A/N: I received permission from the-wayward-arc on Tumblr, who wrote this, to convert it to a one-shot for the Book of Arkos. The only changes I made was grammatical and a few word changes and additions for a better flow of the story. Visit their Tumblr for more great Jaune content.
The Sacrifice
"As the Relic of Creation, it can create or recreate anything, but at a cost," Ozpin explained, having taken control of Oscar's body for a while.
"Wait, so it can create anything? Like another person?" Ruby asked, excited at the power the relic holds.
"Yes, but again, it will have a heavy cost. The relic will ask for something in equal to what you want to create." He explained to both RWBY and JNPR. Having made their way to Atlas and recovered the Relic, they had returned to the Atlas base General Ironwood gave them to use for temporary refuge. "It can create anything, which helped humanity combat the Grimm more effectively. From this humanity learned to create better ways to protect themselves. From more defensive walls to machines of war. But each creation needed something in return." He continued, the others leaning as he talked. "For weapons, it wanted only materials. For homes, it wanted trees and dirt. Each creation was given an equal value." he finished.
"So if you wish to create a life, you would need to give something of same value?" Blake asked, sitting on the couch as she gazed up from her book.
"Precisely, Miss Belladonna, though no one has tried it. They were afraid of what it would want in return." He answered, drinking some tea that Ren had brewed.
Jaune gazed at it, thinking about something when suddenly the relic began to glow, giving off a gold light as it hovered above them. Everyone was caught off guard by this, too stunned to stop the relic from flying to Jaune as he sat in a chair across the room. He closed his eyes and pulled his hands up in an attempt to protect himself but when he felt no pressure or pain from it ramming into him, he opened his eyes and looked at it.
"Jaune are you okay?" Ruby asked worryingly, Crescent Rose at the ready, the others having weapons ready as well in case something happens.
"Y-yeah I'm fine." He answered, looking at the relic as it hovered in front of him, the golden light dimmed slightly.
"What will you give?" a deep voice boomed in the room. Everyone looked around, wondering where the voice was coming from.
"Headmaster?" asked Ren, Stormflower aimed at the relic.
"It's the relic." he mumbled, looking at it and Jaune with a slight worried expression. "Mister Arc, please back away from it. Don't let it tempt you."
"What will you give in return?" the voice repeated. Jaune swallowed hard as he gazed into it. He wanted to move but his body wouldn't let him. Instead his arm reach out to it.
"Mister Arc! Don't-!" But before he could continue, a blinding light erupted from it as Jaune touched it. They all closed their eyes to protect themselves from it. When the light disappeared, the relic was still hovering but Jaune was gone. "Oh no."
"Jaune!?" yelled Ruby as she frantically looked all over the room for her friend. Everyone was panicking at this time, the Relic of Creation hovering by itself where their friend was.
"Headmaster, where's Jaune?" asked Weiss, feeling worried for the knight. Her hands were steady as she looked at Ozpin, but he stayed quiet, gripping his cane as he looked at the relic.
"The relic has him," He finally said, stunning the others.
"What do you mean? Where did it take him?" she demanded in anger, wanting to know where it took her friend.
"The relic sensed something in the young Arc. It called out to him and he answered. We cant do anything for him now, it'll be up to him if he comes back," he answered, the others looking at him, then at the relic again.
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Jaune slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to his surroundings. Once he could see properly, he noticed that he wasn't in the room anymore. Instead, everything was white and no noticeable structures he could see. He reached for his weapon but realized it was gone.
"Ruby? Ren? Yang?" He yelled, his voice echoing as he looked around. His voice echoed. He began to panic. "Okay okay, calm down, Jaune. Gotta keep a clear head if you want to get out of here." He told himself. Before he could do anything, a golden light erupted in front of him. When it dimmed, he noticed a figure of gold light stood in front of him. This figure had no noticeable facial features but did stand a good two feet higher than him. Jaune backed up a bit, sensing that this being had a powerful presence to it and even though it had no eyes, he felt like it was glaring at him.
"What will you give in return?" it asked him in the same powerful voice from before.
"W-what do you mean?" He trembled before the figure, who approached him.
"I sense in you a desire. A desire that flared up when you heard my story. A desire to bring life," it said, crossing its arms across its chest. Jaune eyes widened. He lowered his head.
I'm in the relic. He thought, still looking at his feet.
"Yes. I brought you in here so that you may tell me your desire and what you will give in return, Jaune Arc." Jaune looked up at it, surprised.
