This is a more somber chapter. Read and Review
I have a rendevous with death
Jaune Arc glided his worn blade on the whetstone grinding the steel against the rock eyes focused as the edge of his sword became sharper than it's ever been.
At some disputed barricade
He stowed Crocea Mors into its all too familiar sheathe before strapping it to his belt dipping his hand to Pyrrha's sash giving the worn and weathered cloth a mournful smile with a single tear falling on it.
'This is for you Pyrrha. I'll be seeing you soon, so wait for me just a little longer my love.'
When Spring comes back with rustling shade
The last of the Arc line took in a breath as he stood to his feet tightening his armor straps and walking to the back of the bullhead. The pilot gave Jaune a thumbs up and he nodded back as the ramp opened with the wind rushing in filling the cabin with cold air. He came alone on this mission, given information courtesy of Neo where Cinder was hiding leaving only a note behind to his friends at what he was about to do. Jaune knew they would hate him. Hate him for rushing off to a fight that would surely lead to his death but he didn't care. The woman responsible for ripping his partner away from Remnant, the woman who killed his best friend, the woman who had taken away his love was wounded, she was weakened and he needed to take this chance no matter the consequence.
I have a rendezvous with Death
Jaune dove out of the bullhead the wind whipping at his face as he freefell toward the hole his foe was hiding in. He flipped in midair activating his extended shield form gliding in smoothly before tucking into a combat role much like his late partner. The Arc scanned the area looking for any signs of Grimm only to find none, sword unsheathed and shield deployed entering the cave slowly keeping his guard up.
When Spring brings back blue days and fair
He kept a good pace walking through the cave ready to meet his enemy head-on. Aura focused, body ready, and mind determined intent on ending her life.
It may be he shall take my hand
"You're foolish boy..." Her voice echoed throughout the walls making Jaune start to surge with anger as he heaved up his shield more forward.
"I may be wounded, but I am not beaten. I remember you very clearly from Haven." Jaune's grip tightened on his sword and his shield arm started to shake.
And lead me into his dark land
"Yes...your little outburst...about the people I've killed...the lives I've ruined...but you weren't thinking about others when you said that. You were only thinking of the failure you used to call a partner." Jaune's teeth ground so hard together they made a resounding snap as he bellowed out a scream.
"SHOW YOURSELF FALSE MAIDEN! TODAY IS THE DAY YOU PAY FOR YOUR SINS!" Silence followed for a few brief moments as the echo of his voice drowned out.
"Be careful what you ask for."
A torrent of flame erupted from the darkness revealing the exhausted Cinder, still kicking even after the thrashing she received from Penny earlier. Jaune ducked under the attack at the last second charging forward with his shield raised high, the false maiden producing a glass blade in one arm still clutching her stomach rushing toward the Arc to meet him. Their blades collided showering them both in sparks as their swords screeched in protest pushing against one another. Despite her weakened state, Cinder was able to match Jaune's strength but that was fine with him, he wanted to prove himself. The Arc swiped his shield upward donning a slight smile as his weapon collided with the underside of Cinder's chin throwing the woman back into the ground hard.
And close my eyes and quench my breath
The false Maiden snapped back with a snarl raking her Grimm arm across her adversaries face cutting through Jaune's aura despite his focus. The Arc slashed in retaliation forcing her back taking a defensive stance. Cinder rocketed forward with her maiden powers active catching Jaune in the chest heating her hand and warping his chestplate slamming him down into the ground intent on burning him alive.
It may be I shall pass him still
Jaune gave out an agonized shriek activating his semblance flooding himself with aura breaking Cinder's hold on him. He quickly tore the straps from his chestplate looking at the ruined armor mournfully as the steel melted into the ground in a burning hiss.
I have a rendezvous with Death
Cinder had a sinister smile spread across her face wiping away a bit of blood that had dribbled out of her mouth.
"You're one step closer to death now. Soon you'll be reduced to ashes just as I did to your partner."
On some scarred slope of battered hill
Jaune did his damndest to reign in his emotions but they got the better of him, he surged forward rushing to meet Cinder's glass blade that she had rebrandished. They collided once again, Jaune pushed the offensive making sure to keep their blades locked with one another as he reared back his head and crashed his skull into hers. The Arc reeled from the blow shaking his head regaining his focus, Cinder recovered faster raising back her clawed hand in a spearlike fashion bringing it down onto Jaune's shoulder forcing his aura to spark violently and nearly give way from the attack.
