Once again
A shiver ran down her body, she couldn't move, she barely survived the fall.
She closed her eyes, remembering how she ended up here, remember that brat.
She was winning, the spring maiden power were hers, until that bitch shot her in the back, giving Raven a chance to beat her.
Yet she somehow survived, ironically, thanks to Raven freezing her before falling.
Cinder gathered what little left of her power to create a small fire in her hand to melt the ice.
Her body was frozen, but she can deal with that, she will survive, and she will get her revenge on Branwen.
The sound of screeching metal brought her mind back to where she laid, the rubble from her fight made it impossible to find anything here, she hid herself behind a rock just in case.
The sound kept getting closer, metal screeching on rocks, until it stopped when it reach down.
She heard the sound of footsteps walking around, she dragged herself away.
Even if it hurt her pride, she couldn't face anyone here, not like this, not while she was basically on the verge of death.
The sound of footsteps stopped, she held her breath, so no sound will come, but the voice she heard shook her core.
"Here you are, Cinder." She didn't recognize the voice immediately, it was cold, collective, and without any real emotion.
It was that blonde that tried to kill her, the blonde that was Nikos partner, and the reason she killed the schnee in a display of power.
Panic ran through her, immediately facing him, then putting everything she got to burn him alive.
The area lightened with red and yellow, flames raging all around the target, no one could survive that much, it was enough to kill Ozpin himself then, and now it would be more than enough to kill a nobody.
Her flames started to dwell, the last of her fire leaving her fingertips, she sighed in relief, but she couldn't rest now, the other idiots will start to look for his corpse, and she needed to leave-.
"That was quite aggressive of you." She was shocked, seeing him walk out from the fire unharmed, the only remaining of her fire only a little burn on his clothes.
"H- How?" She stuttered, which was so unlike her strong, powerful self, he looked at her with bored eyes like ashes.
"My semblance, I can amplify aura to other and myself, which mean I can regenerate and overload my aura, so your attack didn't do much damage, and even if it did, I can just heal it." Her face went pale with his answer.
Aura amplification was a rare thing, and the people who has it are basically worshiped with the huntsmen, everyone wanted a healer who can bring someone from the dead, or make them go on without stop for days.
"B- But you didn't have semblance before, you didn't even use it when I was about to kill you." She blurred out, not thinking the man in front of her can end her without so much effort.
"I did unlock it a long time ago, well, technically, I just unlocked it an hour ago, remember when you throw the spear at Weiss, I was in tears, one again, you ripped another important person from me, and then, my semblance awoke to save her because I couldn't." He answered, she noticed his sword was in his right hand.
"But it's not about me Cinder, it's all about you, your quest for power robbed me of everything I held dear, my partner, my first love, my second home, and my dear friend." Cinder notice the change of tone at the last one, taking a shaking breath, she asked.
"If you killed me, it won't change anything, you just be another murderer, tell me, could you look in your friends eyes, knowing you took someone's life like that." She tried to play on his good side.
Just like Rose, he was too proud to take a life, to do what necessary to win this no longer shadow war.
"Ah, but here where you are wrong Cinder, you already forced me to take a life, and you will be the second." Pain shot through her as his sword penetrated her leg, pinning her down.
"I remember it so vividly, even though it was a long time ago, it hunted me, her smile, assuring me it was the right decision, yet, I knew deep down, there could have been another way, another solution." He gripped the hilt of his sword, separating the blade from the Great sword, leaving it pinning her leg.
"But now, I won't allow you to do anything to her, to Atlas, to my friends, I'll kill you her Cinder. then I'll find Watts, then Tyrion, and so on until Salem goes back on her plans, or better yet, find a way to end her for good."
Her eyes widen, not because of the approaching death in front of her, but at what he said.
"How do you know about Salem immortality, how do you know about Watts?." She tried to stall for time.
"As the night fall, so will the knight's blade, pray for whatever god you worship Cinder, so you won't meet me again in the everafter, because if I see you again, I'll hunt you down." She couldn't do anything.
The blade sliced the tip of her throat, bleeding her out, she brought her hands up, trying and failing to stop the bleeding, all while that boy looked at her with a small smirk, she tried to curse him, curse his family, friends, anyone who's close to him, yet, nothing came out.
