Chapter 31 – Ain't no Devil

*Well this is it. The final chapter to this story. I hope you enjoy it and if you don't I would like to thank you for sticking by me towards the bitter end. I know there are chapters that are bad and could use some work and with this story I think I got some useful tools that I could use if I were to make another one. Thank you all once again for staying and I do hope to see you around when RWBY volume 4 is released later today. (

*This is something that you can do if you want. Before you read this chapter I suggest you listen to a good ole song that stayed in my head as I typed this down. It's something for you to picture in your head. Remember everything that had led up to this point as you listen to this song and the song is called

"Carry on Wayward Son" By Kansas.

A single tear fell from Jaune's face. He got onto his knees, violently shaking.

"Jaune?" Ruby said. Jaune's arm stretched towards Ruby and placed the knife he had onto her hand. He used his opposite hand to grab her fingers and make her grip the knife tightly, aiming it towards his heart. His arms shook violently, trying desperately to regain some control.

"No… no you can't, you can't make me do this Jaune." Ruby shook her head making it clear that she will not allow this to happen.

"Please Ruby. I'm begging… you." The fire ejecting from Jaune's wounds would repeatedly reignite. Jaune was struggling to retain control over his body and mind, but the immense of dark aura inside him made that nearly impossible. This was the only to stop him from killing another innocent life.

"I don't want to kill you! I don't want to live in a world where you aren't in it. Can't you see that I can't live without you?"

"Yes… you can. The Ruby I know wouldn't allow something like this to stop her from achieving her goal." Ruby looked towards the knife that was gripped tightly around her hands. She closed her eyes and remembered everything that she had done with Jaune that shaped her feelings for him. From the time she first met him, to the time he lost Pyrrha. She made sure that he wouldn't let the sadness of that day stop him from continuing to move forward. She remembered the days where he had completely forgotten about his revenge on Adam for the incident in Beacon. They were both practically dating at that point until Ozpin called him in to advise him of the mission he would be assigned to in Mistral. Everything was going towards the right direction, but the lust for revenge that reawakened in his heart made it impossible for them to live a good life together.

"I want you to know… you're not like me." Ruby looked back at the knight.

"You don't lust for revenge like me. I don't sense a single drop of hatred in your heart. You are the polar opposite of me. I am the darkness and you are the light. When I look at you, it is just like you said… you're the shining beacon that leads me to my destination. Which is why you are the only one who can do this. You… you are the only one that can set me free." Jaune helped Ruby to get the knife closer to his chest. The impending death is near.

"Please… don't." Ruby said once more.

"You… will lead the people to the right direction." Jaune placed his hand on her cheek and revealing a faint smile.

"I…" The knife inched closer to his chest.

"I…" The knife slowly pierced through his armor and into his skin.

"…Love you." The knife entered his chest punctured his heart. It's certain death. Her eyes completely shut, not wanting to see the empty look of her beloved's eyes.

"Why... why do you think that I can continue on like this!? You were the same as me! We both wanted to change this world for the better! Tell me what make you think I will not become like you Jaune!? Answer me! Jaune!" Ruby violently punched the ground angered by what had occurred. Everything that they have done led up to this point. Where did she go wrong, where did they go wrong.

"Why does it have to be you!? You didn't have to take on everything by yourself! You had us… you had me! Jaune! Wake up! Wake up!" Ruby yelled. Yang, Blake, and Weiss walked towards Ruby.

"Wake up! Wake up!"

"Ruby stop!" Weiss yelled. She got a hold of both of her hands that violently shook Jaune. Ruby looked towards Weiss who also had tears in her eyes.

"Why did things have to end this way Weiss? Why?" Ruby placed her head on Weiss's shoulder.

"It's okay Ruby. I understand how you feel, but you need to understand that there was nothing we could have done to save him. He chose death rather than risking the lives of those close to him. You and I both know we would have done the same." Everyone could only stare at the lifeless body of their friend with the thought of the world hating him. He who continued walking when everything fell apart, he who give his life to the innocent who hated him, he who was not afraid to stare at the darkness in front of him, he who embraced the black void. This man gave everything up and chose to save his friends instead. This man was Jaune Arc.

"I can't believe he's gone." Yang stated.

