, shutting him in. The sorrow in her voice, the tears pouring down her cheeks, he could do nothing but stare at her as every bit of hope shattered with her last words.
"I'm sorry".
"Wait! Stop! STOP! Pyrrha, Please! DON'T DO THIS!".
She didn't answer…there was nothing else to say. Just activate the rocket…and send her love to safety…knowing perfectly well she wouldn't return from her fight…but someone had to try.
As the locker took flight, Jaune was overwhelmed with desperation, he started hitting the walls in his prison, yelling, shaking, crying.
"NO! NO! LET ME OUT! NO! DON'T DO THIS! NOT AGAIN! PYRRHA! PYRRHA!". Flames started to engulf the locker, and soon the walls melted down. Darkness surrounded him and voices started whispering in his ears.
"You couldn't even try"; "Always so weak"; "You can't save her now".
He started to panic, moving his head left and right. Without warning, the dark void he was floating in pulled him down a bottomless hole. Flames and smoke started to fill the void and the silence all around was replaced with the taunting voice…of the one who took her life.
"A failure…It should have been you…the one who died that day….It should have been youuuuuuu".
"AAAAAH!".
…He woke up. His breath was heavy and he was covered in cold sweat. He was disoriented, turning everywhere in panic, trying to make sense of the world once more. He still felt the heat of the flames, he still smelled the smoke and ashes….but looking around, all he saw was the extinguished campfire and the trees surrounding him…and his master sleeping peacefully. It was the middle of the night…and Jaune had been dreaming about it again. It had been so long since he last had a nightmare of that day…he thought those sleepless nights were behind him, but as soon as he realized they came back to haunt him once more…he couldn't do anything but break down in tears.
At the crack of dawn, it was time for Master and Squire to start their daily training session. Generally, there wasn't an excuse to not do it. Unless they were lost in an island, fighting an army, a witch coven or a Grimm swarm….or just being drunk and passed out, it wasn't a regular morning if Jaune and Don weren't sparing.
The spear's blade crashed on Don's shield vigorously. "Good strike, my boy. Now follow through!".
Jaune did as told and continued his strikes, all blocked swiftly. He continued his assault, spinning the spear a few times before going for a thrust. Don just stepped to the side and slammed the spear away with a shield strike. His apprentice got caught off guard by this, something Don took advantage of really quickly. He now had the upper hand, slashing and forcing Jaune back as he blocked his strikes.
"Widen the gap!" He said before kicking his apprentice and pushing him back, almost making him fall. "No wonder you got so bitten up last time. You got range now, kid. If they are getting too close you are doing something wrong. Keep your distance!".
Jaune was starting to get a bit frustrated. He recovered his offensive stance and immediately charged at his master. He went for another thrust…that Don just deflected again with his shield. Jaune was once more surprised by this, but this time, Don didn't give him a chance to block, he straight up bashed him with his shield, upper cutting him and sending him crashing down to the ground.
"Sign" The old knight just shook his head, stowing his sword and walking towards his defeated apprentice.
Jaune was laying on his side, his chin hurt but maybe his pride hurt even more. He soon saw the hand of his master reaching to his aid.
"Come one, stand up".
He took the hand of his mentor, ashamed of his weak display.
"You are distracted. What's wrong, lad?".
"Eh…Nothing. I just didn't…sleep well, that's all". He answered while picking up his spear again.
"Too much in your mind? Wanna talk about it?".
"What? No, no. I'm fine, come on let's keep going".
Don wasn't really convinced at all. There was something troubling his apprentice, he could read him like a book. It had been over 2 months since they started their journey and Don already knew Jaune as if he had raised the kid himself. He had seen those sad eyes before. He thought he was feeling better, he even had seen him smile more. But something was bringing him down again.
Jaune stood ready for another round. Don admired his enthusiasm…until he began to notice how fake it was.
Time and time again the pattern kept happening, Jaune would attack, Don would block or evade and deliver what should have been an easy strike to avoid. Every strike was followed by another mistake, every punch was followed but an upset growl.
"You are getting too close" resulted in a shield to the stomach.
"No, no, don't give your back to the opponent!" Don said as he slashed his apprentice on the back.
"Move around, what are you doing?!", another strike and another trip to the ground.
"You call that a stance?! Come on, lad!" slamming the ground again.
"DON'T STEP ON LOSE ROCKS!" Fell again.
"WHAT" down again, "ARE" and again, "YOU" and again, "DOING?!" and again.
Crash after crash Jaune grew more and more frustrated and his master even more concerned.
"Sigh. Kid, you are better than this, what's going…".
"I'M FINE! JUST SHUT UP! I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT!". He yelled at his master…something that he immediately regretted. His eyes got wide at the realization of what he just did. "I….Don, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…".
"I think we had enough for the day". Don said stowing his sword as he looked at his apprentice with a strong glare, something that hurt Jaune more than the bruises of their training.
"I'm so sorry. Please, let's keep going. I'm fine, I promise".
"Yeah, yeah. But I'm…getting hungry. Why won't you start making breakfast? I'll…check the map and see where we are heading".
"Don…".
"That's an order, squire".
Jaune reluctantly stowed his weapon, looking at the ground with shame and frustration. "Fine".
As the boy walked to the camp stomping his feet and mumbling frustrated, Don just shook his head at the kid's tantrum. Had he learned nothing? Getting mad and frustrated? What was worse, mumbling to himself in self petty? That's not the spirit of a knight errant at all. A tantrum and a cynical attitude? Not in his watch! Don hated seeing his apprentice like that, so full of negativity, he had to do something.
