Chapter 40: Prologue's End

Jaune was beginning to understand why Yang fought the way she did. Between the satisfying thuds, the sound of explosion, and the fear on OJ's face, it was fun to punch things into a paste on the ground. He leaped into the air and lashed out with his right hand, bringing the Dragon Claw down on OJ's shield. Flames erupted from the back of the weapon and the force of the punch quadrupled suddenly, shattering OJ's guard and sending him sliding backwards through the dirt. He gasped in pain at the bruise blossoming on his arm before his Aura soothed it away. "How did you get that -"

Jaune was already there, the flaming buckler on his left arm shooting forward. OJ's eyes widened, and his sword twirled down and parried the blow to pass inches from his right side. Jaune brought his arms back into a boxing stance and he launched an uppercut at OJ's chin. He leaned backwards and flipped away to avoid it, coming back up to his feet and throwing the shield at Jaune.

Jaune slammed the Dragon Claw into the shield, the same rocketing flames shooting out and sending the shield flying away. He rushed OJ, whose weapon flashed into a spear, and began to lash out with his fists one after the other. The attacks were deflected away by OJ, who was looking for any chance to counter attack, but there were no such openings. Jaune's Aura was in full strength once more, restored by whatever connection to Yang his Wayfinder had managed to create. OJ's own Aura was not low, per se, but it was not full; therefore, his Semblance would be a bad idea, given he would run out of the energy long before Jaune did. And Jaune was not giving him any openings to counter. Each punch was far too powerful to block and counter, but were tight and well thought out to the point that there were no openings for OJ to exploit for an attack.

Jaune's burning red eyes turned up to meet OJ's as another of his blows went wide. He slammed his foot into the ground and it shuddered, throwing OJ off balance again. Jaune grinned and brought both hands over head then down to crush OJ. But the shield that had vanished reappeared in his hand, taking the blow and sending the both of them flying away from one another.

OJ snarled and slid across the stone, coming down to one knee when he finally managed to stop moving. "How..? How are you as strong as me!?" he screamed at Jaune, who had come to a stop on his own knee as well.

Jaune stood up, his shredded sweatshirt fluttering in the wind. "Why don't you think that through while I beat the crap out of you," he responded simply, cracking his knuckles.

OJ snarled and stood up as well, mirroring his counterpart. "You haven't managed to hit me yet, Arc."

"And you're not doing any better." Jaune slammed his fist into the ground, and flames erupted from his arm, sending their glowing energy through the cracks and snaking towards OJ. The Fallen Keyblade Wielder snarled and rushed tot he side, trying to avoid the flames, but it swerved and followed him, exploding from the ground in front of him. OJ raised his shield to block the heat of the magic, at which point Jaune appeared beside him, fist raised. OJ couldn't dodge, close and surprised as he was, and Jaune landed his first solid blow. OJ felt teeth shatter and he was thrown across the arena, slamming into the bleachers. Metal crumpled around him and stone shattered beneath him as he came to a sudden stop. He forced himself to his feet and snarled, happy that his massive Aura could take this damage without vanishing. He turned and spat, a tooth hitting the ground in splinters.

Jaune leaped, bringing his fist down to attack, but OJ managed to dodge this one and slammed his foot into one of the broken bleachers. The metal swung around and hit Jaune's back, giving OJ the time to change his sword back into a hunting rifle. He fired once, twice, three times at Jaune's gut, chest, and head. Each blow forced Jaune back a step, until OJ turned and slammed his shield into Jaune's face to stun him. OJ turned and sprinted away, firing blind with the Hunting Rifle over his shoulder to keep Jaune away.

Jaune groaned and shook his head, trying to clear it. When it cleared, he saw explosive streams of Firaga flying towards him. Jaune grit his teeth and lashed out with his fists, the flame exploding from the back of the Dragon Claw. The Firagas hit his fists, then flew away from the Reflect hexagons his weapon summoned with each blow, shooting right back at the one who had fired them. OJ turned and looked over his shoulder and saw the flames, sliding to a stop and aiming at the spells with his rifle. Thin blasts of Blizzaga magic collided with the Firagas midair, sending crackling embers and snowflakes of magic drifting down.

The two warriors came to a stop and glared at one another for a moment... then OJ sprinted up the stairs. Jaune snarled and turned to do the same, taking the stairs three at a time and keeping his gaze locked on OJ, who was matching his speed and gaze. The two began to launch spells at one another, the attacks exploding around them or colliding and vanishing between, but none managing to land without being deflected. The two broke towards one another at the top, nearly at the same moment, and began close combat once again. Fists and blades collided, shields dragged against one another sending sparks flying into the air.

Jaune slammed his forehead into OJ's temple. OJ slammed the base of his spear into Jaune's gut. A fist sent a shield flying. A sword deflected a blow then slashed across a chest. The two disengaged and engaged again, the force of their blows shattering the stone around them. Jaune roared and threw his fists faster and faster, sending them flying in a blur that OJ just barely managed to block or parry completely. His fists were like fire itself, flickering and moving in a pattern almost random in appearance. OJ deflected the last blow and skidded backwards again, panting heavily. Jaune panted the same, one arm raised for offense and the other held low in front of him, ready to defend.

Both of them took a deep breath, then charged in again.

R W B Y

Yang slammed her shield into the incoming sword strike Morrigan had sent her way, the Light taking on a solid form and deflecting the blow. She stabbed quickly from beneath her defensive position and the burning weapon hit the Nobody's side, leaving a burning gash that vanished as her Aura stitched it shut. Morrigan's eyes widened and she jumped away, clutching her weapon tight. Yang followed close and stabbed with the short sword while staying behind her shield. Morrigan grimaced and deflected the first blow, then dodged around the next and flipped over Yang, slamming her foot on Yang's back and leaping away. Yang stumbled forward, then whirled around and brought her shield up. Morrigaan's blade crashed into the burning, white energy and she shoved harder, forcing Yang to angle her shield and let the attack slide past her.

Yang turned with the momentum and slashed at Morrigan's throat. The attack was deflected, but Yang didn't mind. She continued spinning until her shield's face was aimed at Morrigan. "Sunburn!" The rising sun at the center of the shield's face lit up and a beam of hot Light exploded from within. Morrigan couldn't dodge the massive attack and the heat washed over her, burning through her Aura. She screamed and was tossed backwards, smoke rising from her body as she flipped and landed with a heavy thud. She hit one knee and panted heavily as Yang glared at her from behind the shield.

Morrigan let her gaze fall and shut her eyes before taking a deep breath. She stood up slowly and raised her sword again before opening her eyes. Yang stared into them for a moment and felt a deep, painful sadness that ached throughout her Heart. Yang refused to close her eyes and ignore the feeling, instead meeting it full force. Her father had told her to fight like Morrigan was just an opponent, not someone with the face of her mother.