"Jaune held everyone's anger and frustration over his shoulders and never stopped walking. He didn't care if half the world hated him. He knew very well that what he was doing was for the better. He was willing to give up his life for us… his friends." From underneath Jaune spewed out the darkness that was locked inside his body. Every aura he had absorbed from the day he obtained his power dispersed from his body, spreading throughout the forest.

"What's going on!?" Yang yelled.

"I don't know!" Blake yelled. The dark aura spread through the ground and shaped into creatures of Grimm.

"Grimm!" Weiss yelled.

"We need to get out of here! They're forming all around us!" Ruby looked at Jaune's body where the black aura came from and didn't want to leave him behind.

"Weiss help me!" Ruby yelled as she attempted to pick the knight off the ground. Her height and strength wasn't enough to lift the 6 ft knight. Weiss couldn't say no to her and inside she also felt the need to take him as well. He deserves a proper burial.

"We can't fight them all! I have an idea!" Yang yelled. She pulled out Raven's blade and slashed through the air opening a portal.

"We can use this to teleport out of here! Let's go!" Ruby and Weiss pulled Jaune towards the portal while Blake fought off the Grimm that were after them.

"Yang!" Blake yelled.

"What is it!?"

"What about him!?" Yang looked towards the man she nearly killed, Jay.

"I can still sense his aura! He's still alive!" Blake yelled. Yang calm expressions slowly turned to a scowl.

"Leave him! We don't have any time!" She went ahead and picked up Ren's body and jumped into the portal. Once Weiss helped Ruby with Jaune, she went to pick Nora up and take her inside the portal leaving Blake left to jump inside. She looked at the fallen vanquisher who had nothing else to offer to them. He fought alongside them in the past and in a way still did. However his ways were questionable, but understandable to Blake. With Jaune gone, someone is going to need to take his place, but one thing is certain to her. She will not become like him. She picked Jay up and walked inside the portal with him. The portal vanished and team RWBY escaped the danger that had arisen from Jaune's death. The forest was now infested with Grimm everywhere. What was once a settlement created by the Abyss Watchers was now gone along with them. The only thing that remained was the cracked Mausoleum that kept a portion of the darkness inside. The black mist that had spread through the cities nearby served as a beacon to the creatures of Grimm that spawned inside the forest. Imminent danger was approaching to the nearby cities.

"Ruby Yang!" Qrow yelled when he saw the two appear out of the red portal followed by Weiss, Blake, Nora, Jay, and a now deceased Jaune. The school has since been surrounded by police, armored trucks, and helicopters. News about Jaune's whereabouts quickly spread like fire bringing the world's attention to Beacon. Qrow ran towards the girls and looked at Ruby's face.

"What happened to you? Yang how did this happen? What happened to Jaune and Ren?"

"Qrow it's… it's a long story just please help me take Ruby and Nora into the infirmary please." Qrow carried Nora into the school whereas Yang helped Ruby.

"So that's him?" One of the officers said. He was observing Jaune's body and had multiple people looking over their phones.

"Yup it is. No doubt about it. These girls took him out?"

"Seems like it, but who are the other two?"

"His name is Lie Ren and he was part of his team." Blake said.

"Lie Ren huh? This man really is an ice cold killer. Only a monster would kill one his teammates." These words upset Blake, but she knows that they don't know the truth and should never know. If someone learns about this another Cinder or something worse could arise.

"Weiss, I'll take him to the infirmary. Stay here and wait for them to take Jaune and Ren. They are going to want to make an autopsy and report Jaune's death to Mistral." Blake said.

"Y-yeah… ok." Blake walked into the school with Jay on her shoulder and out came Winter, Weiss's older sister.

"Weiss are you alright!? Are you hurt!?" Winter checked her arms and her face making sure her younger sister is not seriously injured.

"Winter I'm fine."

"I'll be the judge of that. You seem fine." Winter released her sister and looked over the bodies by her.

"What happened to them?"

"I… I don't want to talk about it right now Winter."

"I… I understand. The least you can do is tell me what happened to Professor Ozpin. General Ironwood needs to know about his safety."

"Ozpin… Ozpin is… dead."

"Oh… I see." Winter looked at three paramedics that approached them. They picked up Jaune first and placed him on the stretcher. Weiss stretched her arm out to get a hold on him, but Winter stopped her before she could place her hand one last time on Jaune.

