Here we go.
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: Kegi Springfield
Chapter 101
Choice.
It was a curious concept. Jaune thought on that as he rotated the Relic of Choice in his hands, a rather simplistic looking crown of gold with a single gem in the centre. Despite its design, the artefact hummed with hidden power, warm to the touch. What power would it give? If the Relic of Knowledge gave knowledge and creation created, then what would choice do? What use would it be to people who were more than capable of making their own choices?
He placed it down on the table. Importantly, a table in a different room from each of the other Relics. There was no telling what the distance requirement for `gather all four` really was, but since a pair of Gods hadn't appeared, he felt safe saying a hundred metres or more apart was room enough.
"It was literally hidden within a piece of rock in front of the fountain," Ruby said. She'd been sent along with Pyrrha and Ozpin to find it. He might have gone himself, but his face and name were now known across all of Remnant. It would have caused a panic. "Like, built into the rock. Or the rock was built around the crown."
"It was a flagstone, Miss Rose. Not a `rock`. One of the very foundation bricks of Beacon – a fitting hiding place, I felt, what with Beacon representing humanity's choice to fight against monsters far stronger than them."
"But we'd have walked over it all the time," Jaune said.
"Yes. And you never once suspected. Would you have rather I hid it within the sealed vault with defences so obvious it might as well scream `Relic inside; help yourself`?" Ozpin chuckled at his own joke. "Some like to hide theirs behind doors, others behind traps or organised defenders. I? I liked to hide mine where no one would think to look."
He wasn't wrong there. Even after the attack and with much of Beacon in ruins, the Relic had not been found. Even if the stone itself was blasted free, it would only be discovered if someone decided to crack it in two and rummage through the remains. Cinder's attack had focused more on the school itself, leaving the courtyard outside ignored.
"Honestly, I'd have guessed it was in the tower…"
"Bait. Well, that and a nice place to look out over Beacon from. It would have been fairly foolish to hide a tool like this in the first place one might look. Either way, you have all four Relics now, Mr Arc. Have you given some thought as to where and how you will summon the Gods?"
"Here. In the Grimmlands."
"Lots of open space and no people who might be hurt if things go wrong," Ruby said. They'd discussed the location as a group, ultimately deciding to do it away from the tower and in the wastelands outside.
"A fine choice," Ozpin said. "And the time?"
"Not for another day or two. I'm all for doing it now but Sienna has decided she wants to assist." Convincing her had been easy, or so Ren said. Convincing Ironwood to accept the White Fang's assistance was less so. "I guess it's not so difficult a choice when everyone's lives might be on the line."
"Let us not be so cynical, Mr Arc. The Gods only have true reason to despise Salem and me. If the worst comes to pass, most of Remnant should be safe. It is you who convinced us of that, and of the necessity of this. Do not doubt now or you shall spread your fear to those who look up to you."
Jaune looked to Ruby, who offered a smile in return. She, at least, looked confident, but then Ruby had never been one to let fear stop her. Ozpin was correct, however. He had a responsibility to those under him, just as Ironwood had to his men or Sienna to hers.
"Right. I'll keep that in mind. Just don't sit in silence if you have something to say either."
Ozpin laughed. "Don't worry. With the fate of Remnant on the line, I'm not about to stop meddling now. But, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to allow Oscar some time with his own body. It is not fair for me to monopolise it so much."
"Sure." Jaune stood, leaving the crown on the table. "I'll leave you to it."
/-/
They met for dinner that afternoon in what Sun casually referred to as the `War Room`. In truth, it was just the large room they'd used because it had a big table they could all sit around, which now doubled as a dining room. Jaune, Yang, Ruby, Weiss, Ren, Nora, Pyrrha Blake and even Emerald, Sun and Ilia in attendance. Mannie was there too, eating titbits out of Pyrrha's hand and enjoying a head scratch from Nora.
That aside, there was little in the way of conversation between any of them. A few tried – offering little bit about the news or asking how things were in Vale – but their spirits weren't in it. Everyone knew what had been decided and, with news from Blake that Sienna would arrive tomorrow, the deadline felt like it was closer than ever.
It was easy to talk about confronting two Gods. Harder to go ahead with it.
"So, it's tomorrow then," Sun said.
"Yeah."
"Guess so."
"No problems with Sienna?" Blake asked.
"None," Ren said. "I asked Jaune to order the Nevermore not to attack any Bullheads…"
"I instructed them earlier. It'll be fine."
"Good."
"Great."