He quickly ran to his bag and pulled the map that he absolutely didn't forget to pack when they first began their adventure, who says otherwise? Nop, that never happened…Ever!
Pencil in hand and using a stump as a table, the old man began to do what he did best, let his imagination fly and make it a reality. "Ok, let's see….Aha! this looks promising" he kept saying as he circled areas in the map, he kept writing notes on it, drawing lines, making notes, all while dancing on his sit and humming a happy tune.
An emotional outburst like that was something Jaune hadn't done for months now. He felt so ashamed. Last time he did something like that he ended up alone, driving away his master just because of how miserable he felt with himself. Even before that he had been doing stuff like this, hurting Oscar who didn't even deserve it and was just a child, yelling at Qrow who was just trying to help him and his friends. He hated feeling like this…that heavy weight in his heart…why?...why did it come back? He was feeling fine, his smile had returned…he was getting peace…why again?
The boy finished a couple of sandwiches when he noticed something a bit surprising. While he was there feeling sorry for himself…his master actually looked joyful. Even after he yelled at him so rudely, he didn't look upset, he was humming like a happy child. It would have been strange to anyone…but after thinking about it for a bit…nah, this was just how Don was, an old child always with a smile on his face.
Jaune approached his master, still a bit ashamed of his attitude but he soon got curious when he caught a small glimpse of the mess his master was drawing on the map.
"What are you…" Jaune tried to say but Don quickly took the map away and hid it from his sight.
"Hey! No peeping! Is not ready yet!" The old man said before snatching the sandwich from his apprentice's hand. "Go on! Pick everything up, we are leaving in a bit, go, go!". He kept saying while stuffing his mouth with the warm bread.
Jaune did as told, he was still curious though, his master was acting weird…which is how Don acted when he…Oh no…this couldn't be good. No, no, Don, he had to be upset, right? He couldn't be that joyful after a fight, so he couldn't be thinking of doing something crazy?...right?
The camp was ready, everything was packed and Jaune was as calm and relaxed as a chihuahua who drank too much coffee. He approached Don shivering. "Do….Don? Everything is ready….".
His master stood up and turned at him, his hat covering his eyes but a malicious grind sent shivers into Jaune's bones. "Hehe…hehehe…Jaune…".
"Ye….Yes?!".
"Guess what?".
"Please don't…."
"I HAVE AN IDEA!"
"WHY GODS?! IM SO SORRY, I'LL NEVER YELL AGAIN!".
"Quit your whining, kid!" Don said hitting his apprentice in the back of the head, "Now take a look at this!", he said proudly showing his poorly drawn map. The map was covered in nonsense scrawls with paths that went all over the place and doodles that looked as if a 5 year old had drawn it, if you had told Jaune that his 1 year old nephew Adrian had taken a box of crayons and drawn that map, he would have believed you.
"What…Am I…looking at?" Jaune said before receiving a hit on the head with the map.
"Well, today I decided to give you a special type of training".
"In what?".
"Do not question your master! All I'll say is that everything you need to learn you'll find it in the places I marked".
"Will I survive?".
"Absolutely maybe!".
"Sigh. I guess I deserve this…".
"Oh, yeah. You do".
The sun shined on yet another beautiful day in the Stained Coast Line. The road was getting a bit chilly, not surprising though, summer had officially ended and the fall in north Anima wasn't a joke, with cold winds coming from the north, the green hills began to be graces by a fresh breeze while the trees across the deep forests began to lose their green coats.
Master and apprentice continued their journey with enthusiasm…at least coming from the old child that was Don who kept on hopping in excitement for his plan for the day. Jaune on the other hand was way more worried, when his master got an idea…it usually didn't end well for him.
"Look, why don't we take this easy? I saw a town nearby on the map, maybe we could…". Jaune tried to say but his mentor cut him off.
"Oh, don't worry, we are going there, but first we'll do a few stops".
"Where?".
"I told you, I have a plan. You know where we are?".
"Lost?".
"What? N…Oh wait, I had the map upside down, just a second…Aha! There you go, we are getting close".
"Don!".
"Fine, fine, I'll give you some spoilers" The old man quickly jumped on a big bolder on the side of the road, standing with a hand on his side and the other with his sword drawn. "Look around, child! For you are in the Celestine Road! one of the most beautiful natural areas in the entire Stained Coast Line!".
The Celestine Road was a famous location in the region, it was a small area with a high concentration of rivers and small lakes coming from the mountains. The rivers were famous for their crystal-clear waters that would flow all the way to Lake Matsu. The Celestine Road possessed some of the most beautiful panoramic scenes in Anima. The rivers, the mountains and hills were extremely popular for hikers looking to marvel their eyes with the precious scenic view. Many tourists loved to explore the area and bathe in the rivers of pure water or enjoy the natural hot springs found across the road, but naturally, the fact that this area was so far away from the main kingdom made it a bit risky to reach for most people's comfort, this however was seen as a blessing for many specially the locals of the few small settlements around since there was very little risk of tourists damaging the natural beauty of the area.
"….Ok…" Jaune answered, not that amused. Sure, it was pretty, but what was his master's point?
"These ungrateful kids, I blame the internet! Look, lad. Grandpa Cervantes use to bring me and my brother here all the time. Now, there a few places I remember were the best this region has to offer and today, you and I will go over them, got it?".
"But you said we were going to train".
"And I also said to not question your master! Now come on, kid, I promise you, by the end of the day you'll be stronger than ever!".
With those enthusiastic words, Don continued his exciting walk across the Celestine Road, while Jaune just kept going with the motions, is not like he had a choice the matter after all.