"You pretended to be this strong warrior, while you ambushed amber three to one. You couldn't even take all of her power." She glared at him to stop, but he continued.
"And yet, once you got the full power of a maiden, you got defeated by a fifteen years old Ruby Rose." He laughed, she didn't know him to figure out if it was forced or genuine, but it didn't matter.
Her eye burst with fire, angry, furious flame that went his direction, he simply pulled out his great sword from her leg and transformed it into a shield, blocking her attack.
"Look at you, the great Cinder fall, the fall maiden, bested by a fifteen years old, and a guy without any training, what a powerful warrior." He smirked her way, but even to her, it looked forced.
"Just remember at your finally moments, that Ruby Rose, took everything from you and made you flee like a dog."
The light faded from her eye, yet her body kept trying and failing to stop the bleeding, today Cinder fell.
/-/
Jaune sat on a rock, Crocea Mors on the floor with blood on it, yet again.
Jaune eyed his weapon, then at the victim of his outburst, he looked at her with bitty, he didn't know how she ended up with Salem, but no one deserved a death like her.
"But she did deserve it, for everything she did, for everything she will do." He reminded himself.
He took a long breath and released it, trying to stomach what's coming next.
"Jaune? Where are you?, everyone is looking for you."
"Hey Ren, I was checking out the area at the Vault when I slipped and fell down, would you mind throwing a rope for me." Jaune laughed awkwardly.
There was a long silence on the other side, until he heard Ren sigh.
"Give me five minutes."
True to his words, a rope was dangling down, Jaune took it and started to climb up, he trusted his friend to secure the rope at the top.
Climbing the rope to about thirty minutes, thirty minutes of silent climbing, thinking of what he had done, and what he will do, only to come crashing when he finally reached the end, meeting the faces of all of his friends.
They all had different kind of expression on their faces, Yang, Ruby and Nora were laughing, while Ren and Weiss were between annoyed, and ready to give a lecture, and Blake just stood there.
It all changed when they saw him, covered in blood, and a part of his hoodie burned.
Their expression immediately changed to concern, which stabbed him like a knife in the guts, the first one on him was Ruby.
"Jaune what happened? Where's the wound?" She started to check all over him, looking for a source.
"It's not my blood Ruby." He said solemnly.
"What? Then who?" She asked, confused.
They all looked around, and then Yang eyes widen.
"Raven fought Cinder here, she said she fell…" Yang tailed off, letting the rest figure out what she realized.
"You killed Cinder." Ren asked, he looked Jaune in the eyes, he was the one Jaune trusted and knew the most.
"Yes, I did." He answered, no one knew what to say.
"Good mister Arc, although, I would have hoped it wouldn't be that bloody." Oscar and Qrow walked in, but everyone knew it was Ozpin speaking.
"Typical Raven, couldn't even finish the Job." He took a drink from his flask. "Are you ok kid, even though she was a bitch, your first kill isn't that easy, if you want to talk, I'm here-" Qrow didn't finish, he saw Jaune walk towards them, eyes set in stone.
He brought Crocea Mors up, placing the blade on Oscar's chin. Ozpin didn't move a muscle, and Qrow replied in kind, leveling his weapon on Jaune.
"What the hell is the meaning of this kid" he screamed, not moving his weapon.
"Ask Ozma, he'll tell you." Oscar eyes widen at the name.
"Who the hell is Ozma?, put your weapon down kid, it's not worth it, whatever they promised you." Qrow tried to reason, pain in his voice, while everyone else were conflicted with the situation.
"How?" Ozpin asked.
"Salem told Cinder everything, who told me in exchange for her life, I didn't believe her, but it made so much sense, so tell me Ozma, is it true? Is Salem immortal?" everyone went still at his words.
Qrow's weapon wavered, his eyes glancing at Ozpin for a fraction of a second before eyeing Jaune.
"She just fed you nonsense kid, you can't trust Salem's peop-"
"It is, I tried everything in my power, yet, she can't be killed, so I switch to keep humanity alive." Ozpin said, closing his eyes with a sigh.
