Curse of time
Ruby stood at the to top of Amity Colosseum, looking at what they have done for the past year.
After they came from the everafter, things been going fast, they prepared for war, prepared for Salem.
She looked at what left of Atlas Army, under the command of the Winter maiden, Winter schnee.
Then she looked at what left of Haven Hunstmen, almost all of them were Students just like her, thrown into this war.
She looked at Vacuo Tribes, who all came into the city to stand with them.
Then lastly, she looked at what left of Vale, of what left of Beacon, her fellow classmates, harden by the trails they faced since Beacon fell.
She saw team CRDL help Distribute food for the Civilians, she saw team CVFY help arrange their forces, she saw team SNNN lifting everyone spirits up.
Then she saw her own team, her family, helping everyone else to get ready, showing their determination , their fighting spirit, their reason to stand strong in the face of doom, no matter what happened, they will be fighting until the end.
And here she was.
Standing at the top alone, after everything that happened in the everafter, none of them got out the same.
She sat at the top, looking at the sunset.
Tomorrow will be the big fight, they'll take the fight to Salem forces, and there, they will make their last stand.
"Hey Ruby" a familiar voice called from behind.
The only people whom on Amity were the engines, so how did he get here.
"Hey Jaune, is their a problem" she asked, they all been running themselves 200% to help everyone, they rarely got time to sit together as a team anymore.
"relax, there isn't any problem, I just came here to chat, and admire the view a little bit" he sat next to her, about a feet far.
They both looked at the sunset, golden color reflected on the sand, making it shine, while the sun settled behind the ocean in front of them, the dark blue and golden color reminded Ruby of the guy sitting next to here, and she laughed.
"Hey what's so funny" he looked confused at her laughter, he still had the white strip from his time in the everafter.
"Just remembering how all of this started, by me in a crater and you vomiting on my sister shoes" they both laughed, it's been so long, they both changed a lot since then.
"I can't believe it's been 3 years since we joined Beacon, feels like a life time away now" he looked at the sunset, hurt clearly on his face.
"What's wrong Jaune" she asked censor in her voice, after everything that they been through together, she knew something was up.
"nothing it just.., I'm no longer a Part of team JNPR" she gasped at that.
"They didn't kick me or anything, it just, after we came back they already moved on, and they tried to insert me back with them, but they clearly move on without me" his voice cracked at the end.
Team JNPR was a rock compare to RWBY, JNPR stayed together through everything life throw at them, but now, they already lost one teammate, and the other was gone for a good year.
"I'm sure they still want you in the team Jaune, they'll never get rid of you" she assured him with a smile and her returned it.
"I'm afraid this time they won't, they got Oscar and Emerald, team ORNS, I should've just stayed in the everafter" he mumbled the last part.
Ruby heard him and slapped him on the face, he looked stunned but Ruby had tears in her eyes.
"Don't you dare say that ever again Jaune, that place was a nightmare for both of us" the tears continued falling.
"we need you here jaune, I need you here, no matter what happened you were always by my said, my fellow team leader, I can't do this without you, without any of you, I…" Ruby word got stuck in her throat, not about to continue.
Jaune wiped the tears with his hoodie sleeve.
"Ruby, I need to apologize to you, what I said back there, in the everafter hurt you, it hurt you a lot, I never actually thought that, I just was so mad about everything, everything that you did until now was the right choice, never let anyone tell you otherwise Ruby, not me not ironwood, not even the brothers" he had tears in his eyes they both sat in silence, sun already settled.
"you know, we both had the same dream, to be heroes, to save the day, now look at us, I'm the symbol of hope while you're the Rusted Knight, the greatest hero who inspired generations on generations to become heroes" she smiled looked at the stars.
"From two nerdy kids in combat school to the greatest heroes to ever live, and now we are waiting to fight an immortal witch controlling the grimm, sounds about right" he looked at Ruby's eyes, silver reflecting the Shattered moon.
"I never meant what I said then, I was mad about everything, every plan, ever Decision I made led to failure, and I couldn't take it anymore, I just wanted the pain to end, I just wanted someone more qualified to take my place and lead, I'm just the socially awkward girl who likes weapons".
"what about me, I never even held a sword before Beacon, I never lead people before, hack I didn't even have my aura unlocked, if literally anything was in my place, they would have done better, I'm the weakest, the slowest one of the team, I'm just a burden on all of you, if it were you, pyrrha would have stayed alive today " tear actually started to fall from Jaune.
"No, you are amazing Jaune, even without training you reached our level while it took us years to reach it, you're an amazing strategist who made plan which made us survive our way to Haven, you saved Weiss's life, you fought off against Salem herself, and you are the Rusted knight, the hero of time, you can't keep talking yourself down like that" she snapped at him.
"then stopped talking about my friend Ruby like that too" Ruby was stunned, but he continued.
" at 15 you were a leader of your own team at Beacon, you fought against Roman Torchwick and won, you saved our live numerous times, you saved Argus, you saved my sister and her family, you made plans to save people of mantle and Atlas, you Ruby, without you, this" he gestured down at everything," this would never have happened without Ruby Rose, leader of team RWBY, the Silver eye warrior, my beat friend, so if you don't stop talking about her like that, I'll never stop talking about that piece of shit Jaune Arc" he looked at her eyes they widen and she smiled.
"Thank you Jaune, I needed it" she smiled standing up.
"you're not the only one who needed that, thank you Ruby, for always being their for me, if we don't make it, I want you to know, you have a special place in my heart for you, for team JNPR and RWBY" he smiled back giving her a hug, and she returned it.
