Chapter 2: Summer Rose
When Jaune faded from the world he knew he expected it to be the end. He didn't think anything existed after death, but apparently, he had been wrong.
He found himself drifting in strange void. Millions of bright stars could be seen all around him in every direction with the occasional distant galaxy visible here and there. At first, he had thought he had somehow not died and been teleported into outer space, but the fact that he could breath and didn't die from suffocation dispelled that thought.
So, the question remained as to why he was here and what was going to happen to him. To be honest, he wasn't really sure how much time he had been here or how long he would remain. He was also extremely comfortable. The temperature was warm, but not too warm so he was sure he didn't go to Hell, but he doubted this was what Heaven looked like.
As he continued to drift he started to feel a strange vibration across his body. As the vibrations continued to become intense he started to hear a voice and the vibrations stopped.
"Jaune Arc are you happy with your life?"
First of all, what the fuck kind of question was that? Sure, he was for the most part, but the last night of his light took a turn for shit creek. Like lunch your partner into the other side of the city in a locker shit creek. Getting shot with a bow and arrow shit creek. The fact his friends could still be fighting for their lives also haunted him and all he could do was pray they were okay.
"I am for the most part. I just hope my friends are all right."
The voice was silent for a moment. Jaune was getting nervous as to what would happen to him now.
"Do you want to change the past?"
Now that was an easy question. After everything that had happened he would love to go back in time. Who wouldn't? To go back change all the things he had done wrong would be a dream come true.
"Yes! I want to go back in time and change everything."
The voice laughed for a moment and sort of unnerved him.
"Very well. Your wish is granted. Death shall not come to you this day young Arc."
All at once the world around Jaune started to change.
Jaune felt himself open his eyes to find himself on an airship. He found Crocea Mors by his side once more. He looked around amazed to see all sorts of young people with weapons. That only meant one thing.
Beacon.
He was going back to Beacon. He was going to see his team again. He was going to be best friends with Ruby once more.
He felt emotion rise with within him. He tried to fight back tears. The saying "You don't know what you got until it's gone." Could not be truer than in this case. He had been so eager to throw his life away and try to prove himself and because of that he figured he would never see his loved ones again.
Damn, how he missed them already. He jumped up from his seat and noticed he wasn't even feeling sick. This only added to his now incredibly good mood. He looked around for Ruby and Yang. He remembered this was where they had met the first time. This time he wouldn't vomit in front of them.
Jaune scanned the ship. So far, he saw no one he recognized. This was starting to worry him since the ship was clearly moving through the sky and was already on its way to Beacon. He knew for sure Ruby and Yang should be on here. Could he have been placed onto a different transport ship?
It was then that Jaune saw her. He had found Ruby. She was standing alone and looking out the window. He could tell easily by her hair style and color. It had to be her. She even had the same silver eyes.
'Weird she isn't talking with Yang this time?'
This was good news for Jaune anyway, as he felt a little nervous already approaching someone who would have no memories of him while he knew almost everything about her. Getting to know Ruby all over again was better than nothing at least and not having Yang see him as some suspicious guy would help things along.
Summer was beyond excited. She remembered back to when she got her acceptance letter to Beacon. She was normally so shy and meek, but she squealed like a fan girl that night and couldn't sleep because she was so excited.
Now she was here on her way to the school of her dreams. She was going to be able to fight monsters for a living too. How bad ass what that? She was going to be able help people and do what she loved for a job.
Summer turned her focus back to the amazing view the airship provided. The kingdom of Vale was so beautiful and being able to study here was such a gift. Not that she hadn't worked her butt off for it but still. She felt lucky.
She flinched a bit as she felt someone tap her shoulder.
Summer to turned to meet the gaze of blonde haired guy about her age. He had blue eyes and a sword by his side.
"May I help you?" Summer asked politely. She had to admit she felt a little nervous about a boy coming up to her like that. She had never been real lucky talking to people. Especially boys.
She noticed how the boy seemed to be at a loss for words. He looked like he wanted to say something really bad, but wasn't sure how to go about it. Summer was really good at reading people, despite her lack of social skills.
"My name is Jaune Arc. What's your name?" The boy asked.
Summer smiled at him. He seemed nice actually and maybe he was just bad talking to people like she was?
"My name is Summer Rose. It's nice to meet you Jaune."
She noticed how the boy's eyes seemed to widen. She saw him look down at her white cloak.
"Are you okay?" she asked slightly concerned.
The boy took a step back from her. He was now as pale as her cloak was.
"Ya I am fine. Sorry you just looked like someone I used to know is all…Sorry to have bothered you."
He wasn't a bother. In fact, was rather excited at making a friend since she didn't really have any. Now said friend looked like he was going to be sick, but before she could get another word in the blonde-haired boy turned around and raced to the men's bathroom at the back of the ship.
"I hope he is okay…" She muttered to herself.
Jaune had just finished hurling would felt like everything he had ever eaten before in his life into the toilet.