When Spring comes round again this year
The Arc lashed out with his shield arm again driving its sharp point into the Grimmlike appendage relishing in hearing the sickening squelch of flesh tearing and bone snapping. Cinder screeched in agony slamming him away forcing Jaune onto his back lunging on top of him shifting her sword into a serrated dagger bringing it down onto his chest.
And the first meadow-flowers appear
He focused his aura to where Cinder held the blade, the clash of white against black lighting up the room. Cinder forced her still functioning arm onto the handle of her blade pushing down with all the strength she had left. Jaune pushed back but couldn't stop the knife from finally getting past his aura and piercing his flesh blood already seeping from the fresh wound.
God knows 'twere better to be deep
Jaune expanded his shield to its fullest capability propelling Cinder off of him. He focused what little aura he had left and sealed his wound shut getting back to his feet slowly taking a good look at his hated enemy. Her nose was broken, left arm unmoving and unusable and her red dress grew a darker crimson with each passing moment.
Where Love throbs out in blissful sleep
'Her wound...it's opened up, that's where I'll end this.' Jaune was resolute returning his shield to sheath form and adding it to his blade creating the greatsword that he used to fight the Knuckeleeve not so long ago. This was it, his final duel, one last battle, one last push.
Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath
Jaune held his sword high letting out a battlecry as Cinder intercepted his blade with difficulty, the added weight pushing her back. She shoved his blade aside slashing across Jaune's back in a vicious attack instantly spattering blood and shattering his aura. The Arc was undeterred and spun around in a spinning slash impacting his blade right into her stomach wound forcing the hastily tended injury open making blood start to pool at her feet. Cinder's eyes flashed and flickered with one last burst of power flying forward into Jaune embedding her blade into his chest down to the hilt spraying plasma all over herself as she twisted the blade causing even more blood to leak out.
"Do...you believe in destiny?" Jaune asked, Cinder opened her mouth to speak only to gurgle up a throat full of blood looking down to her stomach where Jaune's blade had pierced her abdomen.
"Because...I...Don't."
But I've a rendezvous with Death
Cinder went limp in a near-instant, her blade still stuck in his chest falling to the ground in a heap, the power of the fall maiden bursting from her corpse and out of the cave to who knew where. Jaune sat up and crawled to the nearest wall cradling the wound in his chest seeing the blood slip through his fingers, eyes beginning to grow heavy hearing the faint sound of footsteps.
And I to my pledged word am true
Ruby collapsed at Jaune's feet tears already pouring down her cheeks as sobs wracked her body hands shakily reaching out to cradle his bloody face. He looked into her beautiful silver eyes and smiled choking down a glob of blood, weakly raising his hand to her head staining strands of her hair with his lifeblood.
"I...did it Ruby...I avenged...Pyrrha." He gave his best friend a smile, it was getting harder to breathe and he knew he didn't have much time left. The echoing sounds of sprinting footsteps filled Jaune's ears as he heard a strangled sob mixed with a scream and a myriad of other horrified gasps. He couldn't see what was in front of him anymore only able to feel his heart start to slow down even more and hear the choked sobs that filled the air as everything faded to black.
I shall not fail that rendezvous
Jaune's eyes opened as he sat up in what looked to be a field. He glanced around for a few moments before his eyes settled on a figure that had their back turned to him. The Arc stood up, eyes starting to become wet and a smile forming walking slowly toward her. He stopped a few feet away sucking in a breath as she turned around, her coronet sat proudly upon her head, clad in stunning white robes and looking just as she did before that fateful day.
"Pyrrha..." Was all he could get out, she was already wrapped around his chest holding him tight and pulling him down to her lips. It was the fall of Beacon all over again but instead of sorrow and loss, he felt joy and happiness. She broke away leaning her head against his.
"Hello again Jaune." She could barely speak crying just as badly as he was. Jaune wrapped his arms around Pyrrha holding her as tightly as he possibly could.
"Pyrrha...I'm home...I've been waiting for so long." Pyrrha pulled away slightly and looked up at him wiping away a tear.
"Wait no longer, I'm here Jaune and I'll never leave again, my love." Jaune couldn't say anything deciding to kiss her, they had an eternity to talk and this moment could be celebrated in silent triumph.
Chapter done. Read and Review. Next chapter will be happy again so no worries but I do plan on having some more sad one shots int the future.