Yang twirled the blade in her right hand, then stabbed it forward. The beam of light shot off and flew at Morrigan, who deflected it. Another flew immediately, deadly beam carved apart once more. Morrigan charged forward, deflecting the incoming attacks as she went. The blade twirled, leaving a ribbon trail of Nothing behind it. The thorny force grew and combined together, weaving around the sword as she ran. Then, she leaped into the air, flying over the series of blasts that Yang had fired. Morrigan twirled and slashed sending the twirling thorns down at Yang.

Yang brought her shield up and around, blocking the attack. The thorns scattered against the shield and flew away in every direction. She angled her shield and threw the rest of the thorns away, ready to cross blades with Morrigan when she came down. But she wasn't where Yang had expected her to be. She looked around, listening close, then spun when she heard Morrigan's sword dragging against the roof. Their blades clashed, sending sparks flying as Morrigan bore her weight down on Yang. Morrigan pushed her down to one knee and leaned down close, red eyes and blue eyes barely inches apart.

Yang stared into those eyes, grimacing with effort, and was struck by that same ache again. It echoed through her body and made her falter for a moment. Morrigan's attack broke her guard and slashed inches past her arm. Yang gasped and jumped away from the attack, setting into a defensive position.

Yang stood ready, but something bothered her about their last clash. She narrowed her eyes as she thought, unable to put it together. She growled to herself and set her sword at the ready as she shook the thought from her mind. It was a distraction, and she couldn't waste her time like that. She slammed the blade of her weapon into the shield, which contracted around the blade, then grew into a massive, glowing broadsword. She slashed at Morrigan, and the attack easily broke the Nobody's guard. She was sent sliding back from the force of the attack, at which point the shield reappeared on Yang's arm and the sword in her hand shrank. Yang charged in with a series of lightning fast strikes while Morrigan was still stunned from the force of the last blow. Morrigan was unable to dodge the first strikes, leaving shallow burns through her Aura on her shoulder, gut, and leg. But then she was able to respond, summoning a Dark Reflect wall that deflected Yang's next attack and gave Morrigan space to breathe.

Yang skidded backwards as the force was redirected towards her, the light strike stinging slightly against her Aura. But it was the Light, the bright and powerful light, that was the issue. She was blinded for a moment by her own attack. She opened her eyes, a moment later and raised her shield as a precaution. But it didn't matter. Morrigan just stood there, calm and collected as she waited for Yang's eyes to open. For –

Yang shut her eyes. So... that was it, she thought. She understood, now, exactly what both of those feelings were. No. No, what the one feeling was. The ache that burned through her entire body, and the confusion at Morrigan's actions. In a flash, they all suddenly made sense in a way she hadn't expected them to, but really she should have seen. Yang wasn't sure, but she was sure. She knew what this was. Yang shook her head, then opened her eyes... and charged Morrigan. She slashed once with the quick attack of the sword and shield, then transitioned into a wild, open strike that left her with no guard. Morrigan easily blocked the first blow, then deflected the second to the side. Morrigan's blade flashed at Yang's neck... and Yang didn't do anything.

And then the blade missed her throat with an upward flinch, instead scratching along her cheek. Morrigan bounded backwards and aimed her weapon at Yang, ready for more.

Yang just walked right by her.

"Wh – Stop!" She bolted in front of Yang again and slashed at her, but the weapon went wide. Yang kept walking like nothing had happened. "I... Stop!"

Yang did as she was told and turned back to Morrigan. "What?"

Morrigan snarled and thrust her sword forward, leaving the tip right beneath Yang's chin. "Where do you think you're going!?"

Yang looked away from Morrigan, bored and tired of Morrigan. "To get Jaune. Where else?" she explained, scoffing. She turned her eyes back down to Morrigan. "We both know your Heart's not in this, after all."

Morrigan froze, becoming deathly quiet. Yang reached up and pushed the sword away from her throat. "Look, I don't know what this means. Maybe you're becoming whole, or maybe you want to, or maybe you just don't believe I make you weak anymore. I don't know," Yang continued. She shoved the sword down and turned to look up at the arena. "But we can solve this later. You want to fight to the death when all this is done, I don't care. I have to help him get out of this."

Morrigan glared at Yang. "I'm not done with you!" she spat, the words strengthening her own resolve for battle. "I impaled you once, I can do it again!"

Yang rolled her eyes and touched the spot where she'd been stabbed. "This? In the one place in my arm that doesn't have a bundle of bone, blood vessels, or nerves? If you wanted to hurt me you would have stabbed me anywhere else," she dismissed, and Morrigan's breath froze again. Yang shouldered the glowing blade. "Like I said, you're Heart's just not in this, Morrigan. So don't insult me and pretend."

"Shut up!" Morrigan aimed her sword at Yang's Heart.

"Then do it!" Yang snapped, stepping towards the sword.

Morrigan's Heart skipped a beat, terror charging down her spine. The sword vanished the moment the tip touched Yang's chest. The two were silent and still for a while, all the unspoken words of the action passing between them in that moment. Morrigan glared at Yang, and Yang back at her. Then the Nobody snarled and turned away. She moved around, pacing in a circle, and crossed her arms to protect herself from the truth.

Yang stared at the Nobody cursing and pacing before her, then nodded as her beliefs were completely confirmed. "There we go. We're done." She turned and walked away from the Nobody. "See you soon... Mom."

And then Yang fell through a Corridor of Darkness, turning as she fell to catch sight of Morrigan with an arm coated in Darkness. The Nobody was looking away, letting her hair obscure her face and hide her intentions. I may have screwed up... Yang muttered in surprise.

R W B Y

Merc and the Genie-jetpacked Zwei danced around the massive incoming chains, flipping and diving to avoid being flattened against the ground. But they had more than just that to deal with, as Emerald kept summoning a slowly growing army of Grimm from her shoulders that attacked the moment Mercury landed, forcing him to defend before leaping away again while the Grimm was turned to paste on the ground by what was meant to kill him. He bounced as he landed once more and tried to track the chains so he could find a way to get to Em.

Mercury landed on top of a Grimm, using his palm on top of its head to spin and spring away in another direction. His foot landed on a Gryphon's back and he leaped further into the air, barely avoiding an incoming Nevermore's beak when the Genie and Zwei flew in and gave him another stepping stone to leap from. "I don't think I'll get used to stepping on a dog, Blue," Mercury said as he flipped and twisted before landing softly on the ground. Emerald's yellow gaze was locked on him the moment he landed and chains began to explode from the ground in a wave. He dashed backwards, each time the ground where he had been a moment earlier exploding from the chains that suddenly pushed their way out.