"H-how did-"
"I read your thoughts. Nothing can be kept from me," It answered before he could finish.. Its voice sounded annoyed at this point. "I know of your family. Your ancestors have played important roles in the world's history, being saviors and changing history itself." Jaune was stunned at this; his ancestors were really something then if even this powerful figure spoke of them highly. "Arcs have long since brought forth generations of heroes. One even kept me from being used for evil purposes but at the cost of their life. I will never forget that." It continued. "Now another Arc is in the process of adding another chapter in history, fighting alongside a silver-eyed warrior and other brave warriors, much like before." It finished. Jaune was stunned––no––shocked. He had no words. Nothing to say. "But now you desire something of me, and I know what it is. You wish to bring someone back from the dead." Jaune looked away when it said this.
Yes, when he heard its story, he thought there was a chance to bring Pyrrha back. She was wrongly taken from this world by someone who does not deserve to live. He looked at the figure, he was here. It heard him. Maybe it would do it and he would pay any price to bring her back.
"Yes. Someone who didn't deserve to die. Someone who was thrust into a position they shouldn't have been in. She deserves to live her life to the fullest." He said looking at the figure, tears forming in his eyes. "She was my partner. She helped me when others wouldn't. She saw potential and strength when others saw weakness and if it wasn't for her, then I'd probably be dead, but she shouldn't have been ripped from her family, her friends and her team. She had hopes and dreams." He approached the golden figure, who stood firmly as he did. "If you can bring Pyrrha Nikos back, then I will give you anything you ask." His voice filled with determination.
The figure looked at him, its arms still crossed. It then chuckled as it gazed upon the young Arc. "Just like she was," it said. Jaune was about to ask before it raised its hand to silence him. "I was created by the Brothers, I have this power, and I can bring her back to the world of living, with the memories leading up to her death but it will come at a cost." It paused, looking at the boy. "A life for a life. Give me yours for hers." Jaune was stunned. He knew it would want something and he had a feeling it would be something like this. "I will allow you to think-"
"I'll do it." It stopped speaking and looked at the boy's eyes. He saw pure determination. This boy was adamant on bringing her back and he was ready to pay the price. "My life for hers. But please allow me time to say goodbye to my friends and her," he requested. The figure looked at him and laughed. "What's so funny? Is this not the price?" he asked, confused.
"You Arcs are always ready to lay down your life for another. You were ready to offer your life as soon as I said it was the price. No thinking. No hesitation. Not a hint of fear. You were ready to go if it meant she would live. I saw you ready to give your life to save your friends when you fought against the false Maiden in Mistral," He said. "You Arcs never cease to amaze me. I will bring her back, but in honor of your ancestor who gave her life to protect me, I will not take your life. You are needed at the silver warrior's side when the final battle comes, but a price must still be paid." A small smile spread across Jaune's face. She could be brought back, he would be able to see her again. She could see her friends again. He was still curious about what meant by silver warrior. Did he mean Ruby? He shook his head, knowing he would have to ask about that later, but right now, he had a more pressing matter.
"What do you want instead?" he asked. The figure looked at him a bit.
"Your Aura. You possess an incredible amount of it, more than I've ever seen from anyone in the history of this world," it informed him. "Know that if you accept it, you will no longer be able to use your Semblance. You will no longer be able to heal your wounds, especially ones that will prove fatal. You would no longer be able to be the hero you dreamed of." It continued, looking at Jaune for any sight of hesitation or regret, but he saw none; Jaune did not waver. "You will no longer be able to protect the innocent like a Huntsman should. The fight against the Grimm will become extremely difficult for you, without the protective and offensive capabilities of Aura. You will become a liability to your friends." Jaune glared silently at the figure. He took the words it said to heart but still he would not waiver.
"Then I'll just need to get stronger," he finally spoke up. "You are right, without Aura, I will be much more vulnerable and not much use in a fight. I could hide behind the safety of the kingdom walls for the rest of my life, but I could never forgive myself if I did that. I used to think I wasn't fit to lead my team, I was afraid I was holding them down and might get them all killed one day, but you know what? They never saw me as a hindrance or a liability. They saw me as a friend, a leader, and a brother. They helped me get strong and supported me every step of the way, so as long as I can stand, as long as I can hold my shield and sword, I will fight. I will never abandon my friends or ever become a liability to them. I will continue to fight by their side until the day I die, because an Arc never gives up." He finished with triumph.
