He felt Taiyang move into position at his side, raising his fists. His expression… he didn't even know how to describe it. Anger, sorrow, heartbreak… it was hard to see someone like him in these conditions.
Not that he was much better anyway.
Jaune twirled his sword on his side, thought about it and promptly decided to switch to greatsword mode. He could block some attacks from Yang, definitely. But not all of them, so might as well focus on dodging.
Speaking of Yang…
She still had to move from her position. She was staring at them with a mocking smile on her face. Far different from Oobleck's and Port's neutral expression.
She was that powerful, so much that part of her old personality managed to shine through the infection itself.
For the millionth time, he was glad that Taiyang had decided to come help him. He had no idea how he would have handled his old friend alone.
Tai moved his foot forward, at the same time as Yang did.
The stalemate was over, and the two shot themselves at each other, fist forward and impacting against the other, creating a powerful shockwave.
Jaune could do nothing but cover his eyes for a moment, before joining the older blonde in the fight.
He ran on, waiting for the right moment when Yang was distracted and slipped behind her to attack. Two attacks connected. The third didn't, and he ate the girl's backhand as a retaliation.
That… that was very fucking painful. She turned towards him to continue attacking, exposing herself to Taiyang, who delivered a punch to her left cheek.
The older man, went for another punch, but it was blocked, but Jaune dived between the two and forced them apart, before she could do anything to her father.
One clash. Just one clash and the difference between her and the other Turned was immediately obvious.
His face stung from the point where she hit him. He turned back to look at his companion, who motioned with his head to start circling her. Overwhelming her from two different directions seemed like the correct choice of action.
Yang Xiao Long disagreed vehemently. He was quickly forced to sidestep a lightning quick jab, while Taiyang blocked last second a seemingly painful elbow to the stomach. He tried to catch her mid recovery with a sword swipe, but she used her prosthetic to parry his weapon. He stumbled and she caught his chin with a powerful uppercut, before leaning slightly to the side, letting her father's fist pass over shoulder, grabbing the arm and performing a picture perfect judo slam.
The earth cracked underneath the man's body, but fortunately he had the presence of mind to roll away from the follow up downward punch and getting back up.
Jaune, in the meantime, got back up and took two Aura Boosters. Message received, war of attrition is NOT an option here. She dealt way too much damage, on top of being unfairly quick. It dawned on him that she had parried his greatsword. A bloody greatsword! He knew that she was strong, but this much?!
His attention went back to the fight between father and daughter. They were exchanging blows, but Taiyang was obviously on the back foot. Yang, on the other hand, was seemingly not paying attention…
Deciding to be reckless, once more, he used his new boots to get close to the back of the woman and shoulder checking her right into the older man's loving embrace, who did not waste his opportunity, delivering a devastating right hook, followed by a left uppercut that left her open for him, who slashed mercilessly Yang's midriff and bodily threw her across the field, right at the feet of Summer's grave.
They had a moment to catch their breaths, moment that Jaune used to offer a Booster to his companion, who took it gratefully. He was down to 10 now. He hoped that they would be enough.
Yang started getting back up, and the two squared back up. They weren't even close to being done.
She raised up and smirked at them, like a cat who cornered a mouse. He asked himself what her plan could be…
Then he remembered. The reason why you didn't just screw with Yang Xiao Long and hoped to get away with it.
He barely had the time to mentally tell himself: "Oh shit, Semblance!", before his opponent slammed her fists together, her usual golden Aura replaced by a menacing crimson red, and shot forward.
Taiyang couldn't block the elbow this time around and he was left breathless, while Jaune found himself being lifted with one hand around his throat. She smiled like a savage and started to squeeze, before throwing him away like he was trash.
Fortunately she had taken too much glee with her ministrations, so much that she had completely forgotten about her father, who wrapped his arms around her stomach and lifted her, hitting her with a painful looking supplex.
