Curse of Time

I would say thank you for looking after us while traveling through Mistral, but who am I kidding? You were drunk almost all the way

Qrow winced at his scroll, a grimace on his face visible.

Qrow tossed the scroll at the wall angrily, shattering it to pieces.

The scroll still worked, and on it, a headline read.

"Vale news, a group of defect huntsmen turned into Bandits attacked Vale villages. A brave huntsman by the name Nicholas Arc helped stop them, but the cost was too great, and the huntsman lost his life defending against them".

That wasn't the worst part, this incident happened months ago, and they just got the news.

The news was shared by Ruby and her friends as they made their way to Vale, to stand with poor saphron who lost both her father and brother.

Qrow would have followed them, but he had his own mission in Vacuo, and even Raven joined in to help, turning her group of Bandits into mercenary group.

"He may have saved us all, but the world is still a shitty place," Qrow thought as he grabbed the scroll from the floor. He checked if it still worked, then left Shade Academy.

He made his way to the memorial.

The place where he often visits when he felt lost, losing his nieces was one of the worst moments of his life.

But now he liked to come to remember the hope that his nieces and their friends have brought.

Hope that no matter what happens, they can still do good in this world, and they could achieve greatness.

Qrow pulled the letter, it had a silver and red seal, with the Arc family symbol on it, although the letter was already opened.

It wasn't the first time Qrow read it, and hopefully it won't be the last.

He read the letter when he felt doubtful, lost, scared.

It reminded him that there's always hope for the better.

He opened the letter again.

Hello Qrow.

So I guess this is it huh.

We been through so much those last 3 years, or 13 years for me.

Who would have thought I would be stuck in a fairytale for 10 years and become the Rusted knight, Certainly not me.

I would say thank you for looking after us while traveling through Mistral, but who am I kidding? You were drunk almost all the time.

And you even made me and Ruby drag you half the way anyway.

What a great uncle you turned out to be.

Although I did complain about your 'special training' in Mistral, I definitely appreciated it.

And I appreciate you even more for trying to pull me out of my revenge crusade.

I know what you told me about Summer was personal, and I'm happy you trusted me with that too.

You Taught me how to fight dirty, and how to pull my own weight in a fight.

You were my mentor, and hey, you can tell people you teach the legendary Rusted Knight himself.

Although I definitely hated people referring to me by that name, it felt so alienating.

The rusted knight was just me, nothing special about either of us.

I'm getting off topic.

You probably a little stunned by receiving the letter, which you shouldn't have.

I mean, I gave you one to give it to Oscar, so you should have predicted that I'll do the same to you.

You may always act grumpy, but you always cared and looked after us, and I appreciate that.

With me gone, I fear that the team will dissolve.

I asked everyone to stick together, but if this doesn't work, I want you to throw them all on missions together.

You are one of the top huntsmen who can lead others and survive.

So I can trust you can send them on a mission where they stick together, it would be a great way to make them listen to my words.

After we came back from the everafter, when you found me in the bar.

You didn't ask questions, you just sat next to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

I can't express how much this meant to me at the time.

After coming back, memories of what happened came back too.

Memories of the fall of Beacon, the fight at Haven, Argus, Atlas destruction, what happened at the bridge…

At that time, I failed Penny, she asked me to do it, there wasn't another choice.

But that doesn't change the fact that I killed her with my own hands, doesn't change the fact that I robbed her of her life, doesn't change the fact that I took her from her father, from her family.

I hope I could meet her again to apologize, I could have done more.

But this doesn't change the fact of what happened.

Qrow, you're the only one I can tell him all of this.

The other would listen and try to help.

But you would understand, I can't burden them with this, not when we're so close to the final battle.

And I can't put more weight on them with this after what I'm planning to do.

So I decide to tell you about this, you would understand after all.

Thank you, Qrow, for everything, and I hope you keep your optimistic view even after we win, they're going to need it.

If we win this, then we can win anything.

I would never ask for a better team, a better family, thank you guys.

So keep hopes up Qrow

With respect.

Your student, Jaune Arc.

Qrow Slumped back at the memorial and sat on the ground smiling.

"Yeah kid, you just throw all your troubled feelings on me while giving your friends a pep talk, just my luck" Despite that, he smiled.

"Just goes to show that all heroes are just human inside, that kid with no training or any knowledge of combat could raise up to be a leader, a hero" Qrow thought, looking at the great Vacuo desert.

A black and red portal opened in front of him, but Qrow smile stayed and he closed his eyes.

Raven looked around when she realized the location she sighed.

"I take it this is your new favorite place huh, what, bars are too cool for you now?" his sister Raven teased.

"Yeah, I kinda made a promise to the kid, if we survive, I'll quit drinking for good. Besides, this place has grown on me." he said, standing up.

"Yang told me about the letter thing, pretty smart from him, although he didn't leave one for me" Raven said, both of them looking at the memorial.

"What, you think you're his fairy Godmother or something" Qrow laughed, while Raven snorted.

"Come on, you also want to go with them right, I can take care of the rest here, besides I can get you here in seconds" Raven said, opening a portal.

"Thanks, please, don't burn this place to the ground," he said, going into the portal before she could reply.

Note: sooo, yes, not every thing is perfect, and tbh I can't blame them, an immortal who want to kill all humanity and can control grimm, people will start to panic.

Also, I would have liked more Jaune and Qrow interactions in V4 and 5, Qrow would definitely understand Jaune wanting revenge, which lead him to have a talk and training.

Besides, this is a better draft because the first one the whole Arc family gets killed except saph by grimm, which isn't the greatest idea.

Anyway, tell me what you think, and thank you for all the comments and reviews.

Please leave more and have a great day.