Watcher Curse
Chapter : 4
Artist : RachiePieUwU
"So, how are you feeling" the Knight asked.
They were in the 'everafter' as Rusty said, he stood there arm crossed, he looked down at Jaune laying in the bed.
"Why does my allergy comes here with me, shouldn't I be in a perfect health in my dreams" his skin was still red in some areas, but it was quickly healing.
"This probably isn't a dream, when I train you here, you physical body also improves, you basically training while asleep, how perfectly stupidily everafterin, on the bright side this makes our job a lot easier."
One of the paper pleaser came to the Rusted knight and gave him a chair, he thanked him and sat down next to Jaune.
"So, what's the plan now Rusty?"
"guess this is my name now huh, well, you're in no shape to train, so I'll just fill you in on what's going to happen."
"first thing first, you can not tell Ozpin anything."
"why, you told me when we met to tell him about that Cinder girl."
"I didn't really process what happened then, the only person who would know what's happening with me is him." Rusty said, closing his eyes.
"but if someone with fake transcript cam to him and told him the information I know, he'll probably kill you" Jaune winced at that.
"It can't be that bad, can it?"
"Well, what I'm about to tell you will Shatter your world view."
Jaune now was sat on the bed, ready to hear Rusty story, he did try to tell him few times, but he always dodged the subject, thinking it was his semblance work, but now he knew better.
"there was 2 gods, one of light, one of dark, they were created here" Rusty gestured to the tree.
"When they left, they created Remnant, our world, people came to them asking for wishes, sometimes they granted them, sometimes they didn't."
"Ozpin, or as we was known then, Ozma, was a knight who rescued the princess, you know the story of the girl in the tower" Jaune nodded, Rusty got his attention.
"She was, is, Ozpin's wife, when he died, she didn't take it well, she went to the brothers asking for more time, they didn't accept, she tried to trick them, and they got mad at her, they cursed her with immortality and left."
"I'm not sure what happened next, but the brothers brought Ozpin back to kill his wife and bring back the brothers using something called the Relics, when 4 Relics are together, they can summon the Brothers to judge us, to see if we're worthy or not, a lot of bullshit if you ask me." He laughed a little.
"the important thing to know is, Salem, Ozpin's wife, can control grimm and want to kill humanity, Ozpin is trying to stop her, she's an immortal, while each time Ozpin dies, he goes to another body." Jaune was speechless.
"what I- we trying to prevent is the fall of Beacon, on the festival time, Salem agents will attack, destroying Beacon and most of Vale, killing thousands, and later on destroying Atlas as a whole, and killing Mistral Huntsmen."
Jaune didn't know what to say, dumbed with all this information, he didn't know so much was resting on him.
"Can- can we actually do this?" he asked, fear and anxiety in his voice.
The Rusted Knight smiled at him sympathetically, he wasn't ready when it happened, he lost so much that day, yet he got a chance to change it all.
"we will, whatever it takes, I'll make sure you don't lose anyone" Jaune looked shocked an alert.
"who do we lose?"
"Don't worry now, you won't lose anything, I'll make sure of it" he smiled at him, they sat in silence for a while until Jaune broke it.
"Off topic, but why didn't you tell me about Cardin throwing the jar?"
"Well, in my timeline he throw it, or wanted me to throw it at Pyrrha, I didn't know I changed things."
"not that, I mean you warned me to put my shield up after it, you didn't say anything before?" Rusty was thinking about it now.
"Now that you mention it, I only could communicate with you when you're in danger or stressful situations, like the initiation and fighting team CRDL, it's a good thing, I can make sure you won't die, and I can give you advice in combat situations." Jaune nodded realizing it too.
He could feel Rusty feeling, but only could hear him when he's in danger or in a fight.
"you're waking up, I'll give you the more detailed version and how to act later" Jaune nodded.
Everything around him started to shift, colors mixing together, then black covered everything.
/-/
"So how do you feel Mr Arc" the headmaster asked him.
He was standing in the headmaster office, Mis Goodwitch told him she wasn't free with both Cardin and Pyrrha so she sent him to the headmaster.
"I'm good sir, I still feel a little itchy, but other than that I'm fine" he stood un front of the headmaster's desk, not taking a seat.
"I'm glad to hear that, I heard of what happened, I'll assume you, team CRDL wouldn't get out of this carefree, now if you can answer some questions" the headmaster got some papers and a pen.
"Now, mis Nikos told us that you came to warn her about the grimm, how did you know about them?"
Jaune winced, he didn't know his small lie will come back to put him back.
"I saw one of them moving around the bushes, I didn't realized there was more than one" he answered, trying not to show anything.
"Interesting, you decide to warn your partner instead of the teacher who would have immediately dealt with the problem?"
