The battlefield in Vale crackled with chaos, smoke billowing while flashes of combative energy illuminated the shadows of the ruined city. Salem's monstrous forces surged through the streets, a tide of grim determination and malice. They were relentless, sowing destruction at every corner. But amidst the turmoil, a beacon of resistance stood firm—Jaune Arc, known now far and wide as "Mercy."
With Mia at his side, her small figure outfitted in her own miniaturized gear, Jaune raised the Caduceus staff high, its twisted form catching the glints of sunshine piercing through the haze. "We stand together! No one fights alone!" he shouted, his voice rising above the tumult.
From behind him, the members of Teams RWBY and PNR rallied, weapons ready. Ruby gripped Crescent Rose tightly, her eyes fierce with determination. "Let's show them what we're made of!"
"Just stay close to me!" Jaune warned, glancing down at Mia, who was bouncing on her toes, an eager expression etched across her innocent face.
"I'm ready, Daddy!" she beamed, her bushy tail swishing in excitement.
Jaune couldn't help but smile. "Alright. Stay sharp."
With a sudden roar, Salem's minions charged, snarling and shrieking as they descended upon the united front. Blasts of energy and waves of dust kicked into the air as combat erupted.
"Left flank!" Weiss commanded, thrusting her rapier forward. She moved like a well-oiled machine, coordinating with Blake, who slipped into the shadows to emerge behind the enemy.
Jaune focused his energy, the faint golden glow of his semblance igniting at his fingertips. The first ally he reached—Ren—was barely holding on, his breath labored. "Not today, my friend," Jaune said firmly, channeling his healing power. The familiar warmth rushed through him, illuminating Ren's wounds with a soft light before fading into an achy chill. He staggered but stood up straighter, gratitude shining in his eyes.
"Thank you, Jaune!" Ren said, rejoining the fray.
"Keep the line!" Jaune called, his breath growing heavy as he pushed his healing powers, darting from one injured warrior to the next. With each use, he felt his own strength wane—a weight pressing down on him, a cost he hadn't yet reconciled entirely.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha's voice cut through the chaos as she fended off an encroaching wave of Grimm. "Stay close to Mia! Protect her first!"
"I will—" he started, but another wave crashed against their lines.
Suddenly, a pulse in the ground rippled, and a menacing creature, a Beowolf, lunged toward Mia. Her eyes widened in horror as it barreled in, but Jaune was quicker. He shouted a warning, "Mia, get back!" And she obeyed, ducking behind him just as he swung his staff, deflecting the creature forcefully away.
"Whoa!" Mia squeaked, her heart racing. "That was awesome!"
"Stay back!" Jaune ordered, his tone firm yet betraying a hint of concern.
"I will! I promise!" she vowed, clutching the edge of his armor, eyes sparkling with admiration.
Desperate to keep everyone safe, Jaune pressed forward, healing its victims and encouraging his teammates as they worked to fend off the onslaught. "We can do this! Just remember what we fought for! Each other!"
His voice cut through the fog of fear, rallying the team momentarily. A laugh bubbled up from Nora as she blasted her hammer into the mass of Grimm, sending them backward. "Go, go, go!"
But Jaune felt a trembling in his veins—an aching heaviness. He pushed aside the sensation, leaping into action again. The crowd around him chanted his name even as exhaustingly mundane as it felt. He wasn't doing this for accolades, but for them; it was for Mia—always for her.
"Cover me!" he yelled to Yang, who was already barreling toward a cluster of knights, a tornado of strength and resilience.
"On it!" she called back, her gauntlets roaring like thunder as they flared with energy.
Just as Jaune began to focus again, a sharp pain seized his side. He gasped. No—he couldn't collapse now. His heart pounded, determination shaking off the haze of weakness. Sweat dripped from his brow as he gathered himself. "I'm okay," he murmured, forcing the words past gritted teeth.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha cried, her voice breaking through the clamor. "You need to conserve your strength!"
"No," he barked, shaking his head vehemently. "Not when they need me!"
He broke away, targeting another injured teammate, but he stumbled mid-stride. Darkness danced at the edges of his vision. He healed another, but with each tendril of light sent outwards, he felt his body protesting, draining further. "C'mon, c'mon!" he urged himself, hands trembling as he reached toward another ally, a soldier crumpled against the debris.
"Jaune!" a voice called, amplified by concern. "Jaune, don't push it!"
But it was too late.
The next wave of healing surged from him as he poured everything he had left into it. The golden light enveloped the ally, fusing wounds shut like magic, but the backlash was immediate; pain shot through his body like a thunderclap, raw and unyielding. He gasped as the world tilted dangerously.
All at once, his legs buckled beneath him.
"Jaune!"
He collapsed hard onto the ground, his vision blurring further as he gasped for breath.
Mia's cries pierced through the cacophony—a sound that shattered him even more profoundly than the searing agony of his injuries.
"No! Daddy!"
A collective gasp from his friends echoed around him as they closed in, the sound morphing into a frantic din of worry.
"Get back," Jaune murmured, trying to push himself up, but his strength flickered away. A coolness spread through him—he had pushed far beyond his limits. "I—just need a moment."