The clink of knives and forks on plates overtook the room, accompanied by the very occasional scrape of wooden chairs on a stone floor or nervous cough. Jaune kept his own eyes down, unwilling to make contact lest he be drawn into something he wasn't ready for.
This was unlike Atlas, unlike even coming to the Grimmlands in the first place. There had always been fear and uncertainty, but it had been muted by the assurance that as a team they could handle everything. Arrogant, perhaps, but that camaraderie had been important in keeping them going. Jaune wondered where it had all gone.
"We don't have to do this…"
The words echoed in the silence that suddenly blanketed the room. He looked for the one who had whispered them, only to find everyone staring back. The words were his. He stumbled for a moment, knowing that everyone expected more.
"I…" His words died. "It's just…"
"We have to do it, Jaune." It was Pyrrha who spoke, voice steady and calm. "What kind of people would we be if we hid from this and condemned future generations to ruin, just because we were too afraid to act?"
"Ignoring this is like someone ignoring faunus bullying in schools," Blake echoed. "It seems innocent and childlike there, but if it's not dealt with early, it grows."
"I can confirm that…" Ilia whispered.
"I think Ironwood and Sienna know that as well," Ren said. "They wouldn't be here if they didn't. Ironwood could have stopped this all happening if he just refused to bring the Relic of Creation or hid it away. He didn't. He brought it here. That says something, I think."
"Why try and stop it now?" Yang asked, touching his arm. "Are you having second thoughts?"
"Isn't everyone?"
The others looked between themselves for a few moments, no one sure who should speak or how. Despite their protests to the idea of backing out, no one looked confident enough to give powerful reasons as to why they wanted to keep going.
In the end, it was Emerald who answered, "I am having third and fourth thoughts. I had my second days ago. But I think that's expected. It doesn't mean we should stop."
"Well said." Weiss patted her vassal's shoulder. "We're all of us nervous about this and that is a perfectly natural reaction. It shows we're human."
Blake coughed.
"Or faunus." Weiss rolled her eyes. "Point is, having second thoughts is fine. I'm sure Ozpin, Salem and Ironwood are the same. We still need to do this, though. Someone has to. You know this as well as anyone else, Jaune. Why back out now?"
Trapped, Jaune said the only thing he could. "Because it looked like you all wanted to…"
Weiss looked away, as did Ruby. "We kind of do," Yang admitted, "But just because we're all thinking it doesn't mean we should." She shrugged helplessly. "I want to back out every time Dad takes me to the dentist. Doesn't mean I didn't need to go."
"I think summoning the Gods is a little different to having a tooth removed."
"Is it? Between a dentist and the end of the world, I think I'd rather the apocalypse."
"At least you're allowed to fight the end of the world," Nora quipped. "I got told off for punching a dentist."
"You broke his jaw," Ren said.
"He broke my tooth!"
"As he was supposed to."
"Same difference."
Nora and Ren's little tale had the others laughing. It was probably supposed to, for Nora was grinning and Ren wasn't nearly as resigned as he usually was when telling her off. It was a distraction, pure and simple, to keep their minds off what would come.
Yang tapped her leg against his to catch his attention and nodded towards the door. His meal as good as finished, he stood and followed her, their departure going unnoticed. Yang had learned to navigate the tower in the short time they'd stayed there and found a dark cranny where they could be alone.
"You're not really having seconds thoughts, are you? Not like Weiss thought you were."
"I kind of am…"
"I mean it's not just that." Yang looked around to make sure they were alone and then took his hand in hers, holding it tightly. "You know, even though you're the Crown Prince of the Grimm and all, no one thinks any different of you. None of us, I mean."
"I know."
"That goes for both the good and the bad. You're still the idiot partner to Weiss, the accidental flirt to Ruby and the sweet and crazy guy who brought flowers to a video games party for me." Stepping forward, she kissed him gently. She backed away before he could deepen it. "That also means we don't see you as being in charge, either. Ren and Blake aren't following your orders when they go and do work in Menagerie for you. They're going because they believe you're making the right choice. Same goes for Weiss and Atlas. She went to prove a point, not because you asked her to."
He wasn't sure what point she was trying to make but contented himself to stand there and let her hold him.
"This thing with the Gods… it's a crazy idea," she said.
"I know. That's why I suggested-"
"Ah, ah, ah," Yang held a finger to his lips. "Let me finish. It's a crazy idea, and it may be an idea you came up with. But you didn't decide on us going ahead with it. You didn't make us agree to it. If I thought it was a stupid idea, I'd have said so. If Weiss thought it stupid, she'd have smacked you upside the head. If Blake really felt like you were threatening all the faunus, she'd have stopped you herself. Same goes for Ruby and everyone else, too. We're not empty-headed idiots following our glorious leader to the ends of Remnant." She giggled. "You're not even our leader. Our boss, maybe, if you're going to start paying us, but you're definitely not the brains of the operation. That would be Weiss. Sometimes Ren."