The sound of Qrow's weapon falling echoed around, Jaune heard the gasped from behind, but he didn't turn, knowing he needed to stop what happens next.
"WHAT." Qrow turned to Ozpin, eyes full of anger.
"She's immortal, and you knew? everything we ever did was for nothing, tell me your lying Oz, please." He pleaded, but Ozpin shook his head.
"I'm sorry Qrow, but your efforts weren't wasted, it gave humanity more time, more-" he didn't finish, Qrow grabbing him by the collar and punching him in the face.
Oscar's body fell to the ground, Qrow went for another, but Jaune stopped him.
"Ozpin, do you have a plan for defeating Salem, or are just going to rebuild and reinforce your defenses again?" Jaune asked, while Qrow's eyes were blood-red.
"I- I don't have a plan, because there isn't a way to defeat her, I asked the Relic, the only way is to summon the Brothers, and if we do so, all of Remnant will be gone." He answered.
"So you're telling me that mom died for nothing just to buy a few extra years for your next generation? your next circle." Yang asked, her eyes turning red.
"She was a huntress, it was her job to fight Grimm, and she died protecting people, I'm sorry, but even if I told you the truth, it won't change anything, we still need to prepare ourselves for Salem, we still need to fight back, no matter what."
No one said anything, they all knew that they signed up for this, they all knew the risks and now, they had to live with it.
"I'm going to get a shower, I know this is a lot for everyone, but it's better to think about it tomorrow, it was a long day, we just prevented the fall of Haven, mostly, and I say we deserve rest now." Jaune extended a hand to Ozpin, helping him stand up.
"We can't fight among ourselves, Hazel, Mercury and Emerald are still working with Salem, we need to be together to fight them, even if we can't kill Salem." Jaune looked at them, then went alone up the stairs.
/-/
Jaune got out of the shower still drying his hair with the towel, he walked into the living room in the house that they rented in Mistral.
He only found Oscar sitting there with the Relic.
"Where's the other?" He asked.
"Qrow is out drinking, Ren and Nora are talking alone in their room, Yang went on bumblebee to get some fresh air, Weiss and Ruby in the garden, and I don't know where the new girl, Blake, is." He chuckled awkwardly.
He knew Oscar had nothing to do with anything that happened, but sharing a body with Ozpin meant he would also get the backlash.
"So, how're you feeling?" Oscar seemed genuinely surprised by that question, which made him feel guilty.
"I- I'm not sure, I also feel anger towards Ozpin for lying, yet, I understand why he did it. if something like that got out, the world would be in despair." He answered
"Is he still here?"
"Yes, although he got a lot more quiet now."
"…can I talk with him for a moment?" Oscar seemed surprised by that but nodded anyway.
Jaune took the moment to look back at how he treated him, after everything that happened, he could understand Ozpin way of thinking, but he could also see the destruction a lie like that can create.
"I'm sorry Mister Arc, but if you're going to start acting like Qrow, I rather keep Oscar's body out of it." Ozpin said, inching away from him.
"No, I'm here to say, I forgive you." He looked the wizard in the eyes, they looked surprised, hurt, and hopeful.
"You brought Pyrrha into all of this, without her even knowing half of the danger she would be in, I blamed you for her death, for Yang's arm, for even the fall, I blamed everything on you, never seeing how much you sacrifice to help us, to help humanity. So, I thought an apology would be warranted." He smiled his way, it was bitter, but he was trying his hardest.
"I- thank you mister Arc, you have no idea how much this means to me."
He knew, Ozpin ranted about a lot then, and he knew it was wrong of him to attack Oscar for what Ozpin did, but he didn't have the energy to hold a grudge against him.
"If you mind, Jaune, could you keep the Relic with you, I don't think anyone trust me enough to have it right now, so it best you have it with you."
Jaune took it with a nod, he already wanted the Relic, but to be giving like that was also a bonus.
"I'm going to let Oscar sleep, goodnight Jaune." He nodded, watching Oscar going to his room, he felt sorry for the kid, but he needed them to be over this as soon as possible.
Instead of going to his room, Jaune decided to look at the stars from the roof, it reminded him of when Pyrrha used to train him, it was so long ago, yet the memory felt like yesterday.