The plan that they made to take down Salem was to get the 2 Relics she had, then let Ozpin make the weapon with the 4 Relics which will either summon the Brothers, or kill Salem and destroy any chance of summoning them.
Ozma told them that by using the weapon they could theoretically destroy Salem existence but by Sacrificing the user, he never used it for the fear it would destroy the world, but Jin conformed it won't, everyone volunteered to do it, but the draw came on Ruby.
So the plan was to keep Salem Distracted until they were ready to use the weapon, then Ruby need to get it from the Vault, then go on the attack.
It was while they were attacking they noticed Jaune was missing, They looked everywhere for him.
"I'm afraid Mr Arc isn't here" Oscar, or Ozpin spoke, Oscar had a pained expression on his face.
"what do you mean" Ruby asked, Ozpin sighed.
"Mr Arc, Winter, Qrow and Raven already went to face off Salem using the weapon, Raven would open a portal to Qrow when they're ready" he explained, the horror look that took everyone face was telling.
"what the hell, we planned this, why did you allow this, he should have stock with the plan, we already made our peace with this decision" Yang voice cracked at the end.
" it was his decision, I tried to stop them but couldn't" Oscar, now in control said, he gritted his teeth.
" no no no no, he can't, we need to stop him NOW" Ruby was on full panic mode now.
Both teams rushed in, stepping on top the dead body on cinder fall and into Salem throne Room.
They saw both Qrow and Raven beaten on the ground, Raven barley standing by support from her weapon while Qrow was beside the door on the ground.
In front, was Salem turning to ashes but Jaune was too, he heard them enter the room and looked at them.
He gave them a smile, a hopeful one, a smile that said " no matter what, you can still keep going".
None of them could muster a word to him, and he spoke instead.
"Well guys, I'm happy that I was part of your lives, thank you for everything" he said as he and Salem turned to dust.
Everyone stood speechless, their friend just sacrificed himself to save the world to save them.
"haha, guess he is our fearless Leader after all huh" Nora broke the silence, but her laughter turned into crying, tears fell from everyone.
Ren held Nora, while he's grieving in silence Nora voice was heard, saying she just got him back, they regretted not connecting back with him and now he's gone.
Oscar and Emerald looked on the ground, they could have done better, Jaune was their friend they could have help connect his team back but now it's too late.
Blake and Yang stood their shocked, Yang eyes kept switch between red and lilac while crying, and Blake couldn't put her emotions into words.
Weiss fell to the ground, the boy who always asked her out, the one who saved her life, the one who she finally became true friend with, the one she wanted to be by her side gone like that, forever.
Ruby fell to her knees at the top of the weapon, cursing it for taking her friend, is should have been her, she was supposed to make that sacrifice, she was suppose to give everyone their happy ending, not this.
she didn't want to see her first friend at Beacon, her besty, the person who always was by her side through everything, just gone instead of her.
"Raven will open the portal when I send a message, you'll grab the thing, then…" Qrow said as he stood up.
Fighting Bitch fall was hard, but when you have another maiden on your side, and the element of surprise, and the legendary Rusted knight with you, you don't need to worry.
"I'll use the weapon to kill Salem off, if I don't then she'll use it to destroy everything, not a big deal" he said trying to make a light of the situation.
"kid you're Sacrificing yourself for this, you know it's not you who draw it" Qrow tried to reason but he didn't actually want to.
"I rather die before letting Ruby take this, besides, I already wrote all the letters to everyone, I just need Oz to send them" he said, then looked at Qrow.
"thank you Qrow, for coming with me, I'm sure I never really thanked you but, I appreciated you helping us around Mistral".
"no problem kid, I'm honored I got to see the legendary Rusted Knight, not to mention having a hand in training him" he smirked and Jaune returned it.
"let's go end this" They took a deep breath then entered Salem throne Room.
After the news spread across Remnant.
The Queen of all Grimm is dead, the world started to heal.
The grimm still existed, but now, no one controlled them so they could actually fight back.
The news of the people who fell during the attack was taken as an honorary sacrifice, they gave their life to the greater good.
They all stood in the graveyard, ready to say good bye to their friends one last time.
In front of them, stood 3 tombstones.
Jaune Arc , Sun Wukong , winter schnee.
"those three heroes gave their live for this fight, they knew the risk and took it with a smile on their faces, history will remember them as heroes, but We will remember them as friends, family, loved ones who decided they rather die than see us get hurt, today we grief them, but tomorrow will honor their legacy" Qrow step off, he didn't know Sun very well but the kid gave everything he had while training, he saved people and that all that mattered.
After the Funeral Qrow went to Oscar.
"so, did you do it" he asked.
"yes, I put his letters for each of them, he even left one for you Qrow" Qrow took the letter little surprised, but he smiled nonetheless.
"actually kid, he also left this one for you too" Qrow handed Oscar a new letter with his name on it.
"He knew you'll look inside yours, so he told me to hand it to you after you send the rest, smart kid" Qrow sighed, he looked at the tombstone in front of him.
It says JAUNE ARC, Hero of Remnant, he was a Brother, an Uncle, A friend, and the Family to his team.
Qrow drink from his flask, then closed it, and put it in front of the flowers on the grave.
"always the ones who left suffer the most huh" Qrow thought walking back to Oscar, they were the last two here, they made a promise to the man behind them, and they kept it.hey, I had this cool idea so I decided to make it, if people like it I may write the the actual letter say to each person.
but I'm not so sure, tell me in reviews