"This is something that tends to happen to Huntsmen and Huntresses Weiss whether you like it or not. If you want to lessen the chance of this happening to your team I suggest you become stronger. Push yourself further so that you can protect the people you love and won't have to face something tragic like this again." Weiss placed her palms on her eyes trying to stop the tears from releasing. She used her hands to wipe it off and wrapped her arms around Winter.

Morning arrived and the time for answers begun. Nora walked all over the school looking for Ren and Jaune. She stumbled upon Ruby and Blake who had just got out of the infirmary after being treated from their injuries.

"Ruby, Blake. Have any of you seen Ren and Jaune? They must be worried sick about me. I haven't seen them around so do you know where they might be or at least one of them?" Nora asked. Her smile was something that troubled Blake and Ruby. Neither one of them wanted to break the news to her, but it had to be done.

"Uh Nora, I need you to understand that no one wanted this outcome but…" Blake said.

"Jaune is… Jaune's dead." Ruby finished Blake's sentence. Her smile slowly faded away and turned dark. She placed her hand over her mouth and tried to swallow the revelation given to her.

"This… this had to be some sort of joke right? You… you can't be serious? Jaune was fine when we got to the forest, surely he must still be ok?"

"Nora he's dead. You have to believe me." Ruby said. Nora looked at her eyes hoping to see any small detail that could imply that Ruby must be lying but saw none.

"You're serious." Nora started to break down and burst into tears. First Pyrrha and now her leader Jaune.

"This can't be real. What is Ren going to say? What is he going to do? This is going to shatter him. It's only the two of us again. This can't happen again."

"Nora there's more you need to know." Blake said.

"What else is there to know? What else could be possibly worse than Jaune's dea…" Nora stopped. Her face grew pale and there was only one thing that went through her head. She hadn't seen Ren as well.

"No… no don't tell me." Nora said. Her legs started to shake violently until she collapsed onto the floor.

"Nora!" Ruby yelled.

"No this has to be some sort of nightmare. All of this must not be real. There's no way Ren could…" Nora grabbed her hair, pulling it in hopes of waking up and finding Ren making pancakes.

"Nora you need to calm down!"

"How do you expect me to calm down after hearing that the rest of my team are dead!?"

"Nora look at me!" Ruby yelled. Nora stared into Ruby's silver eyes.

"You're not the only one who lost someone close."

"But now… now I'm alone."

"No you aren't alone. There was something Ren wanted me to tell you before he passed. He wanted me to tell you to never stop to look at the past. He wants you to keep moving forward and to never change who you are. He will always… be with you." Nora broke down. That's something that Ren would say.

"How… how did he die?" Nora asked.

"J…" Ruby quickly interrupted Blake before she could tell Nora the truth.

"He sacrificed himself to save Weiss from Salem." Nora wiped the tears from her face and got up from the ground.

"Where is she now?"

"Salem's dead. Jaune killed her." Nora formed a fist, clearly angry at what she had done.

"Good. Someone like her doesn't need to be left roaming Remnant." Nora turned around and walked the other way.

"Nora where are you going?" Ruby asked.

"To get some fresh air. I need some time to take this all in." Nora continued walking not looking back.

"Nora!" Ruby yelled. Nora turned to see what Ruby had to say.

"You're not alone. We're here. Your family is here. I want you to understand that." Nora smiled and continued walking, disappearing into the hallway.

"I'm going to go on ahead and catch up to Nora and help her out a bit." Blake said.

"Okay." Blake followed behind Nora, not letting her take this all in herself. She needs someone close to her right now and Blake doesn't plan on leaving her alone. Not after what just happened a day ago.

"That's right. We're hovering over Selenial City where Grimm started invading since last night. Witnesses say they felt a terrible breeze fill the city along with an unusual black mist. Reports say that even some of the citizens started to fight, loot, and even escalated to killing one another. Several Huntsmen and Huntresses have already been dispatched into the area along with hundreds of soldiers. We will keep you updated with more information on the incident." A news anchor said as video showing the violence erupting in the area. The mist and Grimm arrived from the forest and only Ruby and the others knew about it. Winter was watching and waiting inside the infirmary room where Jay was being kept. No one was allowed to enter except for her. Everyone else would have to wait outside until Jay had awoken. Luckily for him, Winter was there to prevent his identity from being released to the public.