Genie and Zwei flew at Emerald, peppering her with various spells as they flew in. Zwei barked and crashed into her, digging his tiny, but incredibly strong and sharp, teeth into her arm. Emerald yelped in pain and the chains assaulting Mercury vanished, her concentration broken as she struggled to tear the dog off of her arm. Mercury hit the ground and rocketed towards Mercury. A pair of Beowolves tried to get in his way, but he vaulted over one and kicked through the head of the other and kept going. He snapped a kick at her face and she leaned back to avoid it, bringing the massive cleaver in her hand up to slap away his follow up back kick at her gut. Another Grimm melted out from her shoulders to take a palm strike and she skidded to a stop, the dog still gnawing on her arm. The yellow eyes glared at her for a moment, then she turned back to Mercury. He came in swinging, snapping a kick at her legs that she hopped over, countering him with a quick kick at his arm that didn't do anything serious. His next kick glanced her side when she landed and he lashed out again, at which point she brought her arm up and moved back, letting him punch the dog right off her arm.

"Oh, God!" Mercury screamed when the dog yelped and tumbled away. "Ruby's going to kill me!"

And then a massive chain slammed into him and sent him through a tree trunk.

"Ow..." he groaned when the pain finally stopped. The dog puttered over to him, glaring with the same annoyed anger Em usually showed him. "Sorry..."

The dog barked and turned away, angry. Genie's face on the dog's back turned towards Mercury. "What are we doing, Silver?"

Mercury shoved the floating dog out of the way of an incoming chain and danced in the opposite direction. "I don't know! Let's... wing it!"

"I – Oh!" Genie shouted. "I get the plan!"

Mercury glanced over. "Wha – Blue, no, I -"

"LET'S WING IT!" The dog rocketed towards Mercury and slammed into his legs, the shape of the wings changing as he tumbled over it and just barely flew over an incoming chain. The wings grew and lengthened into a platform that swept under Mercury so he landed standing up. "We're winging it!"

"Not even Yang and Jaune would laugh – Okay, they would, but I'm not!" Mercury screamed as eh bent down and grabbed hold of the wings to keep from falling off. Genie wheeled and twirled around incoming chains, leaving Mercury to scream on the excited dog's back when he went upside down. "Blue, this is not what I wanted!"

Genie and the dog were too busy laughing with manic glee to hear him. So he was forced to play defense. He lashed out with his foot at an incoming Gryphon, kicking its head off with a single blow. He yelped when more chains shot at him and he hat to jump off the dog, landing a moment later after he'd passed over Emerald's attack. He blocked a Beowolf that got too close and shoved it away. His fingers locked onto the wings again and the dog turned sideways, streaking between two chains that came out of the ground. Then the wings turned horizontal and they angled upward, rocketing towards the sky.

Emerald snarled and slammed her palm into the ground. Shadowy energy congealed, and a coiling rug appeared beneath her feet. It shot upward after them, and Emerald drew her weapons once more. She lashed out, sending the chain linked blade up and at them, the blade snapping and booming like the tip of a whip. Mercury turned and lashed out as fast as he could, and his toes slammed into the side of the blade. It hit the air from his force and its chain bent from the sudden change in force, bending back inward.

He turned at the last moment and slammed his foot into a Nevermore, then reached out and grabbed the stunned Grimm to throw at Emerald. She simply raised her hand in response and the creature began to vanish, turning to Dust in front of her.

And out of that cloud, flew a tiny dog with wings. Her eyes widened and she slashed at it with both whip chains, trying to cut down the man on its back. But her weapons passed through empty air.

And from behind her, fire exploded from Mercury's feet. He flew up at her, eyes set and hard, face calm but determined. "Come on, Al! We're coming home!" he shouted, and he threw his arms out. She whirled on him, yellow eyes glowing...

And Mercury's arms closed around her, just as a blade of pure Darkness carved into his gut. He coughed, and blood flew from his mouth, running down Emerald's back. "Well... shit." His arms let go of her, and he fell back.

Emerald's eyes turned ruby red. "Mercury!" she screamed as he tumbled to the ground. She leaped off the rug and threw the chains of her kurasigama forward to loop around him, then yanked to pull them together. She wrapped her arms around him and twisted midair to put herself on the bottom, just as they crashed into the ground. The Grimm turned to them and moved to attack, only for them to begin to vanish, leaving not even Dust behind.

"Guys!" Genie shouted, flying down to them.

"Merc..." Emerald sobbed, pulling him up into a sitting position. She forced her hands onto the wound she'd inflicted on him. "Mercury, wake up!"

"I'm not dead yet," he grunted, words quiet. He opened his eyes and looked up at her before smiling. He reached out and brushed her hair, longer than it had ever been, out of her face. "... Hey."

Her tears streamed and she leaned into his hand. "Merc, I'm... I'm so sorry, I -"

"Looks like my plan worked."

Her crying immediately stopped and she looked down at him with fury in her eyes. "Your what!?"

He coughed, spraying blood, and her fury vanished. "Can this wait... until I don't have a hole in my gut?" he wondered. "You do have healing magic, remember?"

Emerald stuttered nervously about how she had forgotten because she was too nervous about stabbing him, then sent a pulse of the magic into his wound. It stitched shut, leaving him safe but injured. "Thanks, Beautiful," he stated. The dog landed beside him and began to weakly lick his face, forgiving him for punching him.

Genie appeared in a flash of smoke and flew behind the two. "Oh, Al, I'm so happy you're okay!" he cried out, hugging them both and ignoring Mercury's cries of pain. He pushed away and said, very seriously, "I had no idea he was going to let you stab him."

At that, Emerald's fury turned on Mercury again. "Yeah, what the hell was that about, you dumbass!?"

He squinted and covered his ears. "Jeez, calm down. I knew you wouldn't kill me," he said dismissively. He glared dryly at her. "After all, you looooove me."

Mercury's face darkened with either a blush or rage. Mercury wasn't entirely sure which. "Well, maybe I should kill you now..." she threatened. She cracked her knuckles and physical Darkness began to rise behind her. Oh. Rage, then.

"Maybe wait until we are finished here?" The four looked over to see Ren walking up with Nora and Kirito beside him. He bowed his head slightly. "I'd be lying if I said it was good to see you both."

Thinking of how he'd almost burned Ren to death once, Mercury grimaced. "Yeah... What's going on?"

"The others are looking for Dumb. We're pretty sure Dumber is up in the arena fighting Dumbest," Kirito explained, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder. He crossed his arms. "You guys up for... moral support?"

"Not going to call us useless?" Emerald asked dryly.

Kirito rolled his eyes but stayed silent. The tiny pixie that flew out of his hair, however, did not. "Well, you've already destroyed the entire city. Useless would be a step forward, honestly!"

"YUI!" Kirito screamed when Emerald began to cry into her hands. "That was a little too much!"

"Well, it's true!"

"Yui, apologize now!"

Nora came up and patted Ren's back as he groaned, exhausted. "Just think, after this they'll either be dead or back home," she pointed out. "Either way, we'll never see them again!"

Ren turned to her and chuckled at her joke. "You always know exactly what to say."