Jaune smiled. "They are our team leaders…"
"Yep. Looks like Ozpin picked them well. You're more the spirit, maybe the muscle with a little bit of cunning every now and then. Ruby is the heart, Nora and Blake the arms and me…" Yang flicked her head to the side. "I'm the sex appeal."
"Modest, aren't you?"
"Tell me it's not true."
"I can't."
"Flirt." Yang punched his chest lightly. "Either way, what I'm saying is that we made the choice to summon the Gods with you. We're all nervous about it, but this isn't a unilateral decision you made, so stop acting like you've got to be the one to look out for us. You don't have to make decisions for us. You don't have to save us from ourselves. And more than that, you don't have to feel responsible for anything that happens."
"Doesn't mean I won't…"
"And I'll feel terrible if anyone is hurt as well," Yang agreed. "But we're all in this together and we all know what's at risk going in. There might not be a Remnant after tomorrow. Or there might be, but it might be one where you and your family no longer exist. Or Yin," she added, stroking her arm. "I don't want that, which is why I'm gonna fight. You should focus on fighting, too. Not on blaming yourself for things that haven't happened yet. That way lays madness."
"You're right, of course." Not that it would be easy to listen and not like it made the butterflies in his stomach any less violent, but it did take a little of the pressure away. Everyone knew what they were getting into. They'd discussed it at length.
"Pft. I'm always right."
He grinned. "Sure."
"Tch. You'll learn." Yang smirked. "There is one thing, though…"
Curious, he listened. "Yeah?"
"World might end tomorrow. Or we might." She meant the collective, he felt. Their relationship. "Either way, neither of us is going to be able to stop thinking about it. I never thought it would come to this, nor that I'd be the Princess of the Grimm Kingdom at the time, engaged, allegedly pregnant and also currently a mother to a Grimm child while still being a virgin."
"Um. Sorry about that. Most of those – okay, all of those – are probably my fault."
"Yep. They are. So, want to take care of the last one?"
Jaune's entire body became still. "What?"
"No!" Remy howled.
"Yes!" Salem cheered. She also blinked when Jaune and Yang suddenly turned to face her, neither having noticed her approach, nor her eavesdropping. Yang's face began to turn red, though it was nothing compared to his own. "Really, don't let me stop you. Would you like to borrow the dungeon? Maybe the throne. I do have an office and I can assure you the desk is the perfect height for-"
"Ahem. Sweetie," Nicholas Arc coughed.
"Oh right, sorry, you can't have the office. Nicky and I are going there right now to-"
"Ahem!" Nicholas coughed again. "Not quite what I meant, dear…"
"Huh? I- oh!" Salem covered her mouth with one hand. "Oh, I'm interrupting, aren't I?"
Yang, bright red and with her face pushed into his chest to hide it from view, growled out a "Yes."
"Ruining the mood?"
"S-Somewhat…" Jaune croaked.
"Oh! Oh, I don't want that. I'll just… give the two of you some time together. Please, pretend we weren't even here." Salem backed away, winking none too subtly as she did. Yang groaned louder into his chest.
Nicholas shot them an apologetic smile as he dragged his wife away.
"And don't forget to tell me how it was later!" Salem yelled before she disappeared behind the corner.
The silence left behind was somehow twice as awkward as what had lingered in the banquet hall with all the others. The Gods still waited on the morrow, but for now, Jaune's pain was on a different level.
"I hate her," Yang whispered. "So damn much…"
He laughed nervously. "Ah. Um. So, does that mean we're not-"
"No." Yang gripped his collar and looked up, mortified, humiliated, but determined. "The world is ending, I have a child and I've never felt more humiliated in my life. You're going to take me to our room and remind me why I made the stupid decision to shack up with you in the first place."
Jaune swallowed, partly from panic, mostly from excitement.
"Yes, ma'am!"
/-/
Pyrrha opened her bedroom door to find that Ruby stood outside. Her partner's face was red, her eyes haunted, and she stood with one hand help up from where she'd been knocking on the door. Under one arm she carried her blanket and a pillow.
"Uh…?"
"Can I sleep with you tonight?" Ruby asked.
"Um. Sure?"
"Thank you." Ruby plodded in, threw her blanket down on the floor and collapsed on top of it.
