A/N: Hey Everyone! ...Ya'll thought I was just gonna leave you all to hang on the possible ending did ya? Well, guess again! Anyway, I hope this serves as a happy ending for you, though it might be a tad short. And I really appreciated the support you gave my RWBY fics so far. Speaking of which, I watched ALL of Volume 4 all the way to the finale, and while the revelations are indeed shocking, I was more depressed at the end for obvious reasons.
But I won't bore with the sappy details, so...let's get started.
P.S.: Minor spoilers for the Volume 4 season finale!
(Edit: Here we are, the last edit of this fic. I hope all that come to reread will appreciate all that I've done to fix this up as much as possible. Enjoy!)
Aurea Mors Alter: Epilogue
In a field of grass, a single person, a young girl of perhaps 8 years old, was sleeping in a fetal position. Her blonde-red hair reached the middle of her back, as the wind gently brushed against her as if not wanting to disturb her, while ruffling her sky blue colored blouse dress that reached down to just above her ankles.
A single maple leaf, colored a blood red, floated on the breeze, until it softly landed on the girl's cheek. A small groan was heard, as the girl's hand reached up and touched it, as her vivid green eyes opened slightly.
"W...wha...?" she managed to gasp out, before a flash of images appeared in her mind.
One where she fought a woman dressed in a red dress with glowing gold highlights, being stabbed by the said bitch in the stomach, and finally, remembering the faces of two people, one a woman with red hair, green eyes, and wearing a bronze circlet, while the other, was a man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and wearing white armor.
Her eyes widened in horror as she snapped to her feet, and began to look frantically around her.
'W-What happened!? Where am I!?' where her first thoughts as she began hyperventilating, trying to remember what happened to her. She then blinked as she felt strange. As if her body was... different.
Looking at herself, her eyes widened even more, knowing that a moment ago, she was a 17 year old teenage girl, not a little eight year old! And to say she was freaking out was an understatement.
'Okay, okay, calm down, Dorée,' she mentally said to herself, 'Just take a deep breath, and try to remember what happened last,'
And she did exactly that as she tried to remember what happened after she was stabbed by that bitch Cinder Fall. As she calmed herself down, the memories began to come back to her: When she woke up, and found her soon-to-be surrogate Ruby Rose had chased off Cinder, her parents coming to help her, then accepting her as their daughter, much to her happiness. And then...the Grimm Ichor...called the 'Corruption' by some people, was killing her.
She could still remember how it was slowly, painfully killing her, while practically driving her mad at the same time. If she had survived of course.
She then remembered the voice of a man. Someone with grey eyes, telling her something. Something important, but what?
She then blinked as one word clicked into her mind...reborn.
That was the word the man said. And after that, she remembered the words her mother spoke to her...the same words that she used to unlock her father's aura.
After that, everything was all blurry, and then...darkness.
She frowned as her eyes closed.
"I...I died...," she said, before her eyes opened, as a heartbroken smile appeared on her face, "And just...just when I was accepted by them...when they actually acknowledged me...that they wanted to love me."
She then began to chuckle bitterly at the irony of it all.
"Hehehehe, guess what you psychotic scientist?" she asked no one in particular, "They proved you wrong."
She then raised her head up and shouted to the sky.
"You hear that!? You. Were. WRONG!"
She then collapsed to her knees, as her hands covered her face to hide the tears, as she laughed both in happiness and despair.
"Th...they proved you wrong...," she managed to say in between laughs, "But...it didn't last long,"
Despite achieving what she had always dreamed, it was a Pyrrhic victory. She died before she could even truly savor it. To feel more of Pyrrha's comforting embrace, and to see Jaune's proud smile on his face...
...she wanted more of it. So badly that she could taste it.
But she knew she wouldn't. Cause they were still alive, while she was dead.
"It's...i-it's not fair," she said to herself, as her laughs slowly began to turn to sobs, "It's not fair..."
Her arms wrapped around herself as her head bowed before it touched the ground, her eyes closed as the tears flowed.
"It's not fair!"
Her wail echoed across the grass field, as the wind continued to blow, as the girl's cries continued to go unanswered. She was alone once again, and if this is what people called a peaceful afterlife, then it's all a bunch of bullshit when you're the only one here. How could it be peaceful, when the people she wanted to share it with are not with her.
"Mama...Papa...please...," she said, actually acting like her now proper age, "...I need you...please...don't leave me alone again,"
She continued to lay there, not minding her surroundings, as she continued to wallow in her despair...
...until a hand gently placed itself on her back, and rubbed soothing circles.
This caused her to stiffen, as her eyes snapped open.
Gulping slightly she slowly began to rise. Blinking at the light, and from the tears, her vision focused on the figure in front of her until it became clear. Her eyes widened at who it was before her.
The red hair, the eyes that were the same as her own, the kind smile, even the armor she was wearing, she knew exactly who this person was.
Her eyes brightened with hope as the person she looked at was none other than Pyrrha Nikos...her mother. The Spartan only smiled as she caressed her cheek.