The pair ventured deep into the woods and soon began to walk on some ledges, the road was a bit muddy and slippery which was making Jaune nervous as they kept getting more and more altitude. A quick pick down the cliff gave him a good look at a beautiful river, a strong stream of pure water that was as gorgeous as it was powerful, the rapids' roar was everlasting.
"Don, I don't like this".
"I know, I love it too! The fresh air of nature, the beautiful view, the swarms of mosquitoes. Ah, this brings back memories" Don replied with a big smile on his face at the nostalgic memories of his dear old grandpa. "And here it is, lad! Our first stop. Grace your eyes with its beauty!".
Jaune kept having a cynical look on his face, a bit annoyed at his master's cheerfulness, however for a moment everything that was worrying him banished at the sight of a marvelous waterfall. It was unlike anything he had seen, a true natural wonder untouched by human kind. The boy stood there in awe at the imponent presence of the waterfall. "Thi…This is amazing. Wow, Don are you seein….Don?".
Jaune turned around quickly and caught his old master taking off his clothes and just staying with nothing but some shorts he had been wearing gods know for how long under his pants. "Come on, lad, get ready for a swim. This is a very special place. Grandpa Cervantes called this 'the Falls of Valor', a quick swim in its water will give you the bravery of a thousand soldiers!".
Jaune was hesitant of course, but after walking the road all morning, a refreshing swim sounded extremely good. He took off his hoodie and boots and just stayed with his pants. As soon as he got ready, he noticed something, sure the waterfalls were pretty close to them…but where was the pond they would swim in? Maybe they needed to go up stream or maybe there was a road to the bottom of the waterfall…but why undress here then?
"Eh…Don, where will we swim?" He saw as his old master started to climb a tree that extended beyond the cliff horizontally and in an effort to bring him to his senses…he followed him. Oh, foolish Jaune, he really should have known better.
"Don! Where are you going?!".
"Didn't I tell you? These are the Falls of Valor. There is only one way to swim in its waters".
"Don, this isn't funny, let's get back to the ground".
Don just rolled his eyes, "Bah. Its fine. Come on, look down at the beautiful view".
Jaune's legs were shaking as the tree kept moving, he made the mistake of hearing his master's instructions and saw the view…the terrifying view of a long long fall that ended in a small pond surrounded by sharp rocks. "WHY DID I LOOK DOWN?!".
"Don't give me that attitude! This is a test of valor, lad! Where is that bravery you showed when we fought the Scolopendra?".
"I left it over there where it's safe!".
"Oh, what's wrong? Afraid of heights?" Don began to mock his apprentice.
"N…No! I just…" He tried to defend himself but Don began to stomp on the tree trunk. "Ah! Stop it!".
"Aw, fancy lad is scared. Grow up, kid! Didn't they teach you about landing strategies at school?!". Another stomp and the tree began to bounce up and down.
"AH! I SAID STOP THAT!".
"Uh, what should I stop? THIS!?" Don jumped on the tree shaking it violently.
"YEAH! THAT!"
"THIS?!".
Jaune began to stumble, in an effort to keep balance he ran uncontrollably until he managed to grab his mentor's arm, "PLEASE! DON'T!".
"Hahahah! Come on, kid. Relax. I'm just messing with you….But we are jumping though".
"Why?!".
"Because I know you are braver than this and because of the adrenaline!".
"Adrenaline my ass! Look! There is a path over there, we can just walk down the pond and have a good time, ok?". Jaune pleaded at his master who rolled his eyes a bit disappointed.
"Ah, fine! If you are going to be a baby about it" Don finally gave in, the two slowly moving back to solid ground, but as it often happens…fate likes to play cruel pranks.
"Crack".
Their eyes got wide at the sound.
"J…Jaune….".
"Ye…yeah?".
"….Maybe we should have taken the PAAAAAAAAAAAATHHHHH!".
It was hard to tell which was loader, the crash of the waterfall or the screams of the two fools falling into the water.
Despaired for air, Jaune came out to the surface and quickly grab unto the broken tree trunk. "I'm alive! I'm al…Don? DON?!".
Don came out a little bit later with a big smile "WOOOOOHOOO! That was awesome! Hahahahah! What did I tell you? You feel the adrenaline?!", he said as he grabbed the trunk as well.
"…I guess, so".
"Come on, lad! Smile!".
"I'm just glad we are alive ok? Come on, let's get out of here before….".
"Crack". That sound…it came back for revenge.
"Don…what's behind the tree?".
"The…rapids….".
"….So this was stop number 1?".
"Yeah…".
"…I hate yoUUUUUUUAAAHHHHHH!".
The day just kept going and going and going. Surviving the rapids was just the first step. Don was adamant to visit his favorite places from childhood. The mysterious cave of infinite wonders, an ancient cave full of bright ice dust…that Don sneezed at, in his defense that place was very dirty… "was" being the key word here. An ice explosion sounds like a bizarre contradictory but Jaune and Don were masters of bizarre contradictions, on a positive note, the new glacial of infinite wonders is really pretty to look at, or if you are Don, really pretty to lick and get your tongue stock at.
Next stop was Althea's geyser. As a child, Don recalled how his older brother and him use to throw rocks at it to see it react, of course they only got vapor but hey, childhood is throwing rocks at thing you shouldn't. So, did he just let it be an admired the natural beauty of the geyser?...Yeah right. He started throwing rocks and encouraging Jaune to do the same. He refused at first but the small clouds of steam coming out after each rock hit the bottom…well, it was kind of fun to look at…You'll think by now Jaune would have learned to not let Don influence his decision making. The two kept throwing rocks until Don got a malicious smile, Jaune didn't understand at first but something made him curious, Don had his shield out and told him to have his ready as well. With shields up, Jaune kept throwing rocks…not noticing what his master had done, Jaune threw a bit of ice dust that Don had put in his pile of rocks without him noticing…that couldn't be good. He realized too late of what he did, but his master didn't let him run away. Don pushed his apprentice in the geyser and jumped behind him, shields first, the ice dust clashed with the hot water from the geyser, reacting into a powerful steam stream that launched the pair in the air.