"Do I want to ask why you're sleeping in my room?"
"My room is next to Yang and Jaune's."
"And why would that be an issue?"
There was another knock on the door. Seeing that Ruby was too exhausted to answer it, Pyrrha sighed and made her way over, opening it.
"Can I sleep with you tonight," Blake Belladonna asked, eyes bloodshot, lips downturned. "I'd ask my partner, but my partner is Nora."
Pyrrha wasn't sure `but my partner is Nora` should have been an adequate reason, but somehow – in some strange way – it was. Pyrrha stepped back and let Blake in, nodding at the muttered `thanks` she received for it. Blake's pillow and blanket went down beside Ruby's, up against the wall.
"My room is opposite Jaune's," Blake said by way of explanation.
"I don't-"
"You don't," Blake agreed, "And believe me, you don't want to know. Let's just say Yang has a healthy pair of lungs." She paused as a loud, throaty moan penetrated several walls and the corridor outside. It sounded like Yang.
Heat crept up Pyrrha's neck.
Ruby clamped the pillow down over her head.
Five minutes later, Pyrrha, Blake and Ruby knocked on Ren's door. The team leader took one look at them, sighed and opened the door wider. "Don't tell me," he said, "I don't want to know."
Pyrrha nodded. "Wise choice."
/-/
The morning dawned overcast. The clouds that flew above the Grimmlands were a deep purple, a trick of the air, dust or landscape. Ruby wasn't sure which. The cloudy sky certainly reflected their mood as they arrived at what was soon to be ground zero. They'd come early and with only three of the Relics. Penny and Atlas had the fourth, kept on a different Bullhead for the sake of safety. There was no telling what would happen if all four were brought together while they were travelling, but no one wanted to risk it.
Already, Atlas' forces had begun to arrive, the battleship slowly coming to a hover some thousand feet or so in the air, Bullheads coming down to disgorge soldiers to the ground. Grimm flew in the distance and several Beowolves, Ursa and Deathstalkers hovered on the outskirts of the area, watching either out of curiosity or some desire to protect Jaune and Salem, who stood in the centre of the area.
Everyone not immediately involved had been evacuated. That included the rest of Jaune's sisters, but not Sapphire Arc, who stood armed with her mother, nor Uncle Qrow – who looked equal parts, exhausted, drained and also satisfied.
Ruby didn't need to know why. Honestly, he had the same distant smile as Jaune, which told her all too much. Yang looked better and looked to be moving a little differently. Again, while she noticed it, she tried her hardest not to think too much on the specifics.
That was surprisingly easy given what they were about to do…
She checked Crescent Rose one last time, or at least that was what she told herself. There had been many `last times` and although none of them wanted this to come to violence, she wouldn't have felt safe without her baby beside her. Pyrrha was no different, going over her weapon. Weiss was over with the Atlas contingent, talking with her sister.
They were all of them nervous. Jaune hit the nail on the head the night before when he talked about second thoughts. But this has to be done, she told herself. No matter how much they all wished they could bury their heads in the sand, they couldn't.
The sounds of several engines approaching heralded the White Fang's approach even before the Bullheads became visible. Six in all and a paltry number compared to the Atlas contingent, the White Fang had still come per their request. There were probably some unaffiliated faunus huntsmen from Menagerie too, though she couldn't make out much in the detail of those who left the Bullheads.
One, a dark-skinned and tall woman with an unusual manner of dress, confidently approached their party – only to walk past Jaune and speak to Ren instead. Ruby giggled as Jaune stood there, surprised, his unshaken hand extended. Nora didn't look nearly so amused, clinging onto Ren's arm as she was.
"Looks like everyone is here," Pyrrha said. "I'm surprised there aren't more."
"Miss Goodwitch has to look after Beacon, and as for everyone else… I guess the numbers don't matter all that much."
"Perhaps not. How does one fight a god, let alone two?"
"Hopefully, we won't have to. This is more a show of support. Or proof. If the White Fang and Atlas can stand side by side, along with humanity and the Grimm, then we've grown beyond the mistakes of the past. Or something like that."
Pyrrha smiled. "That was very convincing until the `something like that` part."
"Yeah, well. I'm not feeling very convinced."
"I know the feeling." Pyrrha placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it tight. "Whatever happens, I'd like you to know I was proud to be your partner, Ruby. You more than proved yourself to me."
"Yeah." Ruby returned the smile, ignoring the tears that threatened to come out. "You too, Pyrrha."