"I- I wanted to make sure my partner was safe sir" Jaune couldn't look at the headmaster eyes, they stared right through him.
Shit, he suspected something.
"no shit genius" he thought laughed awkwardly.
"Is this is all sir?" he asked, he wanted to be out of her immediately.
"No, you see Mr Arc, your fight with team CRDL impressed me so much I had to look where you studied" Jaune winced, he knew he was fucked up now.
"Vacuo academy for gifted students, interesting Mr Arc, you Graduate last year, yet the academy was destroyed 5 years ago" Jaune tensed, he felt the change in tone.
"my transcript are fake sir, but I passed initiation, you only need the transcript to weed out the candidates, and the fact I passed mean that I'm qualified to be here" Jaune said, but it wasn't him who said it, it was Rusty.
"hmm, you're right about this Mr Arc, although this leaves the question, how did you learn to fight like that?" Ozpin eyes narrowed.
"I was trained by my grandfather, Jaune of Arc, he taught me everything I know" Rusty tried to relaxed his body, he put his hand inside of his hoodie pockets, then he clicked on his scroll.
"I'm not sure if you know this, but I did train your grandfather, he was a talented young man, but I'm sure he didn't fight like you do."
Ozpin is suspicious of me, this is bad, at this rate my plan will fail before even starting.
"well I'm sure he changed with years, training in Beacon and on the field is two different things" he tried to stay calm, but Ozpin eyes narrowed even more, and he gripped his cane.
"Interesting, you didn't bat an eye when I said I trained your grandfather, like you knew it was possible, how did you know" it took Rusty a second before realizing his mistake.
"fuck, I shouldn't have know about that." He was about to make an excuse when the elevator door opened and Glynda came in.
"Sir" she nodded to the headmaster and noticed the headmaster tense body.
"What's going on" she asked him.
"It seems we have an agent of her" he said calmly, she immediately faced him, ready for a fight.
Unfortunately for her, a large object broke through the window knocking her out by surprise.
Rusty immediately dashed to his locker and took his weapon.
"Mr Arc, I'll advise you to surrender" the headmaster voice was calm and collective.
"I'm on your side Ozpin, if you let me explain myself" Rusted Knight tried to argue.
"I'll let you" in a flash, Ozpin was on him, he barely blocked the attack.
"After I take you in" Rusty tried to swing at him, but Ozpin was much faster, he dodged and made space between them.
"come on Oz, I'm from the future, I can tell you what's gonn-" he didn't finish, Ozpin was on him again.
Rusty parried the flurry of attacks that came, but due to the lack of strength he couldn't react to them all in time, Ozpin noticed and backed out a little.
"You're good Mr Arc, who trained you" Ozpin kept his distance, not letting his guard down.
"Pyrrha Nikos, the fall maiden before her death" that got him a reaction.
Ozpin eyes widen, at this point, amber should be in the basement, on life support, he would be still considering the candidate to rule of fall maiden.
"I'll humor you, tell me Mr Arc, what's going to happen."
"Well… , there's a lot of information, maybe you ask and I answer" he tried and Ozpin eyes narrowed at him.
In all honesty nothing came to mind in the middle of unexpected combat, he knew things of course, but it could be explained by Salem.
"Well then, you mentioned maidens, tell me about them" that was as good as anything, he'll need to tell him anything about them.
"fall, winter, summer, and spring, each have magic to use the weather" he started and Ozpin was focus on him.
"fall is in the basement half dead-" Ozpin hummed .
"-Spring is in the Branwen tribe, more specifically, Raven Branwen-" Rusty noticed the surprise look Ozpin gave but he quickly hidden it.
"-winter in Atlas, safety under… she's under Ironwood watch-" he couldn't say safety after that he saw from the man, Rusty sighed mentally and continued.
"-summer is unknown, she's somewhere in Vacuo, but can tell you where's the rest of Fall is."
"how do you know?" Ozpin asked.
"as I told you Oz, I'm from the future, you can see it too don't you. " he continued when Ozpin didn't reply.
"You see my moves, my body knows what to do but lacks the power, you seen it time and time again, each time you get into a new body." Ozpin didn't answer, but his weapon lowered a little bit.
"You're wearing Rusted armor, long blonde hair with a beard, you do look like your father Jaune." Rusty's eyes widen.
"w- what, how do you know?" he asked, his guard up.
"hmm, so you don't see it, well, I think we need to have a long talk, take a seat" Ozpin dropped his guard completely and placed his cane on his desk.
"Glynda, forgive me for my judgement, I put you in danger, if you mind forgiving Mr Arc." Jaune was confused and looked behind him.
The whole that was made by his locker was closed now, in front of him stood an angry Mis Goodwitch.