"AHHHHH!"
"HAHAHAHA! THIS IS AWESOME! I CAN FLY! I CAN…." They landed on their faces of course. Solid rock? Not soft at all…
That's how the day kept going. Master and apprentice traveled across the Celestine road, finding new and exciting ways of smashing their faces on the ground. Excitement was at every corner. Climbing a tall cliff to steal Nevermore eggs before remembering Nevermores don't lay eggs and getting promptly attacked. Zip lining over the canopies of the deep forest, just to fall as soon as they got on, in hindsight maybe an abandoned zip line wasn't the safest thing in the world. Finally relaxing in a hot spring…and getting attacked by the King Taijitu living in it. This is what life was all about.
So many adventures and the day wasn't over yet. Don was still full of energy and eager for more excitement, but more importantly, he was eager to see that big smile on his student's…face….oh. Sadly, it was the opposite.
It didn't matter how much excitement they were getting…Jaune kept just walking with the motions. It didn't matter if they were on an adventure, it didn't matter how many places Don kept taking him to, he still couldn't shake this feeling of sorrow from his head and heart. The two kept walking on the forest as a few leaves began to fall, it was the season of change as they called it. Don was a bit disappointed; he still saw those empty eyes in his apprentice, but he was not discouraged, he refused to sit down and let him be consumed by them, he had to do something, he had to try.
Jaune just walked in silence. He didn't understand. The nightmares, the painful memories, the anxiety, he thought he had left it all behind …or did he? Maybe he wasn't as well as he thought he was. Sure, he was smiling more, but those painful memories, those dark thoughts…they were still there, maybe he was still grabbing on to them unknowingly, maybe they still lurked in his heart waiting for the right moment to take him once more…but why now? Why?...Jaune's thoughts were confusing, but he soon remembered some words that resonated in his heart, a promise he was yet to fulfil, 'promise me you won't bottle up anymore'. Those words gave him a bit of clarity, he began to remember the last time he felt this way, was it at Magdalene's Inn? No…it was…that night…when he realized Cardin was suffering as much as he was, "…Cardin?" he thought and soon was hit with realization, he pulled out his scroll and a quick look at the date gave him the answer he was looking for, "Sigh….Of course".
Jaune stopped on his tracks, scratching the back of his head, he now knew why he was feeling so miserable all of the sudden, he now understood what had him so down. Violet's words kept resonating in his head, he lifted his gaze at Don who was walking a bit far by now…he wanted to keep his promise…he just didn't feel ready.
"Hey! Kid! Look what I found!". Don called, waving at him to come quickly.
As Jaune approached, he saw what seemed to be an abandoned carriage. It was in fairly good shape, some hits here and there but still standing.
"Don?".
"Over here, lad!". Don signaled; he wasted no time in getting inside the carriage looking for some treasure.
"Hey, get out of there! Someone might come for it".
"I doubt it. This is full of spider webs. No one has been here in a while now. Get on, take a look at this". Don gave a hand to his student. As soon as Jaune got in the carriage, he saw 5 wood barrels, all covered in dust and webs, there were also a few small boxes, this was clearly a merchant's carriage. He explored it a bit while Don kept checking the barrels, no signs of the previous owner but the ceiling had a few holes… and the driver's seat had a bit of blood, checking the front it seemed the straps that were supposed to tie the horse up were broken. It was clear something bad had happened to this merchant, but hopefully he managed to escape with his life.
"What you got?". Jaune asked as the sound of a cork caught his attention.
"Ohhhh, haha! You smell that? Red wine. We hit jackpot, kid! There is also sugar and cinnamon in those boxes".
"These two barrels are empty, but three barrels is a lot. What do you think we should do with it?".
"Let's see…." Don pulled out his trusty poorly drawn map, "Ok, This road heads to a village and it's not far away".
"What do you have in mind?".
Don jumped out of the carriage and looked around, spinning in place with his map in hand. "Aha! I'm brilliant!", he said with excitement, he looked like a kid that was just told they could get ice cream.
"Oh, gods, now what?".
"You learned to make cocktails at Maggie's place, didn't you? You know how to make Sangria?".
"Eh…Yeah, sure. It's just red wine and fruit".
"Ah, but which fruits? That's the real trick! I remember a place with the most amazing fruits in this region and is not far away, I actually wanted to make a stop there. So, here is the plan, we go to this place, pick up the fruits we need, I teach you how to make the famous Cervantes style sangria (trademarked!) and we have a little fun, maybe even get rich at the village!".
Jaune wasn't that on board, not surprising, at this point he didn't trust any idea that came from his master…but they were this far already and a bit of extra cash wasn't going to hurt…what's the worst that could happen?
A few hours of pushing the carriage up a hill left the two heroes exhausted, that thing was way heavier than it looked, but getting up there was step one. To get the fruits they wanted, the two had to make it all the way down the hill to a small patch of trees they saw in the distance. Jaune was marveled at the sight, the horizon was green until the eye could see and the grass graced by the wind made emerald waves on that sea of leaves.
Jaune stood there admiring the sight until the sound of barrels hitting the floor caught his attention.
"So…uh… What now?". He foolishly asked.
"What do you mean 'what now'? Down there is Appleseed Garden, home of the best fruits in Anima. We get there, fill these empty barrels and get on our way".