He coughed, holding his bruised throat, and took two Boosters. He couldn't afford to be grabbed like this, damn it. He had gotten a tiny bit overzealous and forgot Yang's main tool, like a complete idiot, and he paid the consequences for it. What little momentum they had was basically gone…
His instincts screamed at him to roll, and he did so without thinking about it. Good thing that he did, for Yang shot like a bullet in the place where he was just a second prior. Seemed like she was determined to not lose sight of him. He almost wanted to chuckle, but his throat still hurt, so he refrained.
He turned one eye on Taiyang, who was getting back up after being dropped on his ass probably, but he was immediately forced to turn his attention back on his former friend, who left him not a single chance to either breath or retaliate.
So he was forced into a dangerous dance, dodging every swing and punch like his life depended on it. And it kinda did, to be honest.
That's when the solution finally hit him. Yang was strong enough to keep remnants of her old personality, but the infection had taken its tool, enhancing a very bad habit of hers. In this case, it had given her a very bad case of tunnel vision. So he just had to survive for a bit, until…
There! At her last jab, he let himself fall on the ground, causing her to overshoot and unbalancing herself. Taiyang was ready to capitalize. His fist smashed on her cheek like a train, followed by another, and another. He hit five consecutive strikes, before Yang blocked the sixth and prepared her counter. But Jaune was ready.
During his travels, he had learned much about the way of the sword. Mainly, that it could be used to do much more than just slashing, and every part of the weapon could be lethal.
With that in mind, he reversed his hold on Crocea Mors, gripping it from the blade itself, close to the cross guard, and thrusted forward, slamming the pommel against her stomach.
The effect was immediate and Yang buckled, folding like a pretzel. Taiyang freed himself and stepped back, while Jaune positioned himself behind her, kicking her shin to make her drop on her knees.
He whispered a heartfelt apology. Then he drove Crocea Mors against her back, blade first this time, causing a small earthquake.
Believing that the fight was over, he took a couple of steps back and fell on his ass, exhausted, offering one more Booster to Tai.
He kept his hand forward for a tiny bit, but when his companion didn't take the item, he raised his head… and his eyes almost bulged out of his skull.
Slowly, painfully, Yang was getting back up. And she was not smiling anymore.
But she obviously looked tired and injured. She was surely beatable at this point. So, he raised up to his feet as well, ready to continue, but stopped when he noticed that she was not looking at them. Rather, she was staring at the ground.
His eyes followed hers, and he gulped loudly.
He will admit, he had made many mistakes since his life started. Some more even since he had been revived. But, as he stared at mop of yellow hair laying innocently on the cold, unforgiving earth, hair that he had chopped off with his last attack, he had no choice but curse himself relentlessly.
He might have just made his biggest mistake yet.
Yang, for once, was in complete agreement with him.
She pushed herself back on her feet and screamed, her power pouring out of her like a waterfall.
Taiyang was also not amused, as he raised his fists once more, panting like a dog.
Only that her eyes where completely focused on him and him alone. Her father wasn't even in the equation anymore. She wanted his blood, damn everything else.
Last second, he decided to switch modes and went back to sword and shield. Dodging probably wasn't going to be an option anymore…
Yang boomed across the field, and he bravely hid behind his shield. Hey, whatever you have to do to survive, no time to be picky.
Not a second later he felt a locomotive slam into into him, and he immediately lost feeling of his left arm, the one holding the shield.
It didn't stop there. Hit after hit, jolt after jolt, he was pretty sure his arm was about to break. If it hadn't already. He couldn't hold for much longer…
Finally he heard footsteps and the pressure was lifted, allowing him to fall onto his knees. It took three entire Boosters to gain feeling on his appendage once more, and two more to get back on his feet. That was so damn close…
He raised up once again, only to tumble on the ground once more when Taiyang was thrown into him, causing the older blonde to pass out.
Damn it, not now!
Jaune quickly pushed the other man's body off him and punctured him with two more Boosters, hoping beyond hope that it would be enough, but that was all that he could do.
Yang was upon him in an instant, her hands once again around his throat, both of them this time. As she squeezed he tried to fight, but eventually the lack of oxygen caused him to weaken, dropping Crocea Mors on the ground.
She started walking holding his body like that towards the cliff, probably with intention of dropping him to his death.