"hahaha, sorry..?" Rusty tried, even though it been years since he met Mis Goodwitch, she still looked terrifying as ever.
"You will be Mr Arc, you also have to give me a full explanation in detention", she walked past him to the elevator and looked at Ozpin.
"It's your bet Ozpin, if you die, it's on you" the elevator door close.
"how long did you suspect me?" he asked, turned to the headmaster.
"quite sometime Mr Arc, I knew about your transcript form the start, it was one of the reason I allowed mis Nikos to be your partner, to help you improve faster, yet you never agreed and you were improving way faster than you should." Rusty took a seat.
"hey, I know it's late to ask but let me handle this for a while ok, I'm sure this is a lot for you" Rusty thought, but he didn't get an answer. Seeing the confused look on his face, Ozpin told him.
"I'm pretty sure he's passed out, looks like the fight took a lot of him" he smiled at him.
"HOW did you know that?, how did you know how do I look?" Rusty's eyes narrowed.
"You're not the first person to have 2 souls inside one body, if you focus your eyes, you can see another person behind me" Rusty tried.
He was surprised to see behind the headmaster head, he could see dark skin with silver hair guy behind him smiling.
"This phenomenon is rare, very rare in fact you're the second person I every seen having it, I only gave you a chance because of it" he smiled at him.
"Well shit, so without that I'll be already dead huh?".
"indeed, so tell me.. Mr Arc, or should I call you something else?".
"Well this Jaune calls me Rusty, so you can all me that too, but you won't be dealing with me but him, I'm only here because you clearly threatened him."
"I apologize, the other person didn't have something like that, yet you had more strength than her too, like treating control for more power."
"Who's that that person anything?".
"hmm, you don't know them?, let me ask you a question, you are the Rusted knight from the fairytale?" Jaune nodded.
"Interesting, nonetheless, you said you were from the future, so tell me, how bad the situation is?".
"How did you know it was bad in the first place?"
"Oh it was just a guess, but you didn't deny it so" he trailed off, expecting Jaune to continue.
"Lets see, Mistral doesn't have any huntsmen, Beacon is destroyed, Vale has grimm inside the walls, Atlas fell on Mantle, and Vacuo is the last place that still somehow standing, Salem has 2 to 3 Relics, and a maiden, and we have only 1-" Rusty saw the look on Ozpin face turn from a smile to a grimace.
"-so yeah, I'm pretty sure we need to fix thing." Rusty finally relaxed in his chair.
It was good to tell someone everything, his younger self wouldn't handle Half of the things that happened, Ozpin however, he'll understand which reminded him.
"Hey can I ask for a favor" Ozpin looked surprised but nodded.
Rusty stood up, walked behind the desk, and punched the headmaster on the jaw, dropping him to the floor.
Rusty smiled and massaged his hand.
"Oh boy, you have no idea how long I've waited for this, this is for Oscar by the way" he extended a hand for Ozpin and he took it.
"And how's might that be?" he asked, annoyed he got caught off guard.
"your next incarnation, he's my friend, you fucked up and I took my anger on him, it was unfair of me, so I'm paying it to you now."
"I trust this is everything out of your system Mr Arc?"
"yeah, I'll tell Jaune to give you important information when he wakes up, for now, Lionheart is a traitor working with Salem, you can see he's sending huntsmen to their de-" before Rusty could finish his words, he fell to the ground.
Ozpin immediately went to check on him, he sighed in relief when he saw him still breathing, exhausted, but still breathing.
"Is this the work of the brothers?" Ozpin wondering, carrying Jaune to the Infirmary.
/-/
For the first time since Jaune joined Beacon, he didn't get the everafter dream, he just opened his eyes to a sight he never seen before.
The blue of the sky and white of the snow mixing together in the distance.
Between them, an island stood in the middle of the sky, floating in the air without restriction.
He knew about Atlas, he knew about how advanced their technology is, but seeing it in front of him like that was breath taken.
"it's beautiful, isn't it?" a familiar voice called from his side, it was the last person he thought he would see.
Weiss stood beside him, she wore a gray jacket that reached to her stomach with a ice Cyan skirt which gradually turned to gray at the top, her rapier was on her hip, and she was smiling at him. But that wasn't the weirdest part.
They were holding their hand together.
"Hey, did the cat get your tongue, or are you just lost in your girlfriend eyes" Weiss Teased him, teased him, HIM.
"w- what's going on" Jaune stammered, he didn't know what was happening, usually weird thing happened because of Rusty, but he wasn't here.
"What, did your motion sickness turned to amnesia?, we're heading to Atlas remember, so we can find a safe place for the Relic, does that bring any memory." She held a strange object in front of him.