R W B Y

Jaune had expected a lot of things while fighting OJ. Emerald to show up and kill him? Probably. She was mind controlled, and OJ wasn't pulling his punches anymore. For Sora to bounce up here using rubble as springboards? Maybe, but he had seemed awfully sure that he wanted Jaune to take point on this. Yang and all his friends climbing up here and helping him one shot OJ? Eventually.

What he hadn't expected was for Yang to scream and fall out of the sky, her feet landing right on top of OJ. He turned and raised his shield, crumpling to the ground but letting the transformed Keyblade create a Reflect wall that sent Yang flying through the air, screaming, right at Jaune.

Yelping in surprise, he could only stand there as she crashed into him and sent them both tumbling to the ground. The two rolled across the stone and dirt, yelping in surprise and mild pain at hitting rubble. The two eventually came to a stop with Yang on top of Jaune. "Ow..." she groaned, laying flat on top of him.

"Agreed..." he groaned back before she pushed herself up. Her eyes widened in surprise and joy.

"Jaune..." She sat up and pulled him tight into a hug. "Jaune, I found you!"

He grinned and hugged her back. "You came for me!"

The two pushed apart and smiled, just staring at one another. "Red eyes? That's new."

Jaune blinked and pointed at himself, then noticed her. He realized he would die if he mentioned the hair, so... "I have... Well your blue ones aren't normal!"

"What? Blue? I – " She turned and her her bracer glowed bright, summoning a shield around it that stopped OJ's thrown spear in its tracks. Her eyes narrowed as the spear vanished in a burst of Darkness and reappeared in his hand. "So, OJ isn't playing around anymore?"

Jaune pushed himself up and slammed his fists together. "Long story short, he killed Cinder."

Yang glanced over. "And you didn't. Told you you were better." She noticed his weapon. "Imitation is the best form of flattery."

"Right back at you...I'm glad you're here, Yang. Just like you promised." he remarked with a grin. His eyes turned back to OJ. "Ready to wreck him?"

"I've been wanting to do this since we met him!" Yang shouted, her grin turning feral before charging their opponent. Her shield slammed into his and the air around them crackled with Darkness and Light clashing, the forces sparking and exploding against one another. She leaned close, grinning at his enraged snarl and letting his hatred wash over her. "What's wrong? You can't handle RJ when he isn't scared? Oh, RJ means Real Jaune, by the way."

OJ's snarl turned into a scream of rage and he shoved her away, slashing out with his sword at her throat. She parried with her own blade and sung at his leg from behind her shield. He let it hit him so he could get close, knowing his sword could pass through her shield and hit her even with her guard. "Not so fast!" OJ turned just as a flaming fist crashing into his face, and he was thrown away. A wake of dust and stone exploded into the air behind him before, a moment later, he slammed into a metal wall holding weapons the arena's crash had destroyed.

"Springboard?" Yang suggested. Jaune looked over and saw Yang holding her shield up.

"Never been the one doing this," he said before leaping into the air. Yang raised her shield above her, catching him, then turned it forward and leaped, sending him soaring at OJ.

Jaune roared as he flew towards his enemy, the flame on his shoulders growing into a blaze that turned him into a red eyed silhouette. OJ was struggling to his feet, rubbing his head, when he looked up at Jaune with one fist raised behind him, flames exploding from his elbow. His fist crashed into OJ's shield, shattering the reflect wall with a burst of flame almost large enough to have been created by Yang. His other fist came back and began to slam on the shield's edge, trying to force it to the side so he would have a clear shot at OJ's face. Jaune slammed both fists on the shield and looped his fingers around the edges to hold it in place. Then he wrenched the shield off of OJ's arm, giving the rapidly approaching Yang time to attack. Her broadsword slashed from OJ's shoulder to hip, then whirled around and slammed into his side, leaving deep, painful burns his Aura struggled to heal.

She spun the weapon and brought it low, then aimed it up at OJ's chin. It smacked with its flat and his head snapped back, his vision replaced with stars. Her foot slammed into his gut, then Jaune's fist came forward and slammed into his face, stunning him again. A sword carved into his sword arm and his weapon fell, caught by Jaune who slashed at OJ's other arm. Yang's shield crashed into his face, then Jaune's Firaga infused foot exploded on his knee.

The two took a step back, Yang with her Greatsword held low and Jaune with his fist high and ready. "You lose, OJ!" they both snapped before lashing out as one. Jaune's buckler and Yang's shield slammed into OJ's face and he stumbled back, stunned. The two spun, Yang's Sun Beam broadsword glowing like a star and Jaune's Dragon Claw gauntlet ablaze. The attacks flew forward, the Fire and Light swirling and mixing around one another before exploding in contact with OJ. The ground around the three shattered in that moment, dipping inward and sending a shockwave out that turned rubble and the walls to dust. Then OJ flew away, a black glow appearing then fizzling out all over his body when his Aura was shattered by Jaune and Yang's attack. He flipped without control through the air, then hit the ground hard... and was still.

Yang and Jaune watched him fly, panting and smoking from the release of energy they had just undergone. And when they were sure he was down, they fell into each other, using the other to stay up. "Took you long enough," Jaune said between breaths.

Yang chuckled. "Sorry. Morrigan and I had a Heart to Heart and she figured out she won't kill me."

Jaune looked over at her, eyes wide. Then he smiled softly. "I knew you'd do it."

She turned to him so their foreheads were touching. "Yeah... I'm pretty awesome."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"It got cut off by Morrigan," Yang explained angrily when she could hear the question in his head.

"I didn't ask!" He backed up a step and looked at it, wondering if he should lie in answer to the question he could hear coming from her head. "... It could use a scissor cut. But you still look damn sexy."

Yang glared at him for a moment, then sighed and patted his head. "Yes I do," she said matter of factly. "Not bad, Puppy."

"You're just so cute, Bunny." She glared at him, then leaned in and hugged him tight. He smiled and hugged her back. "I'm happy you're okay. I... I was worried. I think opened the Corridor that sent you away when OJ almost killed you."

Yang tightened her hold on him. "I love you too," she said. She gripped his ripped hoodie, wanting to never let go. "I... I didn't tell you that. Before, when you..."

"Honestly, I just assumed you said that in the armor," he sheepishly replied.

"That was great, guys!" There was a popping noise, and Ichigo and Rukia hit the ground beside them. Ichigo's big grin turned on the two of them. "So, I guess that's it!"

Then Rukia's fist slammed into the back of his head. "Hey, Idiot, you have to go tell the others we found them both, remember? Cloud and Tifa are still probably looking for Yang!" the tiny woman snapped.

"Why don't you do it, Midget?"

"I –!"

That was the point where a dozen Corridors appeared in the sky above them. Everyone present readied themselves for another fight with whatever monsters came through. Jaune groaned inwardly: Of course it wasn't over.

And then all of their absent friends screamed and plummeted out of the Corridors, slamming face first into the ground. Jaune and Yang blinked, then grinned and rushed forward. "Ren! Nora!" Jaune shouted, helping his team mates up and hugging them close. "Guys, you have no idea how happy I am to see you!"