"I hope you understand the consequences of your actions Vanquisher." Winter said. She sat across from Jay who lay on a bed with monitors monitoring his condition and keeping him stabilized. The infirmary room was like your everyday room in a hospital, a window next to the bed allowing the bright sun shine onto the patient as well as a T.V for him or her to watch as they recovered from their injuries and of course, a table for friends and families to place flowers letters to their loved one. However, that table was completely empty. Winter turned to the door near her to see Ruby open it and enter inside the room. The right side of her face was bandaged up and unlike Jay's injuries, was rapidly healing.

"Good morning Ms. Rose. I hope you are recovering quickly from your injuries." Winter said.

"I'm getting better, but it'll be some time until I can return to my former self." It was obvious to Winter that Ruby wasn't in the greatest mood. She had lost two of her friends, one who she adored and loved. It isn't something that is going to be fixed in a day.

"I'm sorry for your loss. I understand how much Jaune and Ren meant to you can your friends."

"Thank you." Ruby walked over to Jay's bed and looked over him. Winter curious to know why she was here quickly asked her a question.

"If it's not too much to ask, why exactly are you here? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you in bad terms with him?" Winter turned to Jay who was still asleep.

"I don't know how I feel. There are still a lot of questions I want to ask him about Jaune. When he wakes up I'm going to get answers." Ruby said, forming a fist.

"I see. Well you don't have to worry. My men are already on their way here to bring him to Atlas and interrogate him. There's no need for you to…" Ruby cut her off.

"No! I want to hear it from his mouth. I want to know why Jaune chose death over his friends. Jay was with him for a year. I know he understood Jaune more than I could ever do. For heaven's sake they both lost someone precious to them unlike me. I thought I perfectly understood him since I lost my mother, but after what he wanted me to do… and after what he told me… I… just don't know anymore." Ruby placed her hand onto the bed sheet and tightened her grip.

"I don't understand how killing himself and entrusting me is worth his life. I've heard differently and now I'm not too sure who is right. He had a dream like me and threw it all away. Why would he do that?"

"Ruby, every person has their own unique dream. Your dream of changing the world for the better could be different to another which means their way of obtaining it will be much different. I don't know what happened between you and Jaune, but something tells me he did what was best for him, for you and the world." Ruby saw Jay's eyes lids tightening as his head slightly shook. His quiet moans were a sign of discomfort. He must be having a nightmare.

"Jay?" Ruby said, gently moving his left arm. She noticed water trickling down by the end of his left eye.

"Hey Jay." Ruby now raising her voice slightly. Jay's eyes quickly widened and he gasped for air. He didn't move his legs, body, and arms as he quickly scanned the room and was fixated in one particular area. He had trouble moving his neck, but whatever he saw disappeared and he slowly focused at the two women in front of him.

"Ruby? Urgh." Jay groaned. He tried desperately to move his body, but all it did was make the pain much worse.

"Don't try it. It seems you overexerted your muscles all over your body and basically ripped itself apart which nearly lead to a Myocardial Rupture."

"What's Myocar whatever?" Ruby asked.

"Myocardial rupture is a tear that occurs in the muscle layer of the heart wall. The tear can occur in the inner walls which divides the heart into separate chambers or on the outer wall which keeps the circulating blood within the heart. A rupture is more likely to arise when this wall is weakened or unable stretch like with death of the heart muscle. This usually leads to a heart attack which usually leads to death."

"…" Jay turned his head to the window, looking at the cloudy sky.

"Why did you save me? I tried to shoot you to kill Jaune. You should have let your sister killed me." Jay said.

"What would killing you solve?" Ruby responded. Jay took a deep breath and exhaled. The sound of the clock above him continued to tick, reminding him of Ozpin.

"You're not going to ask what happened to Jaune?" Ruby asked.

"Why do I need to ask? I already know the outcome."

"What do you mean by I already know?" Ruby asked.

"You're still alive… we're still alive. Jaune couldn't bring himself to kill you. It should be obvious to you of all people."

"You were with him for a year and I want to know why he chose to die over being with the people he loved? I understand that he didn't want to become a menace to the world, but there was a chance to save him and he didn't take it. Even in his last moments, he didn't want help from any of us. Why?"

"Help? You think Jaune wanted help? He didn't want help at all. I have something that will answer your questions, but I can't move at the moment, but I will tell you this. There was nothing to return to for him. He killed his teammate and it seems that he gave you a beating." Jay looked at Ruby's injuries that were wrapped around with bandages.