"Ok then, let's get going, getting the carriage down the hill will be a pain but….Wow, wow! What are you doing?!". Like a little child, Don had picked up Jaune and threw him inside one of the empty barrels before kicking it down on its side.
"Don! What the?!".
"Hahah! Who said anything about the carriage? What you are looking at here is the longest hill in the Celestine Road, and my boy, there is only one way to go down it".
"Don! I'm begging youUUUUUUU!". He couldn't even finish his plead for mercy when Don had already kicking the barrel and made it roll down the hill.
With a cheerful cry, the old man jumped in his own barrel and rolled down eager to have the trip of his life.
Between screams of terror and a laughter of joy, the barrels kept rolling and rolling and rolling down the hill. Don had fun memories of doing this over and over again with his dear brother, as kids they were a pair of trouble makers and this hill was their favorite. Jaune was getting nostalgic memories of his own, he was scared sure…but he was also kind of enjoying it, he couldn't deny it was a bit fun, it reminded him how him and his sisters use to play when their parents took them on vacations. He kept screaming of course, but maybe this wasn't as horrible as he thought…that was until other memories came to him, the memories of the event that got him the nickname 'vomit boy'.
As the barrels hit the trees and stopped on their tracks, Jaune rushed out and immediately let it all out. Don arrived a bit later, laughing and dizzy.
"Hahahahah! This is what life is all about! Right, kid?...kid?".
"Brrrggggg!".
Don laughed at his apprentice at first, but soon that laugh was drowned with a bit of guilt. He had been working very hard to bring a smile to Jaune…and there the boy was with a sad expression still…Maybe he was failing…but he refused to give up, not yet.
"Come on lad, let me help you".
"Tha…Thanks…", As the two stood up, they found themselves in a tiny forest full of trees of different fruits. Apples, oranges, limes, peaches and Don's secret ingredient, plums. It was quite the sight, all this fruits all ripen and ready for the taken even though some were out of season. Fruits that were rare to see in this region…in fact…some weren't supposed to grow in this region at all...and how were there so many different fruits gathered in this one spot? they shouldn't even be able to grow together like that.
As Don and Jaune collected all the fruits, the boy began to notice something interesting, green crystals could be seen bellow the roots of the trees, he remembered learning in class about plant dust and how its aided agriculture specially in cold areas. It was the prime source of food in Sanus even with their cold tundra. It still seemed a bit odd how well taken care of these wild trees were…were they even wild?
An hours later, the barrels were full and they did the long walk up the hill again. This wasn't the sort of training Jaune was expecting but he was sure Nora would disagree with him. Finally, they loaded their harvest on the carriage and were getting ready to leave when Don smiled at his student, never a good sign. "Give me a minute, kid. I saw something down there that we can use. I won't take long.
Twenty minutes later and Jaune kept staring at the horizon, he began to feel worry for his master…and then that worry was replaced with sheer shock and confusion.
"JAUNEEE! LOOK WHAT I GOT!" Don yelled at the distance with a big pink pig squealing on his arms.
A pig? What was a pig doing….oh no. Reality once more hit Jaune like a truck. Appleseed Garden wasn't a natural forest, it was a farm…and they just stole their fruits and their pig.
"YOU STOLE A PIG?!".
"I didn't steal it! I rescued it!".
"What do you mean 'rescue it!'?!".
"Yes! Recuse it!...For the barbeque…".
At the mention of his delicious fate, the pig let out an angry squeal and immediately bit Don's hand to free itself.
"SQUEEEEEEALLL!".
"AHHHHHH!".
Once on the floor, the mad swine tackled Jaune in the stomach, throwing him to the ground before turning around and slamming Don as well. Jaune tried to get up but the brave piggy jumped on him again, slamming his face on the floor multiple times letting out its furious battle cry.
"AHHH! PLEASE STOP!". Jaune pleaded but the piggy was out of mercy. It jumped on his crutch before menacingly walking towards Don.
"TAKE MY WALLET! DON'T HURT ME!". Again, no mercy on those pork chops.
A tackle to the face and a few jumps on his stomach and the pig was done with his assault, running away back home and leaving our brave heroes, defeated.
As the knights stood up in pain, their eyes met as they both saw each other's dirt covered faces. Don was worry, he was ashamed, he just wanted to bring as a smile to his student, to the kid he had come to love as a grandchild, but once again, his foolishness brough nothing but pain….
"Hehe…hehe…HAHAHAHA!" That sound, it shocked the old man…and it brought warm to his heart. Jaune couldn't stop laughing. Depside his sorrow, despite his pain…this was just too funny to him.
Soon enough, Don joined Jaune and the two shared a laugh at the absurdity of what just happened to them. They were defeated…and yet, they couldn't stop feeling joy.
The two stood up, big smiles on their faces.
"Are you ok, kid?".
"You know what?...I think so".
"Hehe. That's my boy. Come on, let's get going before…".
"YOU BASTARDS! THAT'S MY FRUIT!". The farmer found them and he wasn't happy…and what's worst…the pig found a knife…
"SQUEEEEEAAAALLLL!".
"RUN, KID! GET TO THE CARRIEGE!".
"I'M SORRY!" Jaune yelled as he threw a bag of Lien, hoping it would make for a bit of payment for the fruits they…'rescued'. They ran and pushed the carriage downhill, making their brave escape.