"JAUNE!" Nora screamed, lifting him and Ren up into a bear hug. Jaune yelped in pain as his ribs bent inward, but he kept laughing regardless. "Jaune, we rode a Demon Tide and used it to kill a Demon Sky! That's like an even bigger Demon Tide!"

"It was terrifying," Ren grunted with his limited supply of air. "But exhilirating."

She let him go a moment later and he rushed over to thank Kirito... despite Yui's constant belittling. "Yui for the last time, don't call Jaune a gosh darn silly billy!" he demanded. Jaune grinned sheepishly. That definitely wasn't what she'd called him. "BECAUSE I SAID SO AND I AM YOUR FATHER!"

"So, I see stole the thief's Heart back, Merc," Yang pointed out after high fiving Tifa. He glared at her from where he was held up on Emerald's shoulder, so she turned to Em. "You okay?"

"Better, at least," Emerald responded simply. She glanced over at the unconscious OJ. "... I want to kill him."

"But..." Mercury groaned, already hearing it in her angry voice.

Emerald sighed. "But... I get the feeling that would be wrong."

"Ready to go back to crime? I'll let you take the first shot," Mercury supplied in a sing song voice.

Emerald turned her eyes to him to respond, but Genie popped up behind them. "Aw, Al, you'd never do that!"

Emerald shut her mouth. "Al? Al!"

Yang chuckled before continuing. "So, you managed to get everyone here at once? Good job."

Emerald and Mercury traded another look. "That... wasn't me," Emerald supplied. She looked down at her free hand. "I don't think I'll be reaching for Darkness for... a long time"

Mercury clutched his gut. "Good." She turned an annoyed but worried glare on him. Mercury scoffed and winked at her. "Oh, you know you love me."

Yang frowned and turned back to Jaune. "But then who..." Then she smiled and laughed. "Big ol' softy."

"You know the worst thing about friends?" Jaune and OJ felt their blood run cold and they whirled on the source of the voice, where OJ, bloodied and bruised, stood with a gaze that burned with more hatred than either had ever seen from anyone outside of Adam Taurus. His Keyblade was glowing, the energy of the Relics absorbed into the weapon as he pocketed the inert stones. Black energy pulsed around him. "They distract you!"

"NO!" Jaune snapped, the flames of Dragon's Claw erupting again. He shot towardsOJ before anyone else could do anything. "I won't let you destroy -"

He was greeted with a downward stroke from the Keyblade right to his head, sending him face first into the dirt. OJ didn't say anything as he raised his Keyblade to deal the finishing blow. Then he turned at the last second and slammed his Keyblade into the attacking Yang's sword of Light. The blow shattered her grip on the broadsword and sent it flying out of her hands. Her only defense landed blade first in the ground, sizzling as it turned dust around it into glass.

Jaune groggily pushed himself up as the others began to rush forward, trying to help Yang. It wouldn't come in time. Not with OJ's blade already moving towards her Heart. Jaune couldn't get to his feet to save her. He tried anyways, trying to stumble and throw himself forward before this happened to him. Again. "YANG!"

The blade landed with a horrible noise accompanied by the opening of a Corridor of Darkness, and the world froze for Jaune.

Standing with the Keyblade through her chest, her eyes glazing over, Morrigan coughed and let out a spurt of blood. Jaune narrowed his eyes. "I knew you were too weak." Then he yanked the Keyblade out and turned, carving through her once more. The Nobody spun from the force, stumbling but managing to keep her feet even as her body began to fall apart, Nothingness drifting into the sky. She turned her red eyes up to meet Yang's teary, horrified blue ones. "... This doesn't prove anything, you hear?"

"Okay... you softy." Yang shut her eyes. "I'll come get you the second this is over, Mom. Then I'll kick your ass for making me cry again!"

Jaune rocketed at OJ as Morrigan vanished completely, fist slamming into his steadfast guard. "I'll kill you!"

"I'm done pretending I have to beat you fairly, Jaune," OJ snarled. He pushed again and Jaune hit the ground. "I'm going to kill every version of you and Yang until I get where I'm going!" He vanished and reappeared behind Jaune, who stumbled forward from the sudden lack of resistance. OJ's weapon came around and slammed into Jaune's back, and he was sent flying into Yang, the two of them tumbling away. OJ took a step after them, only for Ichigo to slam into him, an angry mask over his face. OJ glowered at the Soul Reaper. "And what can you do?"

"GETSUGA TENSHO!" OJ's eyes widened as pure Darkness exploded against his weapon. He slid back a foot, otherwise unharmed, and destroyed the next blade of energy that came his way. Ichigo appeared before him again and slashed at his head. OJ leaned back to avoid the attack, then turned and dashed to dodge an incoming slash from Rukia's white blade. The ground beneath him exploded with white and OJ realized that he would have been frozen if not for the strength the Relics had granted him. He flexed his energy and the ice shattered, but the duo were already on him again. One would slash and the other would leap over or slide to the side to prepare for an attack in the place where OJ would have the most difficulty to defend. But having absorbed enough power to pierce the veil of Time, he was able to move more than quickly enough to dodge, block, or even counter their every blow. He turned on his heel and back flipped over them. A trio of Dark Blizzagas hit the ground and froze them solid before he even landed, defending against Cloud and Tifa.

"Dammit, this isn't going well," Jaune groaned as Yang pushed herself off of him and moved over to the broadsword. He hissed and pushed himself to his feet, swaying side to side as he did. "What now?"

"You're the plan guy," Yang supplied. She let out a heavy groan of pain, then tore her broadsword from the ground. "Oof..."

Jaune turned his gaze to the frozen Ichigo and Rukia, then to where Cloud and Tifa were keeping OJ busy. Kirito flew in from the back and turned it into a three on one fight, the group attacking him from all sides but still failing to get to him. Then it clicked. "Free Ichigo and Rukia, then tell all of them to get us an opening." He raised his hand and Dragon's Claw flashed, returning to the shape of the Kingdom Key. "I have an idea."

Yang grinned. "Took you long enough," she joked before running off to do as he had said.

Jaune smiled after her before turning to his Keyblade. "I hope I'm strong enough to manage this," he muttered. He held the weapon in front of him, teeth pointed down, and shut his eyes. Focusing, he began to pour the power of his Heart into the weapon for what he knew was their last and only chance. The ground beneath him began to glow, a rising sun appearing around him.

OJ turned and noticed the shine. "Not happening!" he snapped, and a wave of Darkness exploded from him. The three attacking him stumbled backwards, and he shot towards Jaune.