Summer Rose! Summer fucking Rose. How the fuck was that even possible? For one Ruby, had told him about her mother and how she had died when she was a little girl. So how was said Summer Rose on an air ship to Beacon?
Part of it, he should have known. Her cloak was white and not red like Ruby's. He was just so focusing on her hair and eyes that he figured it had to be Ruby, but since Summer had the same hair style he should have figured the possibility.
The main problem now was Summer being alive and not dead. How was that possible?
How was it possible he had died and came back to live?
This was all insane. Until it dawned on him.
That voice sent him back in time. The voice didn't say how far back he would send him he realized.
He had just assumed he wasn't getting screwed over. What a dumb-ass he was. Considering how his life tended to go why wouldn't God or the devil fuck with him even more on something like this.
He went back in time… Twenty-two fucking years. If summer is on her way to Beacon just like he is, then that's the only real explanation.
Jaune had stopped puking and cleaned himself off before leaving the bathroom and just looking out the window.
He had died. Gone back in time. Talked to his best friends would be dead mother after mistaking said dead mother for her future daughter.
If he hadn't lost his mind yet, then he never will.
The sickness paled with the sad realization that came upon him.
He would never see his friends again. Even if he did, he would have to wait for them to be born. They would have no memories of him. How could he even start over with them? He would be a thirty-nine-year-old man by the time they were his age now.
He hadn't realized he started crying until he felt his face become wet with tears. All of this almost seemed worse than death. Perhaps it would be better if did take his own life? He couldn't even imagine having to watch his friends grow up and live their lives without him like he never existed.
What about his family? That lead to another fucked up paradox. If he did nothing to alter the timeline wouldn't his parents still give birth to him in about three years? Would there be two Jaune's in the same universe? Could he watch a younger him grow up, meet his friends, and make the same mistakes?
This was an insane nightmare. It seems like everyone wants to go back in time, but they don't think of the consequences until it's too late. There is a reason why time travel was against the laws of nature. When you break those laws, you get messed up stuff like this.
He had learned his lesson too late and now he had no idea what to do.
Why had that voice done this to him? It had to be the devils work right? He had expected to wake up in his own body on the airship to take him to Beacon at his timeline. That's how all the time travel stories he had read went. He supposed this was another reason why real life was so different than fantasy.
He buried his face in his hands. Ashamed to off himself. Ashamed of the choices he made. Why didn't he just leave with Pyrrha? Even after he died why didn't he just accept death? Would he have even been given the choice or was this destined to happen the moment he died because someone with godlike powers doesn't like him?
He felt a soft hand touch his shoulder and he looked up. He felt even more ashamed now because he was in public. He supposed he should have stayed in the bathroom.
He noticed it was Summer who was beside him. She looked so worried.
"Hey…What's wrong?" She asked in quiet voice.
He didn't even know what to say. What could he say? He was some guy who got killed and sent back in time? Time traveling zombie?
He said nothing, but just looked into those soft, caring eyes of hers. He wondered how much Ruby cried when her mother died. Probably just as much as Yang.
That's right Summer was a mother to both Ruby and Yang because Raven skipped out. What if Summer didn't have to die? Sure, Raven skipped out but as far as they all could tell Raven was still alive at least.
What if he did more than just prevent the fall of Beacon and got even with Cinder? What if he helped keep a mother who loved Ruby and Yang with every fiber of her being of their lives? What if they didn't have to cry those tears again?
Surely all of this would be hard to do. It was all really crazy when he thought about it. It would be hard not truly being able to see his loved ones again, but at least they would have a better life because of his actions. Perhaps this would help him make up for the times he fucked up? It was worth a shot even if he could barely wrap his mind around it.
"Sorry, Summer I just get really sick on airships. Plus, I am kind of nervous about being at Beacon Academy. It's such a famous school after all."
Summer smiled at him. "It's okay. I am kind of nervous too, but I am sure we will do fine. Also, I think we're almost to the school anyway, so you won't have to be on an airship much longer."
Summer could easily tell her new friend was lying. He seemed really distressed about something and she really wanted to help in some way. However, they both had just met. She was sure he would tell her the truth in time once they got to know one another better.
It seemed fighting Grimm and doing well on tests wouldn't be the only challenges she would have to face at Beacon. But if it meant having a friend then she was okay with that.
Summer felt the airship shake a bit as it docked by Beacon. The doors had opened, and they were finally here. She glanced out the window to see other airships dropping students off as well. She supposed that made sense considering how people came from all over the world to study here.
She squeezed Jaune's shoulder a bit. "Come on Jaune were here. We better get going."
He nodded, and she helped him up.
They made their way off the docking ramp. She felt her self-taken back by the beauty of the school. Not to mention how big it was. It almost looked like a castle fit for royalty.
Summer could feel the excitement swell inside of her once more. She couldn't wait to get inside and check out the rest of the school.
AN: That concludes this chapter. I know it was kind of short compared to the last chapter, but this to me felt like a good place to end it. I hope to have the next one out soon. Thank you all for reading.