/-/
"Everything is done," Ozpin said. "All that will come are here. The Relics are collected, the Grimm are in position. Salem has said her goodbyes – just in case. As have I. We are as ready as we'll ever be. All that remains is to summon them."
Nodding, Jaune turned back to look out over the assembled people. There were easily three hundred or more, not including the Grimm. Perhaps two hundred from Atlas and a hundred from the White Fang. It wasn't many, but any more and things might only get worse. With his sisters as safe as they could be and his mother and father watching patiently, hand in hand, there really was no more stalling.
You wanted this, Jaune. Time to put your money where your mouth is.
Yang squeezed his hand softly and let go, nodding her head confidently when he turned towards the Atlas contingent and Penny. "Trust in us," she whispered. "It's not just you. We're all in this together."
Together.
Not just them, nor their teams, but Atlas and the White Fang, too. Making his way over to Ironwood and Penny, he held his head high. "We're ready to begin."
"As are we," Ironwood said. "My men are in position. Winter is prepared. Penny…?"
"I am combat ready, sir." To him, she said, "And I'm prepared for whatever may come, too."
"Good." Jaune sighed and turned back. "Do you want to add the Relic? You wanted to stay beside it, so…"
"Yes." Penny looked to Ironwood. "Sir?"
"Go, Penny."
"Thank you, sir."
Walking with Penny back to the summoning point, Jaune stopped at Ozpin and his mother's side as the young girl made the final few steps alone, the staff in hand. It was such a simple-looking thing. Innocuous. Laying it down by the other three Relics, Penny waited. As did they all.
There were no instructions given on how it should work, no manual. Jaune held his breath for as long as he could, only to release it when his lungs could last no longer. He wasn't the only one to do so. Nothing happened for several moments, no lightshow, no grand summoning and no thunder as the sky turned dark around them.
"Would it be an anti-climax if nothing happened?" Remy asked.
"I don't think I'd complain…"
Suddenly, the direction of the wind changed. It had been gentle a moment ago, brushing past his face but now was going in the opposite direction, pulling his bangs and Yang's hair towards the Relics themselves. Judging from everyone else, the wind wasn't going in one direction only. It was all being sucked in towards one point, the point of summoning.
"They are coming," Ozpin said, breathless and undeniably afraid. "This is the moment. There can be no turning back now."
"There never was, Ozpin." Salem said, "Not since the Gods cursed you and I."
It was less destructive than he expected, and yet somehow that didn't calm him any. Wind rushed in towards the Relics, which did not float into the air, did not glow and did not rise up and morph into one. Instead, they lay inert on a patch of ground laid out for them, Penny still standing beside them, unmoved by the sudden squall. And then, suddenly, there was a flicker. Like an inversion of light or the sun passing behind a mountain for the briefest second. As if the world itself blinked. Colour washed out and came back.
Two giant figures stood behind the relics.
"It's them," he whispered.
"They're… bigger than I thought they'd be," Yang said.
They were. Towering over the average man or woman, they were tall and appeared genderless, though their flat chests hinted at a masculine physique. Instead of skin, they were comprised of what appeared to be light itself. Or power. One was bright gold with horns like an antler, the other a deep amethyst, with curved horns like a ram's. If anything, they looked like glowing faunus. They had their hands linked behind their backs and although they lacked eyes, the definition of their brows could vaguely be made out. It seemed as though they were waiting, waiting for them to make the first move.
It occurred to him that he didn't know what their first most was supposed to be.
Salem stepped forward. Yang hissed, but Salem pulled away before Jaune could stop her, marching towards the two figures. Nicholas followed, determined to support his wife, and after a moment Ozpin did the same. Jaune felt rooted to the spot, but Yang grabbed his arm, nodded and then moved in the same direction.
That forced his feet. He wouldn't stand back and let Yang do this in his place.
The Gods watched them. Both seemed devoid of emotion – though it may have been that the light that shone from their faces concealed it. If anything, the God of Darkness looked uninterested in them. His head was tilted as though looking out over their surroundings curiously. It was the God of Light who paid them the most attention.
Coming to a stop some distance from them, but also close enough to be seen, Salem took a few steps forward and – to Jaune's surprise – slowly bent knee.
"Curious." The God of Light's voice was soft, gentle. It reminded Jaune of his father's back when he'd had to explain something to a young child. "When last we met, you did not bend knee. Quite the opposite." It was hard to tell if there was any condemnation there, any anger – or even disappointment. It sounded more like a statement of fact, almost nostalgic.
"That is true," Salem said. "I was… younger."