"If he were to return, if we somehow found a way for him to recover, what would await him? A dead teammate that he killed with his own hands, a teammate who he would have to look at her eyes for the rest of his life knowing that he was the one who killer her loved one and the person he nearly killed. If I were him… I wouldn't want to return." Jay turned his head back to the window where he continued to watch the clouds go by. Ruby found it hard to keep her emotions in check and decided it would be best if she got outside and get some fresh air. She marched out of the room and exited the school.

"That wasn't necessary." Winter stated.

"When I'm able to move again, we're going to have a long chat Winter."

Three days went by and the teams were still a bit off by what had happened. Jay regained his movements, but still pained him to move. However that didn't deter him to request Ruby, Weiss, and Blake to his room, the room outside of the school that Jaune had taken over after Jay's disappearance. Jay looked at the four armored racks that he kept the living room for his sneaking suits. A spotlight shined over each one, but one of them was changed. One of the armor racks held a bronze chest piece along with a bronze crown, a red drape above the bronze greaves and a pair of tattered brown opera gloves. The whole thing was badly burned, but yet it was clear to Jay who it belonged to. Jay heard footsteps approaching him from behind and turned to see the three girls he called out for.

"What is it that you want?" Blake asked. Jay looked to the entrance of his underground shelter and noticed two other individuals entering inside. It was Nora and Yang.

"There was something that I was entrusted to give to Ruby and Weiss if he ever ended up dead or imprisoned for the rest of his life." Jay pulled out a saucer shaped mechanism that he placed on the white table behind him. He pressed a button and a hologram projection appeared in front of them. It was none other than Jaune Arc, the knight who recently gave his life to protect the world from himself.

"Jaune?" Ruby and Weiss said in unison.

"So is this thing on? I don't want to look like an idiot just like the first day of school." Jaune said.

"It's working. Trust me. Go on ahead and say what you wanted to say." A voice was heard that sounded very similar to Jay.

"Okay. This is meant for Ruby and Weiss who I have not seen for half a year. I… don't know where to start. I guess the best place to begin with is to say… I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I disappeared like that and didn't bother reaching any of you. The truth is, I don't want to bring you any more trouble that you already have in your plate. I don't want you to get involved with the mayhem I have brought to the kingdoms. None of you deserve this kind of life. I have done… questionable things that would make all of you look different at me. You might go far as to say you no longer know me, but if it means that you will no longer be in trouble because of my actions then that's okay. I don't care what the world thinks of me, whether as an enemy or a friend. I figured out recently that I can't save everyone, so the only thing I can do as of now is keeping my friends safe and the two of you happy." Jaune got down on one knee and reached his arms out. He perfectly placed his hands on top of Weiss's and Ruby's head.

"I know the two of you will never change your feelings for me even if I happened to go dark side, but I want the both of you to know… that I will always look over you. I know what you want to hear out of my mouth and I'm not sure if it will have the same meaning to you two but, I love the both of you with all my heart and nothing will ever change that. I wish I could give you the care and attention that the both of you deserve I really do, but this road I'm taking… it's something that I alone have to endure. Take care the two of you and I know for certainty that I can rely on all of you to make these kingdoms a better place for everyone to live in if something happens to me. Goodbye." Jaune stood back up and stood proudly with his hand on his sheathe and his eyes forward, staring at what the team thinks is the future of Remnant. The hologram remained still which Jay proceeded to move his armor stand and instead place the hologram of Jaune Arc right next to Pyrrha's scorched armor set. Ruby and Weiss looked each other's eyes realizing that the both of them were dripping with tears this whole time. They looked down on the ground realizing once more that their loved one is no longer with them. Nora too was crying at the sight of her leader no longer leading her. She looked at the four armor stands and saw herself, Jaune, Pyrrha, and Ren standing proudly of what would have been their future. She was the last remaining member of team JNPR and it all came crashing towards her once more.

"Jaune may have not seen it before, but I'm sure he realized it moments before his death that you have something that he wanted to have and that is to believe at not only yourself, but in your team. You all have each other and can count on one another in times of need. Jaune believed shouldering all that trouble will help everyone else, but as we saw it only broke him down and caused his death." Jay walked over to a container and pulled out another hologram and gave it to Blake.