Few minutes went by, until he heard the sound of footsteps behind him.
"Jaune, can we have a talk? Ruby asked, not sure of herself, he didn't look her way, he just nodded
"how do you feel?" she sat next to him, meeting his eyes, the concern was apparent in her silver eyes.
"You're asking because I killed Cinder, or because I learned the truth?" He asked back.
"Both, I know you haven't been well since Pyrrha, I didn't approach you or ask you because I was scared, and now you went too far, all because I wasn't there for you." tears started to fall from her eyes, Jaune took his hoodie's sleeve and wiped the tears.
"It's not your fault Ruby, it was my own decision, for the greater good, I can't let you take the fall for that, besides, leaders has to make the hard decisions to keep their team safe. I did that, I knew if Cinder was kept alive she would just run away and come back to finish us, I took the responsibilities, and now we are here."
"You said she told you about Ozpin." He nodded.
"Did she mention me?"
"She cursed my name and yours with her final breath, why, did you get them?" He asked, staring at her eyes.
She closed them for a second, then flames started to flow out, her silver eyes glowing with power.
"Well, I guess that's a win for us." He chuckled, and she did the same
"Yeah, so, what now? What is our next move fellow leader?"
"Well, I say Atlas, we can talk with Ironwood, plan a way to keep the Relic safe, or to use it, and push back the Grimm, if we can't kill Salem, then we just need to beat her so bad, she wouldn't come for the next thousand year." He heard Ruby laughing beside him and he smiled.
"You're tired Ruby, go to sleep, tomorrow we will meet up with everyone to discuss this." She nodded and stood up to leave him alone.
Jaune spent a few more minutes along breathing the night's air, he pulled the lamp and looked at it intensely.
"Jinn." He whispered, he felt the wind stand still, a bird in the distance frozen in the air, and he saw white blue mist coming from the lamp.
The mist gather to create jinn, blue skin covered with golden jewelry, she looked at him for a moment surprised, then smiled warmly at him.
You who came from the everafter, what questions you wish to know, I still have two more questions for this era.
"So, you are Jinn?"
Is that a question?
"You know what I mean." She chuckled.
I, Jinn, spirit of knowledge, I know everything of this world, yet, I don't know you, so tell me, knight, how did you come to be?
"Jinn, Relic of knowledge, doesn't know?" He raised an eyebrow.
Well, my knowledge is about everything possible in this era, but I can't see a possibility for you.
"Yet you knew I came from the everafter."
I, like many of the brothers creations, know little about their home world, however, you seemed knowledgeable about it.
"Well, if you help me, I may tell you a few things about the place, you can read my mind, correct?" She nodded." Do you think that method will work." She closed her eyes for a moment, then answered.
This would count as your wish.
Jaune nodded.
I speak the words of the God of light when I say, it would, but it was not his intention for this way to work.
"Well, I don't care how he wanted to end, this is the fate of my world, and I was sent here to fix their fuck-ups." He scoffed.
He is not pleased by your reply.
"If he doesn't like it, he can still come down here, or would it hurt his pride, the situation got way out of hand now." He said crossing his arms.
Clearly the light didn't like his response, by how much Jinn looked nervous.
If you do as you like, they would turn the Relics to stop you.
"How about turning Ozma and Salem too, I don't care who you send, I don't care what was your point of the whole curse thing, but I will end it." Jinn was about to respond, but Jaune didn't want to hear it.
"Thanks, Jinn, it's time to go." The moment he said that, everything went back to normal.
He picked the lamp up, noticed how it suddenly started to shake and glow, he sighed and placed it on his hip.
"Problem for later, now, I need to make sure I can save everyone and defeat Salem." He thought, walking back to his room.
His hand traveled to his hoodie's pocket, rubbing his finger around a familiar leaf, which held the power to change everything.
note: not really a full story, just the opening of one, this idea have been in my head for a while now, but it was more like (what if a rwby fan got sent to that point) and it didn't even have the same start, i'm probably going to show when and how jaune got here, ofc, if i continued, as i said, this is just to remove it from my mind, if you want to use the idea, sure, im just throwing ideas at the wall.
anyway have a great day.
free palestine.
byyee.