"And Ozma," the God of Light said as Ozpin stepped forward and knelt. "When I spoke to you last, I offered you an opportunity to unite Remnant. Did I not warn you that she had changed? That she would bring you only pain?"
The God of Darkness suddenly looked towards his brother. No words were spoken, but there was a certain degree of haste there. Almost like the God of Darkness was surprised by something.
"I remember, and you were correct. Though, I might add, the pain was of my making. I have lived with that same pain for centuries, as has Salem. But," he said, lifting his head, "the second part has been completed. Humanity has been united."
"So I am to believe…"
"This land is familiar." the God of Darkness spoke for the first time. His voice was proud, almost arrogant. He didn't seem to care for the subservience shown by Salem or Ozpin. "I recognise it somehow. Though it has been a long time."
"This is where you resided," Salem said.
"Yes. I remember. This is where I was misled, where the end began. Foolish humans…"
"That is not now. Time has passed. Remnant has changed, even as much remains the same. The question, of course, is whether humanity has changed."
"Disappointments all. How much can have changed in so short a time?"
"I would hold in hope."
"As you will, brother."
The God of Light turned back towards them. "When humanity betrayed us, we learned that we could be wrong. We learned from out mistakes and offered you an opportunity to learn from yours. Still, I find myself surprised by your presence, Salem. Why are you here?"
Salem lowered her head. "I… I have come to apologise." The words sounded forced. "I've come to ask for clemency."
"Did I not state that if you remained unchanged and continued to demand our blessings, we would wipe you from existence?"
Jaune tensed, reaching for his sword. Everyone else did the same and for a moment it seemed battle might be joined so soon. Salem, however, was quick to speak, "Not a blessing! I don't ask for a blessing from you. Only… Only that the curse put upon me be removed. I want to be able to die. I… I understand why it's important now."
"Is that so?"
"She is different now. I feel my power within her, and among others. How come you to say you do not seek our blessing when you have taken it on yourself to steal my power and command my creations?"
"I didn't do any of that intentionally. I tried to kill myself in your pools!"
"You sought an easy escape from problems wrought by yourself. That does not suggest change."
"That was well over a thousand years ago," Ozpin chimed in, defending her. "Humans change on a far faster scale than yourselves. In that time, she has gone from an angry and wrathful woman to a doting mother and loving wife."
"It was her love for you that led her to ruin."
"No."
"You disagree?"
"It was grief," Ozpin said. "Grief compounded by a lack of anyone to rely on. Had she those who could have supported her after my death, this would not have happened. Much of what happened, much of what befell Remnant, was more due to the curse placed upon her."
"You blame us then?"
"I did not say that…"
"Tell us then why we should consider this request. Tell us why we should lift the curse that we so rightfully bestowed upon her?"
"Rightfully," Jaune muttered. "Rightfully? There was nothing rightful about it…"
Both Gods looked up immediately, over Ozpin and Salem's heads and directly at him. Jaune froze, rooted to the spot as he realised his words – quiet as they'd been – had not gone unnoticed. Yang tensed, as did Ozpin and Salem, looking back.
"Not rightful?" the God of Darkness hissed. "Do you seek to test us?"
"Calm, my brother. Come forth, child. I would speak to you."
"Please!" Salem cried. "He didn't mean anything by it. He wasn't even alive in your time. He has no part in this!"
"He stands before us and exists on this planet. He has a part to play. Come forward."
His legs shook under the pressure of their gaze, but Jaune forced himself to move. He was surprised to find Yang coming with him, holding onto him tightly. The Gods paid her little attention, though he noticed the God of Darkness' face regard her with that same, confused, expression.
"You claim our punishment unjust. I would have you tell us why."
There were many reasons, so many, but in the face of where they were and what was at stake, he hesitated to say them.
"Speak the truth and speak your mind. I shall know if you do not."
Well, there went that option. Ozpin didn't seem to know what to say or do, while Salem just looked terrified, like she wanted to hide him away from their gaze. Knowing what he did of how they'd vanished Ozma once, he thought he knew why. With a wave of their hand, they could erase him from existence. There wouldn't be much he could do about it.
But they'd asked for reasons – and he'd give them.
"Salem – my mother – didn't deserve the curse you put on her. Denying her the chance to ever be with the man she loved, to ever find rest, was too cruel. The punishment didn't fit the crime."
"She led humanity against us, caused the calamity that claimed your planet."
"With all due respect, you caused the calamity that claimed our planet."
The God of Darkness recoiled.
"Explain."
"Mom asked you to bring back her husband and you refused. That's fine. That was your right and you didn't do anything wrong. The balance of life and death probably is something the world needs."