"It's okay Dorée," the Spartan Girl of Mistral said comfortingly, "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon,"
Dorée was shocked for a moment, as she processed the words that were just spoken to her. Then in a burst of speed she threw her arms around Pyrrha's neck.
The said redhead, though surprised, only smiled as she returned the desperate embrace the little girl was giving her with her own loving one.
"I...," Pyrrha heard as she felt the girl trembling, "...I thought I wouldn't have the chance to see you again...Mama,"
The champion's smile never left as tears of happiness also flowed from her face. She proceeded to hold Dorée a little tighter, while giving soft hushes in order to calm her down.
"It's okay now, Dorée. It's okay," she said softly, "I'm here...right here,"
The two stayed like that, not saying anything for a moment, both wanting to burn this memory into their hearts and minds forever.
"Hey now, don't forget me!" a male voice said, causing Dorée's eyes to open, and blink confusedly. Pyrrha only giggled as she let the girl look in the direction where it came from, and Dorée's eyes widened, at seeing a man with blonde hair the same as her own blonde, while clad in white gold trimmed armor. All over a black hoodie.
"P...Papa?" she whispered her question.
The young man just smiled as he walked over, knelt down, and placed a hand on her head.
"Hey there, Dorée," the man, Jaune Arc, said, "Sorry we weren't here when you woke up. We were busy outside,"
Dorée, blinked at that, "O-outside?" she asked, and Pyrrha answered her.
"You probably don't remember, since your body was dying, so we'll tell you what happened," she said, and thus the two explained what happened when she was suffering from the Grimm Ichor Cinder delivered into her via the obsidian blade. When Canus came, and offered to split her aura and soul into two, thus serving as a mental link between Pyrrha and Jaune. Thus, when they believe the time is right, Dorée will be reborn into the world, this time as a normal human, rather than a clone. Needless to say, Dorée was shocked, while at the same overjoyed at having a second chance.
She will actually be born instead of created.
"So, how long?" she asked and looked at her parents, "How long do I have to wait?"
Both of her parents both blushed, before sheepishly scratching the back of their heads.
"Uhh, not too long," Jaune said, "We...still need to deal with Cinder and Salem, along with everyone else you mentioned in your scroll,"
Dorée nodded in understanding, knowing that she wouldn't be safe if they were still around...especially that damn psychotic devoted zealot of a scorpion, Tyrian Callows.
"Until then...," Pyrrha began, as she wrapped her arms around the soon to be former clone, "How about you tell us about your former...past life?"
The now eight year old girl grimaced a bit, but she nodded...she had nothing else to do for a long while.
"Well, where do you want me to start?"
8 Years Later
The wails of a infant's cries filled the room, as the red haired mother of said infant took in deep breaths to recover her strength after the ordeal of giving birth.
"Congratulations! It's a beautiful girl!" the doctor said, a happy tone in his voice, as he proceeded to hand the wrapped up infant to the exhausted, but happy mother, as tears of happiness ran down her face.
She eagerly accepted her child, who she had brought into this world and whom she had been waiting for so long for. And now the waiting has paid off.
"Dorée...it's been too long...," the young woman said, as she caressed the soft cheek of her daughter's face.
"Pyrrha...," a voice said, as Pyrrha Arc-Nikos, turned and saw her partner, and now husband, Jaune Arc-Nikos.
Both of them had changed in the 9 years since the Battle of Beacon, and 7 years since the day they defeated Salem, by locking her up in Beacon's Vault for the Relic of Choice, along with her entire faction. Nine years since the day... when the woman who would be their daughter, sacrificed herself so that they would live.
Jaune had become a strong Huntsman like he said he would, and one that Pyrrha knew he would be, while the now former champion had retired from dueling in tournaments, the events of Beacon being a key factor in her decision. She now works as an instructor at a recently opened combat school in Northern Vale, where she works alongside with Ruby, teaching the next generation of Huntsmen and Huntresses.
Pyrrha smiled as she held the infant up, so that the white knight could see her.
"Look at her, Jaune," she said, her voice cracking with emotion, "Our maiden knight is here...,"
Jaune's smile was wide as he saw the infant, noticing the blonde red streaked tufts of hair on her head. He then looked to the doctor and nurses.
"Could you...give us a moment alone please?" he asked, and the doctor and his staff nodded as they left the room, wanting to give the couple all the alone time they needed with their child.
As soon as they left, Jaune walked forward and wrapped Pyrrha and Dorée in a long warm embrace.
After they separated, Jaune then looked at the infant, created by the love between him and Pyrrha.
He carefully placed a hand on the babe's head, as he gently stroked it back and forth.
The baby made a cooing noise that caused the two partners to laugh happily.
"Hey Dorée...," Jaune said, "...welcome back,"
"Ooooh, how much longer do we have to wait?" growled one white haired woman, wearing a grey petticoat combat skirt dress, with a white snow flake on the back. She was tapping her foot impatiently, waiting for news of Dorée's birth.