"Getsuga Tensho!" The explosion hit his unguarded side and he was sent off course, tumbling and flipping back to his feet. Ichigo and Rukia charged in, the others close behind, and began to assault him. The black sword came close to his eyes before he slapped it away, then turned to block the white one. Tifa slammed her foot into his knee and he felt something shatter. He bit back pain when his Aura went into overdrive and snapped it back into place. He turned to punish that, but was forced to block again instead. How were they stronger now? Faster? There were fewer of them, they were exhausted from battle, they –

Jaune. Of course. Keyblade Wielders could manage to bring out a strength from others that they didn't even know they had. And besides, OJ was tired himself. Exhausted from the beating Jaune and Yang had doled out. He deflected Cloud's massive sword and dodged Kirito's attack, only for a blast of ice to slam into his chest when Rukia attacked at the same time. Ichigo and Tifa tried to go for his head and legs, but it was Kirito's fire infused blade that crashed into his chest. Rukia got his weapon out of the way and froze it in place. He was hit twice that time, from Cloud and Ichigo's weapons carving into his chest.

"ENOUGH!" The Darkness exploded from him again, a blade that struck all of them and gave him breathing room. They struck one at a time now, letting him block each blow easily. Ichigo sent an explosive blade at him that disappeared against the Keyblade. A wave of frost exploded beneath his feet and he rolled out of the way, Rukia's attack going wide. Cloud's Thundaga bolt was batted into the sky while OJ managed to bob and weave between Tifa's fists. Then Kirito came in and OJ's guard was tossed to the side.

"NOW!" They all screamed, charging at once.

OJ snarled and charged up a blade of Darkness, throwing it at them once more. It exploded against them and when the smoke cleared, there were none left conscious.

And in that moment, Yang and Jaune screamed behind him. OJ turned, just in time for the two of them to bury the Keyblade in his chest. And then, the world went white for all of them.

R W B Y

Jaune opened his eyes and knew where he was immediately. There was light coming from far above, and Darkness and fog as far as the eye could see. And the storm, off in the distance, that Jaune now understood. "Wow... that's how you see me?" Jaune turned to Yang, her weapon fixed and hair regrown. After all, this was in Jaune's Heart, and she would appear in the way his Heart recognized her. She was staring at the stained glass at their feet, a look of awe on her face. His gaze followed.

Yang was gorgeous, her gaze up and her lilac eyes twinkling with mischief, excitement, and life. Her hair was long and flowing past her left shoulder, hidden behind her head before flowing up with her gaze. She wasn't perfect, of course. There was a... hungry look to her eyes, a desire for adventure and combat at the expense of things she knew she should put first. Her right arm was a prosthesis, a testament to her strength and the weakness she had wallowed in. But most of all... she was bright, like a blinding light with the warmth of flames on a cold day.

Standing back to back with her, was Pyrrha. Her eyes were closed and her head was down. Her left hand was on her chest, and there was an ephemeral quality to her. Like a memory that would never fade, but would never again be seen in the real world. Despite this, she was smiling. Content, if sad. Her hand was at Yang's back, pushing her forward.

"You're my future," Jaune remarked before looking up at her. She let a smile drift to her face before the both of them had their attention drawn by a massive thunderclap. A streak of Dark Lightning streaked down from the faraway storm, burning against the emptiness far away.

"One last fight."

"One last fight," Jaune agreed. He walked up and laced his fingers in hers. "Ready, Hot Stuff?"

"Born ready, Sunshine," she replied, grinning wide.

The two walked to the edge of the pillar and took a step off. Immediately, a stairway appeared beneath their feet, spiraling around the empty void and arching gradually towards the storm. The two walked on in comfortable silence, knowing that, finally, the prologue of their journey together was about to end, and the rest of their stories could really begin. The pair came to a stop on the edge of a different pillar, one where a man in a black cloak was screaming and raging in time with the storm above him. And beneath his feet, a hideous monster. One Jaune recognized from what he had, in his Heart, realized was not a Dive. But a forced entry into OJ's Heart made to trick him, to scare him.

The image was, Jaune knew, the twisted memory of Pyrrha held in OJ's Heart. A monster that he had twisted for his own desires, made into nothing more than a reason to justify the horrible things he had done, from killing Cinder to enslaving Emerald all the way up to trying to destroy an entire Universe. There was barely any of Pyrrha left, now, replaced by the Darkness and twisted evil. OJ turned on them. "You couldn't just die?" he asked them quietly.

Jaune and Yang let go of one another, and summoned their weapons. Jaune's Keyblade appeared in his grasp, a bright beacon among the Darkness. Ember Celica clicked loudly as it slid into place. OJ, his rage turned quiet, sighed and summoned his own Keyblade. "I'll just shatter your Hearts here and create Heartless when I leave. Then you can kill your idiot friends." He charged forward, weapon glowing with his Semblance.

Jaune jumped forward first, charging the Kingdom Key with his own Semblance. Their weapons crashed and the Semblances fizzled out. The two separated and clashed again with a loud, clear clang. Yang rushed ahead, going wide and arcing around to OJ's off side. Her fist lashed out, slamming into his shoulder before he could respond. His guard shattered and Jaune pressed their advantage. His Keyblade became coated with fire and wind. "Yang Nado!" He snapped, throwing the blaze forward. The fiery tornado slammed into OJ and a pillar of fire exploded upward, the tornado and flames growing with OJ's screams of pain and rage.

"Amazing name for an amazing attack!" Yang told Jaune before charging in. She raised her fist and leaped forward, breaking through the flames and slamming her fist into OJ's cheek. He flew out of the tornado and rolled across his ruined Station while Yang, smoking from the flames, slid to a stop not far off. The tornado vanished, and a single, thin beam of Light began to drift down from the sky through the hole in the clouds that the 'Yang Nado' had cleared.

Jaune smiled at the Light, then returned his gaze to OJ who had just struggled back to his feet. Jaune and Yang charged in again, not giving OJ a moment of rest. Yang's fist crashed into OJ's shoulder, shattering it. Jaune's Keyblade slammed into OJ's wrist and the Kingdom Key D flew from his grasp. The two slammed into him once more, then jumped back. Light flared from beneath their feet, flying upward in a purifying blade that carved into the sky, destroying the clouds above. "Our Hearts might be just as strong as one another, OJ," Jaune began solemnly.

Yang finished for him, "But Jaune doesn't have to walk alone."

The two leaped forward in tandem, meeting OJ's hate filled glare, and attacked.

Once more, the world around them vanished. Finally, they knew they had won.

R W B Y

Jaune and Yang opened their eyes at the same time, the glare from the sun above them blinding for a moment. It slowly cleared, and the two were able to slowly push themselves up to their feet. The others cast a quick smile at them, then turned their attention away. Jaune and Yang shared a quick embrace, then followed suit.

OJ clutched at his side, still standing even as Darkness flaked off of his Body and his life slowly expired. He slammed the Kingdom Key D's tip into the ground to hold himself up while he stared at the ground, panting in pain and exhaustion. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Relics once more, his hand shaking as he tried to bring them over to the Keyblade to regain their power. His hand shattered halfway there and the relics tumbled to the ground. Jaune, filled with pity, took a step towards him.