But the instant his hand brushed against his skeletal jaw, confusion rooted itself into the faces around him. "What happened to his face?" Yang whispered, shock coloring her tone.
Pyrrha knelt beside Jaune, cradling his head in her arms. "You can't push yourself like this! We'll fight together—you don't have to bear it all!"
"I have to protect you all. Protect Mia," he gasped, his voice barely a whisper.
"Daddy—you're scaring me!" Mia sobbed, her small frame shaking as she gripped his hand tighter.
He caught a glimpse of the jaggedness of his transformation in the astonished eyes of his friends. "I'm here," he reassured, though the clarity in his voice faltered. "I'll be fine…"
Ren knelt too. "Jaune, you're not fine. You need to stop. Please."
Another wave of energy crashed against them, drawing their focus—and the reality truly hit. He was bleeding internally, and every healing burst he released came with a grievous price.
He couldn't keep it up. "I can't—" The world spun, pulling deep shadows around him. "I don't want to let you down."
"You're not…" Pyrrha's voice broke, and Jaune felt her warmth envelop him, a lifeline in the dark. "You can't say that! None of us are alone here."
"No, don't go," Mia whimpered, her natural instincts mingling with the desperation of a child scared of losing her protector.
"I'll… be okay."
He forced a smile, though it felt wretched and wrong.
"We won't lose you," Ruby vowed fervently, kneeling next to Mia, eyes filled with conviction as if willing Jaune's strength to return. "We'll fight together—always."
Salem's forces pressed harder, the battle's backdrop roaring with flames and steel. But at that moment, it felt oddly distant—as if time had halted just for them.
Jaune shifted, gritting his teeth against the pain, seeing the faces of bravery surrounding him; they weren't merely allies; they were family. And it filled him with warmth, even as his body protested. "Protect each other. Fight for each other. That's how we win."
In an instant, as if summoned by a vow unspoken, the world spun back into focus. The light dimmed slightly as Jaune felt the darkness claw to pull him under once more, and he gasped at the taste of blood, acrid and metallic. But he wasn't alone.
Together, in that wild, chaotic landscape, they held strong, the bonds woven tighter than any steel. A roar exploded as Yang pushed through the lines, smashing foes aside.
They surged forward, a united front against the encroaching tide, refusing to bend in the face of despair.
Then the ground trembled around them, a new energy igniting in Jaune's veins, even as he felt the bitter taste of weariness sink deeper.
Morning light filtered through the aftermath of chaos, blending with the exhaustion of hearts that had fought fiercely.
Hours later, when the din returned to silence, Jaune awoke in a warm glow. He blinked against the blinding sunlight, squinting through the haze of pain and confusion. Where was he?
"Mia?"
A wave of relief washed over him as he caught sight of her curled up beside him, fast asleep, her tiny frame still in her battle gear. He managed to shift slightly, each movement pulling at his muscles, but he needed to see his friends.
"Jaune!"
Pyrrha was at his side, hair tousled and cheeks smudged with dirt yet somehow radiating hope and warmth. "You're awake!"
"Did…did we win?" he mumbled, his voice rough.
A soft chuckle bubbled up from her lips, vibrant and unyielding. "You could say that. With a giant price, though."
"Salem?" he pressed, fear gnawing at him.
"Retreated," she confirmed, resting a hand on his arm. Her eyes shone with the light of dawn, reassuring him. "We drove her forces back. You held strong; we all did."
"Stupid price," he grunted, the truth of his state still heavy in the back of his mind. His powers had taken their toll—not just on him, but on everyone.
"Jaune," she said gently, her voice breaking. "You're still here. You fought for all of us, and we fought for you too."
The warmth surged around him again, and he turned to see familiar faces—Team RWBY and PNR—crowding around him, relief flooding over them. The morning filled the room with shimmering light, invigorating yet bittersweet, a sunrise filled with both scars and triumphs.
Jaune let out a shaky breath and closed his eyes. The weight of their gazes felt almost too heavy, but in that moment, he accepted it.
"I guess… this means I'm still Mercy."
"Yes," Pyrrha agreed softly, her eyes shining. "And you're Jaune Arc. Both. You are both."
Laughter erupted around him—a sound steeped in camaraderie and healing.
Mia shifted and blinked awake, her eyes sparkling with that familiar innocence. "Daddy!"
"Hey, Mia," he said, his heart swelling as she clambered into his arms. The touch of her warmth ignited something inside him, chasing away the remnants of fatigue.
"Are you okay?" Mia asked, her little face scrunching up with concern.
"More than okay," Jaune assured, ruffling her hair. "You were brave. So were they."
"They call you a hero, and I knew you'd be okay," she chirped back, beaming with pride.
He chuckled softly, marvelling at how a small fox shone with resilience. "Together, we're all heroes."
As they celebrated their victory in the tender light of day, Jaune embraced what he was—Mercy and a father, unbreakable. With arms around his family and friends, the world shifted into something brighter, something filled with hope.
"Now, let's rebuild. For a better Vale," he declared, his voice steady.
And together, united once more, they would fight and heal against whatever darkness came their way; family against the shadows.