He wanted to fight… but he couldn't. He couldn't move, couldn't think, he was foaming from the mouth.
His life flashed before his eyes… but then he heard the sound of metal tearing flesh and he was dropped.
As his brain started catching back up, he saw his weapon sheathed inside Yang's body… with Taiyang being the one holding it.
But… she wasn't done. Her hand formed a fist, ready to end her father's life. He didn't think. He acted.
His own hand gripped the handle of Mors Celeri, his dagger… and moved with the last of his strength, piercing her heart with a resounding and haunting sound reverberating in the air.
Yang moaned and fell to her knees… and he could see it. Her irises went back to the usual lilac, her skin lost the black linings. She was normal again…
Her eyes switched between him and her father… and smiled. Smiled that it was over, that her torment was done, that she couldn't hurt anyone else. And irony. Like she had already seen a scene similar to this.
She lurched forward, her arms wrapped around him and whispered.
"Atta Vomit Boy…"
And just like that… she disappeared into smoke, like all the Turned before her.
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LEGENDARY HUNTRESS FALLEN
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Obtained: Sun Dragon's Aura
Both him and Taiyang fell forward face first, exhausted beyond words.
They were both tired and sick. Sick of the situation. Sick for what they had to do. And a gentleman's agreement took place.
Taiyang pretended not to hear the sounds of him taking his last Booster and panting…
And he pretended to not hear the older man crying.
They rested on the ground for almost an hour, neither having the strength to get back up again after the physical and emotional turmoil that they had to endure.
But eventually, they had to.
He got back up, sparing a glance to his companion, still laying on the ground staring at the sky. He felt… not pity. Sympathy. A sort of kinship born from having both lost someone important to them. But hopefully, not for too long.
Now… the Relic. It should have been around there somewhere… maybe Yang's Aura might provide a hint. Taking the Reader, he figured he might as well give it a shot.
Aura once belonging to Yang Xiao Long, powerful Huntress and heroine of Beacon. When the infection took over, Yang was stubborn enough to still retain a modicum of sense of self, however miniscule. When tasked with hiding the Relic, she brought it to the place where no one with even an ounce of morality would ever dream to check.
Use this Aura to open the gates to the rest of your journey.
A place where no one with morality would ever…
His eyes scanned the arena desperately, until only one place became obvious.
She didn't… she couldn't have…
Summer's grave was the only possible answer.
And getting close to it, he could feel it. A subtle but definite humming of power not of this world.
The Yang that he knew would have never done anything like this. But the infection cared not for your feelings, always compelling you to obey.
Obey… HER wishes.
He clenched his teeth. Really now? How low the mighty has fallen…
Jaune turned back to the older man, who had just gotten back up and advised him to go back to the boat. He wouldn't like what was about to happen.
Somewhat weakly, Taiyang nodded, needing only to spare a glance at him and the grave to understand. Or resign himself to the obvious, more like. Shakily, the man started heading back, and he felt like shit all over again.
Another hit. He wondered how many more they would both be able to take before folding. But with a bit of luck, the poor father should be able to take a breather now. He had played his part, Ozpin would say. Him though… he could only endure.
With a weary sigh, Jaune rolled up his sleeves and moved towards the grave.
He got on his knees and sent a prayer to Summer Rose, apologizing for what he was about to do. And finally… he started digging.
It was a harrowing experience. Defiling a grave… he never, ever thought that he would end up doing something like this. His younger self would have been appalled. This is what being a Huntsman means? He could imagine the disgust on his face… her face. Poor Ruby… who's going to tell her about this when she gets back to normal?
Fortunately enough, it took only five minutes to finish digging. The longest five minutes of his life, for sure, but relatively brief, all things considered. And when he did finish…
There it was. Vale's own Relic, one of the objects that caused immense pain and suffering to everyone involved in this senseless war.
The Crown of Choice.
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RELIC CLAIMED
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As he took it, he felt and underlying sense of disgust. This what he got. He killed one of his best friends for… for this thing. For what basically amounts to a slap in the face by the twin gods.
His hands shook in anger, but he reigned it in. This could be fixed. Yang's death wasn't the end. He couldn't let it be the end, he wouldn't allow it.