"What's this for?" Blake asked.

"It will help you understand the dark much more efficiently and hopefully stop you from ending up like him. Inside it contains hologram recordings of Jaune talking about his dark power and how he managed it. He made this in case if we ever came across someone with the same power." Jay handed it to her and walked over to a shelf by Yang where he kept his sigil box.

"Where's my gun?" Jay asked about his sigil one shot pistol. Yang glared at him and responded with in an annoyed tone.

"Away from you."

"I'm serious Yang. Give it back." Jay stretched his arm out expecting Yang to returning his weapon.

"I'll give you back your gun, but only if you promise me something."

"What do you want me to promise?" Jay asked. Yang pulled out his gun out of her jacket and slammed it on his hand.

"To never come near me or my friends again." Her eyes turned crimson to show that she wasn't joking around. She was dead serious about this.

"…Okay… yeah sure." She released her grip on his gun and Jay placed it in his holster.

"Yang." Weiss said. Jay grabbed his box and headed towards the exit of the room, but was immediately stopped by a group of Atlas soldiers that were behind Winter.

"What's the meaning of this?" Jay asked.

"You're too dangerous for everyone Jay. It's best if you remained behind bars for now. Winter promised that your identity will be hidden in order to maintain what good relations our kingdoms still have with Mistral. To the world, Jay Vanquisher is dead." Yang said. The soldiers got closer to Jay to which he stepped back.

"I expected that you would do something like this. To be honest, it seems like the best idea. Just… now right now." Jay opened the box and pulled out Raven's katana. Yang, shocked at what she was seeing looked at Ruby and yelled,

"Ruby! How did he get that katana!?"

"I don't know! I didn't tell anyone about the weapon. I only talked about it with Blake in our rooms!" Yang turned to Jay who slashed through the air and looked back at them once more before jumping inside.

"Damn it!" Yang yelled. Yang rushed towards the portal and attempted to jump in it before it completely disappeared but as she jumped it vanished.

"Damn him!" Yang punched the ground repeatedly, frustrated that he managed to find and run away with a weapon entrusted for safe keeping.

"How the hell did he find out where I hid it?"

One Week Later…

Team RWBY and the last remaining member of team JNPR, Nora, walked over to a small hill where they made a memorial for Jaune and Ren. Two stones were left that looked very similar to that of Summer Rose. This hill had a gorgeous view at the sun setting at the distance and allowed them to see the woods and students coming in and out of Beacon. A cool breeze swept through the area moving all brushes and leaves in the small secluded area.

"I'll continue what Jaune wanted and I'll make sure that things will not end up the same way as before. I know very well that violence isn't the key to solving this world's problems and the way to do it will be a slow process, but gradually it will become a reality." Ruby said, confidently that this is the best way to reach her goal.

"We'll continue what Jaune wanted. Remember that the only reason why he wasn't able to do this was because he took on everything by himself. We have each other to rely on and neither one of us will let the other fall." Weiss stated.

"It will be a slow process, but time is what we have. Violence will come sooner or later, but I know we're ready for whatever life throws us now." Blake said.

"That's right. We're not going to let this stop us from moving forward and I already know who my first target is." Yang said.

"You're still going to go after Jay?" Blake asked.

"Of course. He has something that does not belong to him and I'll make sure that I get it back. I guarantee it." Yang said smashing her fists together.

"If you ever need help, you know where I'll be." Nora said. Ruby walked over to her and placed her hand over her shoulder.

"We're always going to need your help. Which is why you're coming with us." Ruby said.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. You're part of our family and family never turn their backs on their own." Nora smiled and hugged her.

"Well then… let's get started." Weiss said.

"There's something that I have to do first." Blake said.

"What's that?" Yang asked.

"Since some of the White Fang soldiers found out about the involvement of Adam with the Mistral incident, the organization itself has been split in two. Today I was asked if I was interested in becoming their leader.

"That's great!" Ruby yelled.

"Yeah it kinda is. Maybe I will be able to lead them back to the right direction. To the time where violence wasn't the answer."

"See, it seems things are going our way already." Weiss stated.

"I have a good feeling about this. A new beginning with a great start!" Ruby yelled, hugging Weiss tightly.

"I need space Ruby."