"Stay away..." OJ whispered, his voice as sharp and dangerous as a knife. Jaune stopped in his tracks. OJ's gaze slowly turned up towards him, yellow eyes blazing with Darkness. "I hate you."

Jaune stood his ground and nodded. "I hate you, too," he admitted quietly. He shook his head, but refused to look away. "I don't want to, but I do. I'll never forget Pyrrha. She saved me, and I will always love her in some way for that. But when you killed Cinder? You killed Pyrrha. She was in your Heart, and you killed her so you could whatever you wanted whenever you wanted. And for that, I hate you."

OJ scoffed. "You aren't worthy of my name!" he hissed. Jaune narrowed his eyes. "I am the only Jaune Arc! I'm the only one that deserves Pyrrha's love!"

"And you're the only one who'd never get it," Yang pointed out. She came up beside Jaune and laced her fingers with his. "I don't hate you. You're too broken to hate. Too sad for there to be anything left of you. I just pity you."

OJ's eyes widened at that and he raised his Keyblade for an attack. "I'm not -" That arm shattered and vanished, leaving the Keyblade to fall to the ground. The Darkness that had tainted it began to drift away. The red brightened, the gray turned silver, and the brass cleaned into a vibrant, glowing gold. The Kingdom Key D, restored to what it was. OJ stared down at the weapon for a moment, then turned his gaze back up to Jaune and Yang. "One day, I hope you watch him die. I won't pity you – I'll laugh." And then he let go, and his body vanished slowly into the sky. Eventually, a crystalline Heart, tained with Darkness that clutched at it and smothered its Light, drifted up as well. Jaune and Yang watched him vanish, confused and conflicted about the whole process.

Sora watched the whole thing from his hiding place and leaned back, dismissing the two Keyblades he'd summoned in preparation for if things got too dangerous. "I knew you guys had it in you," he whispered to himself. He looked up at the sky and smiled, taking a few moments to appreciate what Jaune had done so that he and his friends could have a moment to themselves to revel in their victory. Because that's what it was – theirs, and no one elses. The Keyblade Master, the Brawler, the Assassin, the Thief, and all their off-world friends.. He leaned over to the Drone he'd set up to record the entire fight, broadcasting the image of an evil, twisted 'clone' of Jaune Arc to the world defeated by the 'real' Jaune. He figured saving the world meant Jaune deserved a clean slate, and he was sure this would get it for him. When he told everyone that OJ was an evil clone or something silly like that, Jaune'd be free to walk Remnant without fear of arrest. And hey, maybe Mercury and Emerald could even get a second chance! After all, he could use some more staff at his school, and between their experience with Darkness and unique fighting styles, they'd be a great help. Along with anyone he managed to get to help from the other worlds. That Urahara guy certainly seemed interested, after all.

Sora pushed himself up to his feet and began to walk over, ready to reclaim Mickey's Keyblade. "Wow, guys! I can't believe you beat him before I could even get here to help out!" he shouted, waving at the group. "That's better than even I thought you and Yang could manage, Jaune! How about we all get out of here? Your family's been asking about you since we got back!"

Epilogue: Dawn

"And they lived Happily Ever After."

The little girl let out a quiet snore and rolled onto her side. Her slightly spiky, red and black hair ruffled against her pillow and trailed over her comforter, adorned with roses and crowns. The blonde woman reached down and pulled the comforter up so it was at the girl's shoulders then stood up, hand lacing with the blonde man's. "You're good at telling stories," he whispered to her.

"I'm good at everything," she retorted. Her lilac eyes flashed in the dim light of the room. "Come on." She pulled him towards the door and shut off the lights. The man closed the door slowly and carefully behind them.

"You're a good aunt," the man remarked. He slid his arm up and around her shoulder, his Keyblade Armor Pauldron clinking as he did. "And I'd know. I'm an amazing uncle."

"Is that arrogance? That's a better look on me," the woman remarked haughtily.

He leaned in close and laughed. "Isn't everything a better look on you?" He kissed her cheek and laughed. "You're the best."

"... Go on," she supplied, grinning.

The two continued laughing and flirting throughout the building, going slow in order to keep to themselves for longer. Quite quickly, however, they arrived exactly where they were headed. An archway, reaching up to the tall ceiling, glowed even in the night. At the top was a glittering, glowing memorial. A Keyblade, ancient and powerful, surrounded by six others of different shape and color. Flames, Darkness, Light, Water, Air, Earth extending towards a Heart carved into the ceiling. The golden Keyblade at the center, the only real one, twinkled from within. And beneath it, a spiky haired man and a woman with a long, frayed, red cloak stood talking. They turned towards the newcomers. "Oh, Dawn's down already?" the man asked.

The woman in the cloak smiled. "She does love when her Aunt Yang and Uncle Jaune visit to tell her stories. What new adventure was it this time?" she asked, laughing. "Nothing inappropriate, right? I know you love pretending you're Uncle Qrow sometimes, but I'd rather she not hear some of the stories we did at her age..."

"Aw, come on, Rubes. Those stories were great!" Yang half-protested. She knocked her hip into Jaune's. "And we have some spicy stories, don't we Jaune?"

"N-not that we told any!" Jaune protested, face turning beet red. He glared at Yang. "Never to Dawn!"

"Party pooper," Yang remarked with a sigh. She glanced over at Sora and Ruby. "No, we just told her about how we got together."

Sora and Ruby grinned. "That's a good one. Saving the world makes a good story," Ruby pointed out. "She still likes to hear the story of how we met, too."

"... So, how are Mom and Dad?" Yang asked. She leaned against the wall. "I haven't talked to them since we were here last – it's been kind of crazy, some of the stuff we've had to deal with, so we haven't had time to call back."

"So you've handled the problem on Westeros?"

Jaune shrugged. "It's too far in the Realm of Darkness to completely fix, but it's at least not a World of Ice Zombies."

"I'm just glad you made it out safely," Ruby piped up before giving her sister a side hug.

Yang grimaced. "I doubt many of the others could have. It was pretty damn bad, honestly."

"Do you want a break?" Sora asked. He turned to look out the window at the sparkling sky. "There are issues in the Realm of Light to deal with if you want something easier to deal with."

"No way. It's not an adventure if it isn't at least a little dangerous," Jaune pointed out, earning a wide grin from Yang.

"And with Jaune watching my backside so intently, nothing'll hurt me," Yang said, drawing unamused glares from Sora and Ruby. "Oh, calm down."

Ruby's Keyblade appeared in her hand and angled at Jaune's face. He yelped and jumped back. "I don't know if I like you two traveling together anymore..."

"Ruby, Honey... I thought we were over this?" Sora asked, inching up and pushing her Keyblade down. "Yang stopped, after all."