He glanced back at the tomb, sorrow filling his soul once more. He couldn't just leave it like this… the woman who's place of rest has been profaned twice did not deserve it.
With a need to quiet down the demons in his head calling him a monster, he carefully deposited the earth back from where it was dug up, before standing up and leaning his head forward to pay his, late, respects. He should have started to feel better, he was sure that Summer would have understood, she had to.
He didn't.
Jaune attached the Relic to his belt and started the trek back to the boat, heart heavier than ever before, half expecting not to find it. Not that he would blame Taiyang, he surely felt like he deserved to be left behind.
When came back, the boat was still there, floating lazily above the water. With a weary sigh, he climbed back aboard, wanting nothing more than to leave this damned island behind.
Almost like magic, the vessel disengaged itself from Patch and started the journey back to Vale. Taiyang must have been waiting for him. He took a deep, long breath…
And collapsed against the railings of the ship, throat burning.
Why? Why him? Anybody else would have been better for this. Literally anyone, he wasn't even exaggerating at this point. So…
Why?
He didn't get an answer. What he got was the sounds of footsteps stopping on his left and a body sitting down.
He buried his face in his arms, unwilling to even face the man beside him. How could he?
"Did you get it?"
Jaune nodded his head, head still down.
"Then it was worth it. I know that you must be feeling like shit. I am too. And even though I know that it couldn't be avoided… even though I believed that I was prepared… a part of me can't help but resent you".
He understood. He resented himself too. But he still found the strength to shakily ask for forgiveness, even if just barely.
To his surprise, he felt a hand soothingly caressing his head. He raised up half of his face to look at the other man. He was smiling, even if he had tears in his eyes.
"You are too young to be doing this. Too young to be forced to do even half of the things that you've done until now. Too young… to suffer like this. But the fact that you're managing anyway is proof of your strength, something that not many people possess. You are a good kid, and I don't regret helping you. So… I forgive you. And I'm sure that Yang, Ruby and Summer… they would forgive you too. Even if you don't feel like forgiving yourself".
With that, Taiyang Xiao Long lifted himself up and left him with his thoughts.
Thoughts that continuously spinned in his head, but throughout it all, his eyes fell back on the Crown of Choice. His journey had just begun, he still had many trials left to face.
But now… Yang relied on him. He couldn't afford to give up now, not when her life danced in the palm of his hand.
Finally, he raised his head back up, a new sense of purpose filling him.
He will gather the rest of the Relics.
He will save the other members of team RWBY.
He will defeat anyone who gets in his way.
And Salem…
She. Will. Pay.
Hello? Is this thing on? It is? Noice.
Sooooo… where do I even begin? Apologizing won't do shit at this point, justifications I doubt anyone wants to hear (I wouldn't), but I have to say something I suppose. And the truth issues…
I'm lazy as fuck, got caught back up on Dead By Daylight after I almost escaped it and university started back up once more.
Sound like the worst excuses in the world? Because they are, I'll admit it very candidly, but it's what I got.
So yeah, my schedule is all fucked up, no surprise there. I'll try to be more consistent from now on, but I really can't make any promises.
I would also like to spend a couple of words on the Relic. To anyone who has read Coeur's story "Relic from the future", you will recognize the Crown of Choice as being one of those that he used. Now, I'm not caught up with RWBY, like at all, I don't like the show's direction, so I have no idea if the Crown is the actual canon Relic or, if not, whether the proper one has been mentioned. In case, lemme know so I can change it. And if not… this will serve as a nice reference to one of my favorite stories on this site.
Onto the review responses!
Fat swordsman: Yeah, ahahahah… about that… is it too late to beg for forgiveness?
Ultimate Kuuga: Back once more, what a surprise uh? Yeah, Jaune really saved his bacon there, doubt he would have made it alone. Qrow isn't dead, I promise, but it will be a long while before he shows up. Like, a long, LONG while. And yup, the Firecracker is defeated. Went down like a champ though, wouldn't be Yang Xiao Freaking Long otherwise.
That's all folks! Ta-ta for now.