Snow fell from the sky onto Atlas' school. The school was massive considering that not only was it a school itself, but it housed the kingdom's greatest scientists and engineers. This is where many of modern day technology have been created. Since the school and the government weren't two separate entities, all students are part of the military and trained as soldiers rather than students. Unlike the other schools, this one had the most promising Huntsmen and Huntresses that paved way to a better future. As the snow continued to fall, a man with a navy blue bandana wrapped around his left bicep along with military style black boots and navy blue tactical pants as well as a pair of ash armored knee pads could be seen in the distance approaching the General's living quarters. His ash colored long sleeve shirt covered by a bulky sleeveless jacket became visible as he got closer. His face was now visible to the soldiers guarding the door to General Ironwood's quarters.

"Stop right there sir. State your purpose." One of the soldiers asked.

"I'm here to see General Ironwood." The man said.

"Sorry that's not possible. The General made it clear that he doesn't want any visitors tonight." The other soldier said.

"I have authorization to talk to him." The man pulled out an I.D that higher ranking members had in order to enter unauthorized areas.

"Sorry, but no can do. You'll just have to catch him tomorrow."

"I don't have time for this." The man kneed the soldier directly at his abdomen and elbowed him with his ash ironed elbow pads on the back of his head when he bent forward. The man then pulled his focus onto the next soldier. He pushed the soldier's gun to the side and grabbed him by the left side of his face and smashed it onto the door injuring the man.

"I just lost two of my closest friends. I am not in the mood. You're going to take me to General Ironwood or else you'll just have to ask him to build you a new arm after I'm done with you."

"O-okay just let me go!" The man did what he was asked and the soldier led him inside. The inside of the building was bright and white. Ivory pillars kept the structure stable and the marble ground made this place look like a palace. The hallway was massive, filled with soldiers and staff communicating with one another and watched the two enter the room where the General was at.

"R&D huh." The man said. The soldier opened the door and let the man in to which he finally made eye contact with the General. Next to the general was an elegant woman with white luscious hair. It was none other than one of the heirs of the Schnee dust company Winter Schnee.

"Ah… Mr. Vanquisher. I was wondering if you were going to make it on time. Ms. Schnee here just arrived before you." Jay glared at the Schnee heiress and returned his look at the General.

"So what did you find out?" The General asked.

"Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Ozpin, Raven Branwen, and Salem died in combat."

"It's a shame what happened to the boys and Ozpin. Had Jaune chosen to come along with me none of this would have happened. The only thing we can do now is move on and look for another way to get the power we need to protect the kingdom and make sure that if a war does break out between Atlas and Mistral we will remain at the top.

"There's more you need to know." Jay said.

"What is it?"

"Blake Belladonna awakened the darkness that Jaune once had. Whether his death is correlated with her awakening it is currently unknown however this could prove to be useful to you."

"Is that so? She awakened the dark? This definitely will be useful for us, however she could become a problem to humanity if she isn't taken care of soon."

"I assure you that she won't become like Jaune. Unlike him, she thinks more rationally and doesn't let her emotions cloud her judgement. I can vouch for her and I will continue to look over her and if a problem does arise you can be sure that I will take care of it before it can escalate further."

"This is the first time in a long time since you started to show concern for a person Mr. Vanquisher what exactly happened when you came back?" The Headmaster asked. Jay ignored the question and continued to speak about the other discovery.

"Yang Xiao Long has inherited one of the Maiden powers. I'm sure of it, but who it belonged to before is unknown to me."

"So Yang Xiao Long inherited Amber's maiden powers? Very interesting."

"Amber?" Jay silently said. He remembered a girl who was named Amber that came out of Ozpin's office along with Jaune when he left to Mistral.

"Could it be her that had the maiden power?" Jay wondered.

"Which power did she inherit?"

"That doesn't concern you for now. Winter, stay in contact with your sister and we might be able to recruit her for our cause. She is a fighter like Mr. Vanquisher here and if I'm not mistaken you two are in good terms?"

"Not necessarily."

"I see. Well in any case I'm counting on you Winter to befriend her."

"Yes sir." Winter said. Jay walked over to Winter and gave her a small external hard drive. He slammed it on the palm of her hand, irritated by something she did.

"Here's the information that I managed to gather from most of the students of Beacon including team RWBY and the former team JNPR." Winter gave a scornful look and shifted to a more calm and relaxed look. She reached towards his shoulder and placed her hand over it and as she did a freezing breeze swept around her hand and slowly started to freeze his shoulder.