Sunset was getting closer and the heroes arrived at the village with their specially brewed Sangria. They couldn't have arrived at a better time. The town was being visited by a group of nomads; a tribe called The Ursitory. Nomadic tribes weren't common, however these groups of people at times found more success than the settlements scattered around the region. A community that doesn't stay in the same place all the time is less likely to attract Grimm swarms, but of course this lifestyle had its drawbacks, they were exposed at all times and their resources were low, but the small communities had unity, they protected each other and shared their goods, it was a simple life but a surprisingly peaceful one. The Ursitory in particular were notorious across the Stained Coast Line for their trade of goods and their artistic expression, everywhere they went it was always a happy party, plays, music and even puppet shows. Some settlements distrusted them, saw them as mere bandits and low life criminals, but the Ursitory were generally friendly, they just had a peculiar lifestyle and their happy antics helped their people travel the land without many negative emotions putting them in danger.
Jaune and Don had found their ideal place, an empty spot amongst the flea market of the Ursitory. The nomads had set up their carriages in an empty field right outside the town in a big circle, their flea market was also their camp for the time being. The other merchants actually welcomed them and in a matter of minutes, the two were ready to open business.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Are you looking for a refreshing feeling of fulfillment? You wish to delight yourself with the most exquisite fruits across the four kingdoms? Look no further! Today, I have the pleasure, NO! the honor! To grace your lives with the marvelous flavor of our precious elixir! The Cervantes & Arc Special Sangria!...Trademarked!".
The people gathered quickly to try the fruity delight, red wine, fruits, the sugary flavor and the bits of cinnamon were truly breath taking; Don was quite the charismatic seller. Serving duty fell on Jaune and soon business flourished. First glass was on the house, refills 2 lien each, they had to be crazy with those deals…and they were.
"Wow! This is amazing!" Another happy costumer. The villagers were enjoying the drink but not as much as the festive Ursitory. The nomads were marveled at the sweet taste and soon began to chat with the brew masters. Don and Jaune quickly befriended the Ursitory and as alcohol began to hit the costumers so did the music began play. An impromptu party began and the flea market soon turned into a small festival.
Don began to dance and laugh and cheer with his new friends. The barrels of Sangria got empty quickly, it was that big of a success. With everything sold out, Jaune finally got to enjoy his own mug of Sangria while watching the smiles of this people, he couldn't help but think just how much they had seen living so far from the main kingdom, how hard it must have been for them…and yet here they were, enjoying their lives, dancing with those they loved and with those they just met. There isn't a single person in this world that had never experienced tragedy…but is not in human nature to live a cynical life. We attach ourselves to hope, to joy. The value of a single smile, is priceless.
As the band close by ended their song, the slightly drunk Don kept laughing and cheering.
"Haha! Who said you can be too old to party? Hahaha. I like your spirit, grandpa. You play?" A guitarist said, inviting this old smiling man to the stage and offering him his guitar.
"Hahaha. I do, but not the guitar. It's the trusty flute for me….Actually…." Don got a new idea. "My boy is a pro guitarist. Learned like many of us…for a girl! Hahahaha!". The crowd laughed and Jaune just felt embarrassed. "Come on, lad! Play something for us!".
"YEAAHHHH!" The crowd cheered and clapped and Jaune just could feel how his face became as red as Ruby's hood, but he was put on the spot, he couldn't back down now. He walked to the stage and nervously grabbed the guitar.
"O…Ok…Eh….I don't know…" He was starting to panic; his legs were shaking a bit…that was until he heard something. As the crowd was silent awaiting his song, Jaune could clearly hear the cry of a little boy. The kid's mother was trying to calm him down but tears kept coming out of the boy's eyes. Jaune saw the little kid…and couldn't help but feel compelled to do something…When tears came of his own eyes…he always treasured those that were there for him.
Jaune began to play the guitar and sing with a soft and slow voice.
You always dreamed with running away free
From your prison of glass
And all those walls keeping you alone
Are laughing at all of your hopes
He walked off the stage, approaching the little boy. The song had a certain sadness to it, and Don began to grow weary of it.
Today all the bars that make up your cage
Are your fears to fail
They lay hidden, they are in disguise
They cover your home and your eyes
Boy, don't you cry
For all of the things that were taken
Get a bright smile
With the memory of those
That once gave you and you gave them your love
The guitar stopped, the cry stopped, silence covered the flea market….and with energy and a big smile, Jaune began to sing with cheer and dance with happiness.
Boy, don't cry!
Your tears take them off your eyes
Take my hand!
Our smiles will reach they sky
You will rise!
When life is a disaster
You must face it with a laughter
Stand up with a bright smile!
The crowd began to applaud, the band joined in and Don jumped to his student's side, singing alongside him and playing his flute.
Boy, don't cry!
Your tears take them off your eyes
Take my hand!
Our smiles will reach they sky
You will rise!
When life is a disaster
You must face it with a laughter
Stand up with a bright smile!
I know how hard is to stand on your feet
I know how hard is to live
But all of those chains that are locking your wings
Aren't as strong as your will!
Boy, don't you cry
Your sorrows can heal with a laughter
I know how hard is to try
But you must say goodbye
If you want to move on with your life!
Boy, don't cry!
Your tears take them off your eyes
Take my hand!
Our smiles will reach they sky
You will rise!
When life is a disaster
You must face it with a laughter
Stand up with a bright smile!
Boy, don't cry!
Your tears take them off your eyes
Take my hand!
Our smiles will reach they sky
You will rise!
When life is a disaster
You must face it with a laughter
Stand up with a bright smile!
The tears had faded and joy filled the flea market as the crowd joined the song, Don and Jaune kept dancing and singing and playing and the joyful nomads followed their lead.
Boy, don't cry!
Your tears take them off your eyes
Take my hand!
Our smiles will reach they sky
You will rise!
When life is a disaster
You must face it with a laughter
Stand up with a bright smile!