It looked like a lamp, with gold and strange Cyan green color to it, it was strapped to Ruby's hip, and Weiss took it and shoved it into his face.
Jaune realized he wasn't alone, he looked around and saw the rest of team RWBY and his team.
His Team except Pyrrha.
Before Jaune could comment on that, the world started to change, colors mixed together and everything disappeared. Everything except the lamp who only glowed in the darkness.
/-/
Jaune opened his eyes to a white ceiling, he blinked few time till his memory came back.
What he remembered was the headmaster discovering his transcript were fake.
He remembered that Rusty told him Ozpin was on them, then that Mis Goodwitch came to the office and a fight broke out.
"Oh fuck me" he thought, not bothering to look anywhere other than the ceiling.
"Well I see you're awake Mr Arc" a shiver ran down Jaune spine upon hearing that voice.
The headmaster was sat on a chair next to him, drinking from his mug, looking at his scroll.
"H- Headmaster Ozpin, t- to what I owe the pleasure?" Jaune knew this was the end for him. His dreams, his friends, his team, all gone now.
"Well of course I wanted to check on my student, after all, not all can punch a headmaster in the face and get away with it" Jaune face paled like his crush.
"But it is all forgiving, after all, we are working together for the same goal" the headmaster gave him a knowing smile and he caught on.
"you talked with Rusty?" Jaune asked surprised.
"Well yes, after you passed out, he took control and we spoke for a while, he told me some interesting things, but just to be sure what did he tell you about me?".
"Well, quite a lot sir, about your.. ah, transformation, and your divorce situation" Jaune looked uncomfortable while saying that.
And the deadpan stare that Ozpin gave them told him he wasn't subtle as he thought.
"Well, looks like the me for the future trusted Rusty quite a lot, there's no human alive today who know about my divorce, other than the inner circle" he stood up and made to leave.
"I have to go now Mr Arc, but please if our mutual friend wanted to give me a message, I'm sure you'll help" Jaune nodded.
"now, I don't want your other visitors to wait more" Jaune was confused, but when he heard the voices of his team and friends he understood.
"yes sir".
Ozpin opened the door and let 7 people enter the Infirmary room at once.
They got stuck for a few seconds before they all circled around the bed.
"so how was it" Ruby was the first to ask.
"Did you win?" now, it was Nora.
"of course he didn't, he fought against the headmaster himself, there's no way he could have won." Weiss said.
"I'm sure Jaune done great".
"what are guys talking about?" they all looked at him surprise, like they just saw him.
"your fight with the headmaster of course " Nora answered.
"the headmaster called our team, he told us that you would had a friendly spar and you got send to the Infirmary" Ren explained.
Yikes, the headmaster definitely didn't know how to be subtle about it.
"haha, well, let's just say I got my ass handed to me and leave it at that" he laughed awkwardly.
"Don't sell yourself short Jaune, the headmaster told us how you fought, he said you improved greatly since the start of the year" Ruby had a huge smile on her face saying that.
"Come on now, Arc needs his rest, I'm sure fighting the headmaster himself took a lot of him" Weiss said, and the whole room went quiet.
"Weiss is right, we'll leave you to get better, we have the day free anyway because of the forever fall trip" Pyrrha finally said, breaking the silence.
"Y- Yeah, we'll see you later Jaune" Ruby said, shooing her team out, his team said their goodbye and left him to rest in the Infirmary.
"Hey Rusty, you're here?" Jaune thought.
Yeah, little tired, but alive, we barely survived Ozpin.
"Yeah tell me about it, so are we working with him."
Kinda, we still going to change stuff, and Ozpin should help us change things on a greater scale, what we need to do is focus on training you.
"more training" Jaune Whined.
HEY, peoples life at stake here, the whole world at stake, you need to put more effort so you can save your friends.
"Fine, I know what at stake, or sort of, anyway what's next" Jaune thought.
Well, Blake going to run away and fight against the whitefang, we're going to he-
"Arc, we need to talk" Weiss schnee slammed the door open, her face fixed with a Scowl.
"H- Hey Weiss, about what" he stammered.
"about the future idiot" she close the door behind her and locked it, Jaune started to sweat.
Shit, what's now.
Note: so not much of a foreshadowing but hey, it works hopefully, anyway any questions about Weiss will be answered next chapter, which also includes why Oz believed Jaune so fast too.
Also, not just the good guys got buffed with future knowledge, as the tree said, don't trust what you see lol.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I have no idea if this is a long or short one, if you want a longer one tell me.
edit: the tool that i use to currect my mistakes isn't working so bare the misspells.
Also do you want to have a slow burn story, like how Jaune day to day at Beacon , trying to survive, or more focus on the plot which is what I'm doing rn.
Leave a review and tell me what you guys like.
Goodbye.