"I'd watch my tone if I were you. You wouldn't want to get someone like me furious." Winter said. As she continued to freeze Jay's shoulder he activated his semblance causing her hand to go through him and him grabbing her arm and moving it out of his way.

"I understand Ice Queen."

"Now, now let's not start this. We have a lot of things to take care of today. Penny!" Ironwood yelled. A girl with orange hair appeared in front of them who looked about Ruby's age.

"Hello General, is there something I can do for you?" Penny asked.

"How do you feel about reuniting with your friend Ruby again?"

"Ruby!? Is she here?" Penny started to look around for her friend in the room.

"No she's not her, but you can go visit her if you'd like."

"That would be great! When should I go?"

"Not right now, we'll wait for a while until things start moving. Jay I don't need you at the moment so I would like to know where you will stay for the time being." Jay turned to Ironwood and thought long and carefully of where he was going to go and there was one place he had in mind that he was going to return.

"I'm going to take a break from all of this so I'm going home."

"Home?" General Ironwood asked.

"I'm returning to Victorville."

*GASP* Jaune took a deep breath as he awoke from what was his death. He was lying down on the ground covered in leaves and dirt. He looked around his surrounding and realized he was in a heavily forested area, however, something was wrong about this place. The environment had absolutely no color. The trees weren't brown, the leaves weren't green, red, or orange, the ground wasn't tan or brown. This whole place was grey and black as if it were night and no color can be differentiated.

"Pyrrha!?" Jaune yelled out. He looked at his body and remembered what had happened. He was stabbed in the heart yet here he is still alive… at least that's what he thought.

"Where am I?"

"Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang!?" Jaune continued to yell until he heard footsteps behind him. He quickly turned and realized it was Salem. The woman he had been fighting.

"How are you alive?" Jaune asked as he took his stance as if he were ready to fight, but he realized he didn't have his weapon with him.

"I don't know, but I don't like the feeling of this place." Salem said. It was then Jaune realized that Salem no longer had those black red eyes she had. Her hair wasn't the same either and instead had a more black color to it with the front of her hair slightly grey. From the forest inside they heard the sounds of growling and loud roars approaching them.

"What the hell was that?" Jaune asked.

"They sound very similar to Grimm."

The two looked around and noticed that they are surrounded by red glowing eyes that hid behind the heavy fog that filled the forest. There were too many for them to handle. Jaune tried to activate his dark aura, but it didn't work. It was completely gone.

"I can't activate the dark." Jaune said.

"Neither can I." Salem also said.

"Salem, I think we better…" When he turned to Salem she had disappeared and he was now alone to face the beasts that surrounded him.

"Somebody... please help."

And this is where the road ends for this story. I'm pondering whether or not I should make a sequel to this which I am still wondering whether it should be focused on a single person like this story or it should be equally divided with a two or three characters. As you can see this is pretty much a cliffhanger ending which might continue onto another separate story. If you are looking forward to that then I guess that something to stick around for, but if it doesn't interest to you then thank you for taking a time to following and favorite this story. This is the first story I have ever done in my life and I actually enjoyed doing it. I always wanted to do something like this and this site was perfect for it. We reached over a hundred favorites and follows which to be honest I expected only 30 or fewer. I would like to take this time to thank those who to my knowledge were the first ones to take the time to read my fanfic.

Wagner was one of the first who left a review. I'm not sure if he is still here or not, but whether he is or isn't I would like to thank him for taking some time of his day to read it and leave a review.

Neutral40 is another who did the same thing and I would like to say thank you as well and as I said before, if you remained here towards the bitter end you are a trooper and I commend you for that.

There are a few more who are also a part of it, but they were mostly guests, but I thank you all nonetheless.

Well, this is it. This is where I go on a very long hiatus and whether I do end up making a sequel depends on whether I want to or other people want me to and if you would like me to continue this then be sure to tell me in the reviews or PM me. It doesn't matter if only a single person wants me to continue, I aim to please as many people as possible. So with RWBY volume 4 releasing later today I hope you all enjoy Roosterteeth's production and I hope that I will enjoy it as well. Until the end of the volume 4 this is goodbye for now! Thanks once again for staying with me to the end! BYE!