"Easy there, Ice Queen," jokingly said a blonde bombshell who was wearing a long tan coat. with orange lining and golden border over an orange tank top, black pants, with a purple bandanna wrapped around her knee, and finally, a pair of knee high boots, with gold metal toe and heel trim. "Things like this take time. I should know, I was there when Blake had her kids,"
Another woman, this time, a black haired girl, wearing a kimono style dress, and holding a blonde haired toddler in her arms, blushed at that. The key features of this particular woman, and her own child, was that they both had cat ears.
"Yang...," Blake groaned in embarrassment, while the said brawler just laughed.
"Still can't believe it's been eight years," said a young woman, wearing a red, white, black attire, including a red hood, "You'd think they'd done this as soon as possible,"
"They didn't want to rush things, Ruby," said a man wearing a green ninja like attire, with two pistols by his sides, "They wanted to make sure that there was no sign of any more of Salem's followers."
Ruby Rose, now 23 years old, and a well accomplished Huntress, and part time teacher at the recently built Rouge D'or* Combat School, nodded at that. Especially after the incident at Haven Academy, where they barely stopped it's fall, after they discovered the Academy's own Headmaster, Professor Lionheart, was a traitor. After that, war nearly sparked between Atlas and Mistral, with some clashes occurring.
Thankfully they managed to prevent it, though not without suffering any losses...
That being Oscar, a reincarnation of Ozpin, after the said headmaster's previous body was killed by Cinder.
Her sad thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and Jaune stepped into the lobby, holding something wrapped in a gold colored red trimmed blanket. Everyone's eyes widened as hopeful smiles formed on their faces.
"Everyone...meet the newest, and long awaited, member of the family," He said, as he showed the infant to the rest, as Team RWBY, along with the rest of Team JNPR came over to look at the new arrival. All the girls cooing at how cute the baby looked, while Ren looked at Jaune, a small smile on his face, as he nodded his head in congratulations.
Jaune returned the nod, as he looked back at his daughter. Unlike her past life, Dorée was born, instead of created in a tube. Instead of being reviled and resented, she will be loved. And instead of being used or seen as a weapon, she will be treated like a human being, and given a choice on what she wanted to do for her future.
More importantly, she will be safe from people who would want to hurt her. Especially Doctor Merlot, after his illegal experiments were exposed, along with other dirty secrets that were covered up by help from some members from the Councils of Remnant, leading to their eventual dismissals and arrests.
And as for Cinder? Well... let's just say Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned...especially if that is Pyrrha Nikos.
Of course, Cinder's little posse, Mercury and Emerald, along with Roman Torchwick's partner Neopolitan were still at large, the former two for obvious reasons, while the latter, because she was scared of an angry, but more competent Yang. But at the moment, they were alright, since the three were not seen in months. Of course, Yang promised to give the three a sound deserved beating if she ever catches them, especially with her new robotic arm.
He then looked at Ruby, who was looking at the baby, her silver eyes glistening with tears at seeing the girl, who she failed to save that night, now right here before her, reborn. The blonde knight knew that the Rose Reaper was still somewhat blaming herself for what happened the original Dorée, but it was mostly unnoticeable, sans for a few.
He then smiled as an idea clicked in his mind.
"Hey Ruby...," he said, making her perk up, "...wanna hold her?"
Ruby's eyes widen at this, before she looked between Jaune, and the baby in his arms. This continued for a few moments before she reluctantly nodded her head and accepted the little bundle from Jaune. With helpful instruction from the white Paladin, Ruby carefully cradled the infant's head and held her back and rear end for a more stable and comfortable position.
The young woman continued to hold the baby in her arms, just as the eyes opened for the 'first' time.
They were the same vibrant green as her own mother's eyes, as they looked at Ruby with curiosity. Ruby could only give a smile as she looked at the cute infant, who would no doubt be a tough fighter just like her mother, but a good strategist like her father. She then gulped nervously before speaking the words she planned on saying when she learned of how she raised the former clone as her own.
"H-Hey there, Dorée," she said, "I guess...you can call me your auntie Ruby,"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh softly at that comment. Despite how old Ruby gets, she's still that optimistic, but slightly confused, and nervous, girl.
And that's just fine with them.
Despite the Grimm still being Humanity's thorn in it's side, with Salem gone for good, and Beacon reopened after two years of being rebuilt, it will be less dire for them in the long run.
And for a certain former clone, even though her memories from her past life were not awakened yet, could now live a life she had always wanted.
Patriot-112: Okay, not gonna lie, this was a tad difficult. And sorry I didn't add any other specific people who should be here, like Pyrrha and Jaune's families, the Beacon Academy teachers, etc. And yes, sorry, I killed off Oscar, because so far, the only thing we know about him at the moment is that he is a farm boy, who is somehow destined to be the next Ozpin...however that works.
*: If you know your French, you know what this name means.
But, enough about that. Until then peeps, La~ter!
(Edit: And finally, the last edit for this fic. Albeit not as big as the last one, but it certainly beefed it up a bit.)