The entity laughed as hard as it could. "Amazing! You are just like her, your ancestor, down to that fighting spirit! Jaune Arc, I will grant your desire and bring back Pyrrha Nikos, and you may keep your Aura until the final confrontation against Salem is decided. Your friends will have need of it for that battle, but win or lose, I will take your Aura. Do you understand?" It asked. The figure was surprised when Jaune kneeled down on one knee and bowed his head. "Know that even if Salem is defeated, while it will weaken the Grimm hordes immensely, it will not stop them from being created. The world will still need the Huntsmen, the Maidens, and the Silver-Eyed Warriors, be it against Grimm or Men, and you will not have the strength of your Aura to aid you in the battles after the confrontation. Do you truly understand this?" It warned him again.
"By my word as an Arc, no matter the outcome, my Aura is yours to take, so long as I can have Pyrrha back. I understand what will happen, but I don't care. I will still stand by their side and I will still lend them my strength. I will still protect those that can't protect themselves," he proclaimed, his hand clenched into a fist. "Now please…" He looked up at the golden entity. "…bring her back…"
The entity slapped its hands together, and in an instant, a bright flash of light blinded Jaune. As the light dimmed and his eyes refocused, Jaune saw orange petals float around him and the figure had disappeared. Soon, the petals rapidly came together, beginning to take form. Slowly but surely, they formed a person, a woman to be precise. Jaune saw her red flowing hair take color as the form descended towards him. Jaune put his arms to catch her as the last of petals disappeared into her body. Her skin was warm to the touch and her eyes were closed, but he could feel her body slowly heaved in and out. Tears fell down his face as he smiled. He knelt down with her in arms, where he carefully ran his fingers across her forehead, moving her beautiful red hair out of her face.
"Hold her in your arms and never let go of her…" said the voice from nowhere. "…We shall meet again at the end, Jaune Arc…"
A white sheet fell upon the naked girl and manifested into a white dress. She slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the white emptiness and the blur of a figure looking down at her. She felt small droplets hit her face. When her eyes adjusted, she realized it was Jaune holding her.
"J-Jaune?" Pyrrha weakly groaned, slowly regaining feelings and sensations in her body. He sobbed as he looked upon her, praying to whatever God above that this was not a dream, but when she placed a hand on his cheek, wiping away a tear, he knew this was reality.
"H-Hello again…I-It's good to…have you back…" he simply whispered amidst his tears before pulling her in a loving embrace. She was a bit surprised, her last memory still a blur, but right now, she hugged him back. While curious as to what he meant, she felt it was best to ask when things were calm.
"Jaune? Where are we?" she asked, letting go of the hug so she could look around. Jaune stood up, holding her bridal style. He knew she was still weak and best not let her walk until she regained her strength.
"Its a long story. The entity said you would get your memories back after a while, but maybe it would be best if I explain things to you instead, but first…" he leaned in and kissed her on the lips, surprising her. Her faced went full red and hot. "I love you, Pyrrha Nikos." He chuckled as she hid her embarrassed face in her hands. "Also, you may want to be prepared, the others will be excited to see you again, but I'm sure you're gonna get some scolding from them, especially from Nora and Ruby." He explained, she sighed some memories began to come to light.
She rested her head on his chest as the two became enveloped by a bright light and returned back into the room with everyone staring at them in shock. The relic slowly descended back to the ground, now devoid of its light. Everyone was overjoyed to see Jaune return to them, but they were equally shocked to see the familiar redhead clutched in his arms.
"P-Pyrrha?!" Ruby managed to say, dropping Crescent Rose as Nora covered her mouth with tears rushing down her face. Ren fell to a knee, looking at once-dead teammate. He rubbed his eyes as Nora knelt down with him. Weiss dropped her weapon, too stunned to say anything. Blake and Yang leaned onto each other, keeping the other from fainting but tears running down their faces. Ozpin was quiet, himself stoic as ever as he looked at the two before him. While happy she was alive again, he looked at Jaune with worry. "What did you give up, Mister Arc?" He thought to himself.
Pyrrha glanced at them all. "H-Hello everyo-" but she did not get to finish as everyone ran to them, hugging the two as they fell to the ground.
"Hey guys! Be careful, she's still weak!" Jaune exclaimed as he made sure Pyrrha was not hurt by either of them. He was not mad at them, not in the slightest. He watched as Pyrrha was hugged in his arms and questions asked to her. She smiled awkwardly, but warmly as she wiped tears from Nora's face. Jaune smiled as everyone came together in a group hug, Pyrrha smiling as he nuzzled her. "Welcome home, Pyrrha," he said to her, giving her a quick peck on her forehead.
"Hello again, everyone!" she said with a joyful smile.