Boy, don't cry!
The cheers and applauds of the crowd covered the market place. Don gave his student and proud hug, something that Jaune treasured dearly. The little kid and his mother thanked the two knights, but it was a pleasure to them to bring a smile to those that needed it.
The night grew late and Jaune and Don had set up their camp on a hill near the Ursitory's camp. The party was finally over and the exhausted duo was ready for a well-deserved rest.
"Haha. Those nomads really know how to party. I think I'm a bit drunk myself haha". Don said joyfully and a bit fuzzy as he stumbled and sat next to his student on a log while he played with the embers of their campfire.
"Haha. Well, I'm sure those tankers of ale you drank might have to with it".
"Oh, because you didn't have fun?! You don't deceive me; I saw you dancing with that pretty gal. And let me tell you, she is wayyyy out of your league. Haha!".
"Oh, come on! I….yeah, you are probably right, hahaha".
The two sat there smiling, reflecting on their adventure, on their past, present and future. Jaune chuckled a little before breaking the silence.
"Don…I did have fun today" He turned at his master with that smile he was so eager to see. "Thank you".
Don's heart got warm, "Hehe. Anytime kid. I saw how much you needed it. We all need a bit of time for ourselves every now and then".
"Ha. You have no idea".
Don smiled at his student. "So…ready to tell me what had you down?".
Jaune chuckled before taking a deep breath. He then took his scroll out and showed Don the date. "Today is the anniversary…Of the Fall of Beacon".
It was true. Another year since that tragic day. Another year since so many lives were changed forever. Jaune was far from the only one dealing with their own sorrow and their own memories of that day. Across the world, so many people were also celebrating their memories. The memories of their happy days, the memories of their sad ones, the memories of the friends they made and the friends they lost.
Shade Academy became the new home to many Beacon students driven away from home and they all took a moment to remember that day, Coco, Velvet Sun, Neptune and their teammates joined a small festival where Beacon students all paid respects to their fellow students, remembering the reason why they were all there, to protect those that still stood.
Back at Sevillana, Cardin and his team had their own celebration, drinking and toasting for their lost comrades, bowing to keep on fighting to one day make things right for them.
The island of Patch was extremely peaceful, specially at the Xiolong household. The full moon illuminated the sky and Yang and Blake stood on the porch of the house, admiring it. The night that drove them apart was a painful memory to them, but one they overcame together. The memory of what they lost was overshadowed by what they now had and the future they wanted to build by each other's side.
Weiss, Oscar and Qrow joined the memorial set up by Beacon's teachers. Weiss got the honor to light the candles in memory of the fallen that day. Their memories would live on in all of them. Glynda Goodwitch had been working tirelessly trying her best to fix her dear school…so when a young Oscar Pine walked up to her and gave her a far too familiar hug…she couldn't stop crying of nostalgia, specially not after Oscar thanked her for all her kind service…and told her how much Ozpin missed her dearly.
Ren and Nora were like family to Jaune and as such they were treated at the Arc household. Mrs. Arc was full of joy and welcomed her two new children with open arms. Nora and Jaune's sisters got along really quickly and surprisingly Ren and Mr. Arc connected almost immediately over their mutual desire of a bit of peace and quiet. Ren couldn't escape though, as the new brother of the house he became the toy for the girls to play dress up with, even at their age they still acted like little girls, his hair was made for the task though. The Arcs had their specially celebration, they honored the fallen with a feast, to show how thankful they were for the love they still had.
South of Anima, Maria was getting dinner ready when she took a quick glance at her apprentice. Ruby had a smile as she sat on a rock looking at the star filled sky. When the world crashed down, everyone lost hope…but she never lost her conviction, her will to push herself and keep moving forward. She inspired many to follow her…and she came to regret that, but also thank the ones that did, her dear friends. She helped them stand up once more but they never considered that the only reason she could was because they helped her keep going. Their love, their care, their trust, their support, that was what kept her going, that was the driving force of her feet, her desire to help those that needed her and the love of the friends she came to consider family. Ruby sat there, not focus on that day but on what tomorrow could bring.
The same stars in the sky could be seen north of Anima, as Jaune and Don sat contemplating them. Jaune's mind was still anxious…he had a promise to fulfil…he had a demon inside him that he had to let out….but was this the right moment?
"Oh! You saw that, kid? A shooting star! Spectacular". Don pointed at the star with marvel in his eyes and Jaune saw it with awe. "Hehe. That's amazing. You know what they say about shooting stars, right?".
"They grant wishes?".
"Really? Huh, never heard of that. But no, no. Let me tell you a story. When Grandpa Cervantes took me and Miguel on our last vacation together, we saw some and he smiled at us before telling us 'kids, always treasure a shooting star, for they are the souls of those who managed to give their love to the ones they loved in life'…Hehe, grandpa, every time I see one I do just as he said, keep that love in my heart…he was a wise man…a bit crazy if you ask me haha, one time….".
"WHY DID SHE HAVE TO LEAVE?!"
The hill was silence…and just tears dropping and the sound of the flames could be heard.
"Every day…I've tried, I really have, Don! I thought I was better, I thought it wasn't going to hurt anymore but….every day I keep asking myself, why?…even thought I know the answer, I still keep asking me that question…Every day I wonder if I was the one who should have died that night….She was kind, she was brave, she was a true a hero and I….Why do they keep saying it?!...Ruby…Cardin….Why do they keep saying that she would have been proud of me? HOW COULD SHE IF SHE DEA…".
A quick hug silenced the broken boy. The loving and supporting embrace of his mentor…who no matter what happened was going to be there for him. "It's ok…It's ok, son".