"Only after Ruby threatened – Never mind," Yang said, realizing just how close she was to accidentally revealing the blackmail her sister had on her. Jaune raised an eyebrow, but let it go when Yang shook her head. She ran a hand through her hair, braided so it wouldn't trail against the ground. "Anyways, Mom and Dad?"

"They're on a cruise," Ruby said, glaring at Jaune for another moment before turning back to her sister and smiling. "They took a job guarding the boat with a bunch of other Huntsmen, but it's not a dangerous job. I think they might retire soon."

Yang let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Good. They're getting too old for this line of work," she said, relieved.

"Hey, now, we aren't that old," Qrow remarked. His hair, once deep black, was now a silvery gray streaked with the rare black. His outfit had more armor to make up for his loss in speed, and there were tired wrinkles beneath his eyes. But he could still beat half the Keyblade Graduates in a fight. He walked in and glared at Jaune and Sora, then turned and nodded behind him. "Come on, Kid. Don't keep us waiting."

"I'm coming, Dad!" the teenager snapped as she rushed in from behind him. She crossed her arms and glared up at Qrow. "I'm just..."

"Dove!" Yang shouted before rushing forward to crush her cousin in a hug. The teenage girl spat in surprise and struggled vainly to get out of Yang's grip.

"Aunt Yang... stop it!" Dove Schnee shouted, eventually digging one white and black boot into Yang's gut and kicking out of the grip. She landed softly and brushed off her perfect, white outfit before tucking her white hair behind her ears. Red eyes glared at Yang. "Not cool!"

"Teenagers just don't know how to show affection. You didn't either," Qrow told Yang, who just stuck her tongue out at him. "And you're still a child."

"Dove, you're a Senior Apprentice now. Before Ozpin died, he and I -"

"Decided Senior apprentices should go out on missions with a chaperone," Dove finished with an eye roll. She grew quiet and, her voice quiet and soft for once, asked, "But what if I'm not ready?"

"You're thirteen and already better than I was when I started to travel the worlds," Sora supplied. He walked over to his Apprentice and put a hand on her shoulder. "Ozpin always told me to trust in the strength I've given my apprentices. If you can't believe in yourself, believe in my teaching until you can?"

Dove, ever the teacher's pet like her mother, stood up straight. "O-of course you're a great teacher! You saved the world!"

Qrow chuckled and ruffled his daughter's hair. "Good job, Kid," he said. Dove, thinking it was aimed at her, threw her father's hand from her head. Sora, knowing it was for him, smiled and stood up. "So, we have confirmation?"

"Heartless and Grimm are attacking a farming town outside of Vale. No Huntsmen are able to get there in time to help anyone, but since we have Gummi ships available we can get there in a few minutes," he confirmed, voice sad. He raised his Scroll and glanced down at the screen. "Says here that Gaius and Neptunia are free to chaperone, unless..." Qrow's gaze drifted over to the blondes. "Come on? One mission before Sunrise's birthday tomorrow?"

Jaune and Yang grinned at one another, then turned back to Qrow and his daughter. "We'll be done before she wakes up, won't we Dove?" Yang supplied.

"We better. I'm not missing my cousin's birthday," Dove said angrily. Ever the over protective 'big sister,' Yang supposed. Just like Yang herself.

She scooped up her niece suddenly, ignoring her protests, and threw her over her shoulder. "Let's go!" Yang shouted. Then she took off into the hallway, Jaune running after her.

"See you soon!" Jaune shouted, turning around for a moment before resuming his path following Yang. "We'll keep the Little Bird safe, Qrow. Tell Winter not to go full Mama Bear if she gets scratches, though. It is a real fight!"

"I – You better not let my little girl get hurt you dumb blonde -" Qrow began, sprinting after them and shaking his fist. "If my little girl gets so much as a single scratch I'll go full Papa Bear on your asses!"

Sora and Ruby watched them run off. "I love our family," he supplied before pulling her into his shoulder.

AN:

And there we have it, the final chapter of SMHS: Arc of Redemption. What a wild ride it's been over the past three years. I hope you had as much fun on it as I did, and on whatever may come next!

That said, the epilogue is the first taste at the next story in the SMHS fanfiction banner, as it were:

SMHS: DAWN/DUSK

Sadly, due to the site's rules regarding titles, it will be stylized 'SMHS: DAWNOVERDUSK' in honor of Kingdom Hearts' incomprehensible naming systems

The story of Dawn Nomura, child of Sora and Ruby, and her adventures. She has big shadows to step out of, but with a threat out in the Worlds that makes things personal, she has to find a way to help! Sora will appear as a great warrior and leader of the Keyblade Wielders, sending them out on missions, training the next generation, and fighting when no one else can. Ruby, the new Headmistress of Beacon Academy. They're all heroes, might as well give them moments to show how far they've grown in the intervening years!

The worlds aren't finalized yet, but I do have a couple I'm fairly certain will show up.

Anime: My Hero Academia – I said early on in this story that I'd originally planned on using this world rather than Bleach, simply because I love the story and characters. I'm happy I waited. The story of succeeding and surpassing the world's greatest hero fits way better with this. And besides, now Sora and Ruby know All-Might!

Abridged (Tentative): Fate Stay/Night Unlimited Blade Works (Project Mouthwash) – I'm not sure which Abridged series I'll be using, but this is certainly the one I'm leaning towards. It's an Abridged series, after all, and on top of that both it and the actual series are about someone making an inherited dream his own and becoming a hero in his own right.

Disney: Unknown – I'm not sure what to do here, and in fact I might not even do a Disney World. I probably will, but it might not be a movie. Honestly, this is the one I have the least idea about. I might even just do another Anime, or a Cartoon, or... I don't know. Maybe I'll do a comic, I don't know.

Video Game: Unknown – I have a few ideas about where to go here, but I think I'll keep them to myself until I have it more narrowed down. I can say it won't be a Final Fantasy game. Instead, It'll be something I'm more familiar with. Kingdom Hearts would be funny for a chapter, in a meta way, but it's not that either.

Anyways, thank you. If it wasn't for all of you reading this, I probably never would have finished this. If it made you happy once, or just laugh, or smile... It did its job. Thanks for sticking with it and me. If you've been here since the first week I released Smaller, More Honest Souls ,or I've already finished SMHS: DAWN/DUSK and you're coming in from there, or anything in between... thank you. I look forward to seeing you again.

Now, for the last responses of the story:

To Gamelover41592: I never joke about trying to make these fight's epic! I hope you liked the end to this story. Thanks for all the reviews you've left over the years. You rock.

To Chretner: Yeah, I always knew that their fights would end in D-Links. Why else include the Wayfinders, after all? Sorry if the end of last chapter was a bit confusing. I was worried it might be, but I don't really know how better to do it while also communicating how in sync they've become. Thanks for all the reviews, from when you were Cturner to now. You rock.

Well, that's that, everyone. I hope you enjoyed the story. If you have any questions, suggestions, or anything you just want to say, leave a review. I'll see you soon.