"I am pleased one understands."
"But as I understand it, people had the choice to petition either of you. You said no, and mom tried your brother." Jaune looked to the God of Darkness, who nodded silently. "I'll admit that she misled him and didn't say she'd asked you, but were there rules against it? Was it ever stated that people couldn't ask both?"
"She sought to upset a balance that kept the world together. Asking a request of us both was no issue, but in ignoring my warnings she sought to break that balance."
Jaune shrugged. "Not really… I mean, sure it would have been one break of it, but it wasn't like she was asking for death to not exist anymore. I'll admit it would be unfair to bring her loved one back and no one else's – it would be unfair to anyone who ever lost someone – but it would have hardly been the end of the world or anything."
"She convinced humanity to rebel against us," the God of Darkness snapped.
"Yeah, after you cursed her." Jaune countered. "You can't say it's all her fault when you two had a hand in that. As for the calamity, I very much doubt humanity blew up the moon or spread Grimm everywhere. Last I checked, that was all you."
"He makes an amusing point, brother."
"You take their side!?"
"No, I do not. But the child is not incorrect. Humanity's rebellion would not have occurred had she not the immortality to act as proof and tempt the humans. I admit this freely. But at the same time, it was not just the balance that she threatened, but the stability of our world. Your mother brought my brother and I to arms. The fallout of such a battle may have destroyed this planet, and for this she needed to be punished."
"I'm not convinced."
The God of Light paused. If he could have shown emotion, he might have been surprised. "Explain."
"I understand what you're saying, and I agree, a battle between you would have been bad. But, and correct me if I'm wrong, you are the ones who chose to fight one another. Mom didn't order you to, nor did she ask you to come flying to the God of Darkness' domain. It was the God of Darkness who attacked you – and you who responded."
"Because she sought to control him."
"Sure. But only to bring Ozma back. Nowhere in that did she ask him to fight you."
"She promised to be my loyal disciple. Promised in order to win my favour…"
"And she would have been," he pointed out, turning to his mother. "Mom, if the God of Darkness had brought Ozma back, would you have served him?"
"W-Well, yes. At the time, Ozma was all I cared for. If he'd been brought back, I'd have done anything. I'd have been his most loyal disciple, his most devour worshipper."
The God of Darkness was silent.
"See?" Jaune said. "Sure, mom lied to you, but it was you two who decided to fight. Yet you punished her for that. I don't disagree she deserved some punishment, but I feel like it was uneven. I feel like you were both angry and understandably upset but shifted a little of the blame you should have held onto mom. Then, when she realised just how unfair you'd been, she went to the other kingdoms and told them, prompting the rebellion."
"What would you know of a time before your own?"
"I know a little about how diplomacy works, considering that right now I'm pretty much seen as the closest thing to you on Remnant. People see me as a destroyer – yet I know it's important to show I can be forgiving and kind as well."
"Forgiveness. You believe we should have shown your mother this…"
"Yeah. I mean, she made a mistake but… isn't that what happens? Can you say that neither of you has ever made a mistake?"
"Perhaps…"
Ozpin saw the opportunity to step in and did so, standing once more. "Jaune speaks the truth as he believes it and may be correct. Though there's no denying what humanity did to you, I believe the fault lies with all."
"Hm."
"Get to the point, Ozma."
"My point is that what's done is done, but we've grown and learned from our mistakes – as you wished us to. There has been much hardship, much suffering, but you can see here that faunus and human stand together along with the Grimm. We've managed to forge bonds through the darkest of times and heal rifts over a millennia old. More than that, Salem has learned the importance of the balance of life and death and wishes, of her own free will, to enter into it once more." Ozpin spread his arms. "Is that not what you wished of us?"
"It is what my brother wished of you," the God of Darkness snarled. "I cared not."
Desperately, Ozpin turned to the God of Light.
"It was my wish," the being said, causing Jaune and many others to relax. "Though your people disappointed us, I held out hope for them. I know of the wars that divided you. The inequality, the racism and the conflict. I knew that some of this was caused by my brother's lingering power and the effect it had on this world."
The God of Darkness looked away.
"These challenges were so many that I believed they might prove impossible for you, even with my gifts."
Again, the God of Darkness shifted, crossing his arms.
"I am pleased to see that you were able to rise to the expectations I held for you. You have done well, Ozma."
"T-Thank you…"
"And you, Salem…"
Salem tensed. "Yes?"