Jaune burst into tears, burying his face in Don's chest. "…She…I just miss her so much".
"I know…I know, lad, but she is gone….I know how much it hurts but it's time, Jaune….You can't change what happened, I'm sure you already know that". Don softly pushed Jaune away from him to look at the boy in the eyes, "Lad, of course she is proud of you, but that doesn't matter if you aren't proud of yourself. You will never be able to move forward if you don't see your own value. You want to know why I choose you as my apprentice? Why amongst all your friends you were the one that caught my attention? I knew you weren't the strongest, I knew you weren't the bravest, but what I saw, that flame I keep telling you about, I saw a dreamer, I saw someone with the will to move forward and reach the bright future he always wanted for him and his loved ones, I saw a young man that understood that a dream only truly dies when you make it a reality…..I know how hard it is to lose….I would be lying if I said Miguel's memory doesn't haunt my dreams every now and then…But Pyrrha's memory is not something that should eat you inside, is something you should cherish, is something that should drive you forward. She is gone, lad…I won't lie to you, but she will live on in you…Never let her memory die…but don't let it prevent you from living either…Its time".
Jaune hugged his mentor again…crying until he finally ran dry. The two hugged until late at night as the flames were consumed and the ashes became cold.
Beacon Academy…The blue sky shined again…Team RWBY played….Oscar smiled…Ren and Nora danced…and Jaune was in the distance, sitting on a bench watching the joy in his friends' smiles.
He saw them with nostalgia….he saw them until he felt a person sitting next to him….
"It's wonderful isn't it?" The voice said…but Jaune didn't respond. "It fills my heart with so much joy seeing them so happy…I really miss them".
"We all miss you too, Pyrrha".
Pyrrha smiled as Jaune turned around to look at her. Her hair no longer hid her emerald green eyes which had a shimmer on them…tears? No, it was just the bright light of her kind soul.
"I've missed you too, Jaune…more than you can imagine…". She grabbed his hands and he could feel the warm of her skin. "You have no idea how much I have... and how much I wish I hadn't hurt you so much".
"You didn't hurt me…".
Pyrrha had a regretful look on her face, "…But I did….I've seen how much pain I brought you".
"You brought even more joy to my life…I wouldn't be who I am if it wasn't for you…It's just….there are so many things I couldn't tell you while you…Like how much you meant to me, or how sorry I am for the way a treated you sometimes, or how much I thank you for being there for me, or…".
Pyrrha blushed and tighten the grip on her hands, "You can't keep doing this to yourself….Jaune….it's time".
He didn't respond, just a tear running on his cheek.
She washed the tear carefully…before sharing a kiss with him. A soft kiss with a lovely warm to it.
"Jaune…it's time to move on….I'll be fine, I promise. You haven't realized it but I live every time you speak of me…and die again when you cry. From my heaven I'll always be there to protect you…but it's time to say goodbye…. Promise me…Promise me you'll have that smile that I love so much…Promise me you will give your all….Promise me you will fall in love again…Promise me you will live with joy in your heart…Promise me…that you will be happy…Please".
Jaune kissed her again, a surprise and kind gesture she wasn't expecting. He pulled back a bit and lowered his head, "I promise….that I'll never forget you…".
Pyrrha was filled with sadness "Jaune…".
"But…." She was surprised. Jaune lifted his head, his tears were gone as his blue eyes met her green ones. "I promise….that my life will keep going even if you aren't there….I promise that I'll never give up…I promise that I will remember you but I also promise to let you go…I'll keep you in my heart always, cherishing your memory….but it's time...It's time to live my life".
Pyrrha smiled with tear on her eyes. "…Thank you…I'm so happy, Jaune".
That beautiful sunset at Beacon was the stage…for their last kiss.
Don woke up from the sunrise light hitting his eyes. As he stood up, he was graced with the sight of his young apprentice…with a bright smile.
Jaune was sitting on a log contemplating the sunrise of a new chapter of his life. Hearing the footsteps of his mentor behind him, he kept his face towards the horizon while addressing him. "I think I'm ready".
"Hehe…For what?".
Jaune turned around with a big smile on his face, "To keep going".
Don got a proud smile on his face. Nothing gave him more hope than hearing those words.
As Jaune kept smiling the wind flew a small maple leaf that landing right on top of his hand. He looked at it with awe but soon the smile came back to his face. He grabbed the leaf and let it go, letting it fly away to the horizon. Nothing made her happier.
Author's notes: Thank you everyone for reading. Sorry for the long hiatus, end of the year got me really busy but I'm back baby!
A bit of a relatively shorter and more comfort like chapter today but a very important one for Jaune's character.
Here is some lore: The Ursitory are meant to be Remnant's version of the Romani people, I was originally going to refer to them as gypsies however after doing research I learned that the term can be use in a derogatory way and the more accepted one is Romani, the problem was that Romani is a name with heavy historical ties to the real world and thus doesnt fit RWBY, my solution? Romani folkore of course! The Ursitory are 3 spirits of fate in Romani folklore who together decided the fate of a new born child, the nomads are named after them as a reference to the group.
The song Jaune sings is an english translated cover version of the song "Deja de Llorar" by the Spanish folk metal band "Mago de Oz" (Wizard of Oz...super fitting for RWBY), is not a 1:1 translation and I took a lot of liberties on the lyrics but I think it came out fine. For you Mago de Oz fans, take a closer look at the titles of each chapter, you'll notice they are all songs from the band.
That's all I have for you today. As always I will appreciate any feedback both positive and negative. Next chapter will be the begining of the end, join me next time as we dive in Don's past in the final arc of this story, the Lost Knight Arc.