"You have caused much pain, but I will accept that this may have not always been of your own will. The pools changed you. This was… unanticipated on our part. You were to remain cursed until such a time as you came to us and admitted your error. At the time, I believed this might take only a decade or two. It was not my intention to leave you cursed for so long." The God of Light loosened his arms and let them fall to his sides. "It was never my intention to torture you so."
Salem choked. "I… I understand. I forced you to leave…"
"No. We chose to leave. Perhaps this was our error, for children make mistakes."
"Then you'll lift the curse? You'll let me die in time?"
"I shall."
Salem sagged. As did Ozpin. They weren't the only ones. Jaune wanted to laugh and fall to his knees at the same time, so powerful was the relief he felt. Yang did laugh, a quiet, delighted sound, and behind him he heard Ruby cheer quietly and Sun whoop and exchange a high-five with someone. They'd done it. They'd actually done it.
"You and Ozma shall both pass from this world. You shall find rest at last."
Jaune's happiness faded. "What?" he cried. "Now? NO!"
"Jaune." It was Salem who interrupted him, smiling as she held onto her husband. "It's fine, Jaune. Ozpin and I talked about this, along with Nicky. We knew this was a possibility and we're prepared for it. If it means everyone else can live in peace, we will accept our time being now."
"D-Dad?"
His father smiled weakly. "I won't say I'm fine with it, but I understand. Besides, it won't be forever. I'll enter the cycle at one point or another. Until then, I promised to look after you and your sisters."
This time, his legs really did fail him. He slumped, caught only by Yang's arms. Having already lost her mother, she offered him a sympathetic smile, but it did little. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. In a way, he'd known this was a possibility as well, but he hadn't counted on it actually happening.
"That's not fair…"
"The balance of life and death rarely is. But it is a balance. One that must be upheld."
"We understand," Ozpin said, stepping forward. "Though if I might make one small request; this body is not my own, as well you know…"
"Only your soul shall pass. His will remain."
Ozpin nodded. "Thank you. If I may ask, what will happen once we are gone?"
"As promised, we shall return to Remnant and help it become whole again. Humanity shall thrive once more – along with its… adaptations." The God of Light looked towards the White Fang as he said that. "We shall undo the changes we have made to the planet and rebuild it. In time, the gift of magic may return. This is my brother's decision, not mine."
"We shall see…" The God of Darkness sounded distracted. Once more, his eyes were not on Salem of the God of Light, but rather Jaune himself. He hadn't looked away since Jaune's argument on the nature of punishments. "I sense myself within you. And within her. Tell me how this came to pass. Immediately."
Jaune glanced to Yang. "I'm Salem's son. Yang has a Grimm parasite within her, our son."
"My creations have joined with humanity?"
"Um. In a manner of speaking."
"A very specific manner of speaking," Yang added. "It's definitely not what you're thinking…"
The God's head tilted to the side. "I see..."
"An unanticipated result of the curse that befell Salem, and her fall into the Pools of Darkness. It shall be rectified."
Jaune's blood ran cold. "Excuse me?"
"We have returned and will rebuild Remnant into the world it once was. A world of balance and order, a shining gem. There can be no balance in humans with the Power of Darkness within them. Such individuals would be akin to Gods. This was not part of our plan and does not represent the balance we have strived to create."
The God of Light turned to them once more, but this time Jaune and Yang stepped back, along with Salem, Ozpin and Nicholas. Somehow, without moving, the God seemed taller, more dangerous than ever before.
"As such, they will be removed."
Welp.
So, I mentioned a mistake last chapter and since it comes out here, I guess I'll just explain it. There's no spoiler anymore. Basically, my huge error was in two chapters ago basically having the party bring this exact scenario up and say, "Oh man, but what if the Gods decide to pull the pin on Jaune and his family and erase them?"
I literally spoiled this moment two chapters ago – and for no good reason.
Even when I looked on it the next day I was like, "Why did I do that? Wtf was I thinking?" I'd planned it in advance, but I plan scenes, not exact lines of dialogue, so it just slipped in because it was on my mind while I was writing it. But right now, this ending could – and should – have been a twist. A surprise.
But nope, because I literally had everyone sit down and discuss it happening like they had bloody foresight or something. That was my big "cock up" that I mentioned. I should have caught it and likely would have if I'd had more time, but I suppose that's the risk of doing an update a day. Sooner or later, you make a silly little mistake. Hopefully, you'll forgive me it. I spotted it myself, slapped my forehead and will learn from it, lol.
Like I said, it doesn't plot hole or invalidate the story; it just turns this chapter from a "holy shit, this happened" ending to a "Yeah, we kinda knew that would happen" one. Lame!
Next Chapter: 31st January
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