It is done, the immortal witch has been felled, and the eternal wizard communes with the brother gods for the fate of remnant.
But the price of victory is a pyrrhic one, hundreds of thousands lay dead at the hands of Grimm monsters, both the familiar and the newly unleashed horrors swept over the world, City after city fell...
Nations crumbled into dust until all that remained was a city of sand and dunes to be the bulwark of man.
All hope seemed lost, all of men and faunus kind were beset by horrors innumerable. Heroes fell faster and faster, huntsmen and huntresses fueled their own slaughter.
Darkness and dread seeped into the hearts of men, not even the wise words of the eternal wizard can comfort anyone.
But... There was hope, within the body, mind and souls of 7 heroes rested the tools to beat back the darkness.
A Valkyrie that delivered justice by channeling the wrath of the skies, with her hammer she crushed the limbs of her foes
A sage whose calming presence assured that no dark thought planted itself in the masses.
A silent shadow, kind to her friends and lethal to her foes. She struck where darkness thought it was safest, her amber eyes their only warning of death.
A dragon made mortal form, her fury burned the encroaching darkness. With her fist, not even their most titanic monster can hope to best her.
The princess, as sure as the winter and warm as spring, she who commanded the kin of the fallen darkness and struck with the precision of ice. With her, no offense can be overwhelmed.
The red reaper, fast and as sudden as death, her scythe cleaved her enemies like wheat to a field. Even in the rare moments of retreat, the monster still fell to her weapon.
But... The one who uncovered these fearsome powers, the one who saw the potential of these heroes.
He who led the armies of remnant, to take back what was left of their world and to victory!
The warrior, the general, the strategist.
The healer, the teacher, the motivator.
The fraud, The coward, The liar!
THE KHIGHT OF THE RUSTED ARMOR!
THE DWELLER OF THE EVER AFTER!
HE WHO'S NAME IS ARC!
...lay dying in the embrace of his friends, his golden locks stained in blood and muck, his face tired and scarred. The one blue eye loosing it's sight...
And yet, as he lay body broken, and eyes not seeing. He smiled, he smiled at his friends, he smiled at his end. As death extended a pale hand to him, he smiled, for all he could do now was to assure the ones he cared about that all was well... That he dies happy to see them safe once and for all.
...
...
...
He blinked, his sapphire blue eyes stared in wonder at what was before him. Two beings, one bathed in golden light, the other cloaked in shadow.
"Brothers..." He muttered
"That they are mister Arc" a voice beside him spoke.
Arc looked "Ozpin? No, Ozma" he corrected
The man was nothing like the beacon headmaster, and certainly not like the farm boy.
With them one had white hair and bright skin, and the man before him had tan skin and dark brown hair. But the emerald eyes remain.
"They saw it fit to commune with me at my best, Mr. Arc I... Words cannot express the work you have done. All my life I thought of myself as the hero, the knight to vanquish the evil and save my princess. But alas..." Ozma's face set in melancholy.
"I was too arrogant to see the truth of things, thinking myself the redeemer of our world. But I was not meant to be that, the world was not the one I knew so long ago, the magic was gone from the world and the will of the soul was what replaced it" Ozma looked into Jaune Arc
"I was meant to help the inheritors of the first men, to guide them away from the folly of their forefathers. To set an example, not lead an unending crusade against my love. It is that which I have failed to do, in narrowing my focus on her alone, I forsook my duty as the teacher and as the eldest" Ozma's face sour.
"And looked at what my hubris wroth, division, and distrust left to fester within the souls of men. Wars and disputes over petty slights and tyrannical fools govern the people..." Ozma sighed.
Jaune looked at the broken man and patted his shoulder "You did what you thought was right, sure you did things that aren't... Well you know, but your heart was in the right place, you help people Ozma, underhanded and agenda-driven many of them were, it still led many of them finding their happiness"
Ozma gave a rue smile "And this, is why you were the true hero Jaune, a knight through and through."
Jaune rubbed his head "You give me too much credit, all I did was order some people around, boost everyone's semblance and Aura, and took hits that might kill someone else"
"Still humble I see, but I tell you this Jaune, no one, not one person, can command and inspire people like you do. When we looked at you we saw something better, a hope for the future, a promise of a tomorrow bereft of fear and evil. Not I in my countless lifetimes has been able to unite all the world under your banner, not the fear Salem inspires in her immortal existence can even compare to the authority you had..."
Ozma looked sad, as if not wanting to say it in fear of it being too painful to utter.
"And now you are here, thy heroes of heroes. Unifier, Knight of the Smith, herald of the ancient tree. Thy body has freed thy soul, and Thou stand before us to be judged" the one bathed in light spoke, each syllable a word of power.
"My brother, do you have to speak like that? Did that world we visit really vibe with you this deeply?" The other, more laid back and less imposing brother said.
Darkness regards Jaune "You did good kid, damn well good I'll say. Do you realize what you accomplished?"
"I guess, I helped save the people I love, gave the people a future to look forward too"
"Not just that, you were a unifier, since I know you don't know what the hell that means and my bro here would bore us with a long winded explanation of the what's and who's I'll say it straight, unifiers are those that held authority of their world, figures of great focus reality itself take notice and beings from other realms tune in to see what they will do next"
Jaune didn't like where this was going
"In short mister celebrity, you have hundreds of thousands of divine and fel beings watch you like a soap opera on TV, and man did you pull on their essence hard. The one's align with justice and good vibes damn near breached this side of our Omniverse, had to double back and stop them"
Jaune's stilled eyes going white, either rage or something else none knew
"Jaune wait-" Ozma tried to say something
But a new presence entered the realm, one that even the brother gods took a second to compose themselves.
"Remarkable..." The god of light spoke
"Damn... Would you look at that" The god of shadows said.
Ozma stared in absolute bewilderment at what he was witnessing. A light of his own, Jaune Arc stood before the gods, the will of his soul honed like a sword and hammered like a shield. No there can deny how far the beacon cheater has come. From a bubbling fool to a budding demi-god of Aura, His will was the will of mortals.
"Was that all we are to you... Entertainment... The deaths, the suffering. Did it bring smiles to your faces?" Jaune spoke calmly and whispered.
"No/nope" the two gods said, flexing their power, even under literal divine might, Jaune did not waver.
"We did watch yes, so did others, and did not interfere. We viewed in awe and in fear, for every loss you witness, for every Victory you achieve. We cheered you on, for that is the curse of the divine, to watch, to see their creations struggle and be powerless to help them in fear of destroying them."
Jaune listened, his fist loosening.
"As young gods we did not understand why we could not interfere, only when my rage cooled and my brother loosened his control did we finally understand what being 'Gods' truly meant."
Jaune heard and his face became blank
"It is to be watchers, for any interference unbalanced reality itself, it happened when Salem came to us. Her pure magic and soul was corrupted by us unintentionally and led her down the path of destruction"
Jaune's aura lessened
"Our departure from remnant is much as an exile and a search, to find the meaning of our existence. To grow, to learn, to make up for our mistakes..."
Jaune, finally getting his aura under control looked before the brothers again.
"SO WE COME NOW BEFORE JAUNE ARC, FOR SAVING OUR FIRST WORLD, FOR BEING THE HERO REMANT DESERVE. WE OFFER A CHANCE OF A NEW LIFE"
"THOUGH YOU CAN NO LONGER WALK ON REMNANT, YOU'RE KIN AND LOVED ONES WILL MEET YOU ONCE YOUR SECOND LIFE ENDS"
Jaune looked flattered and a bit embarrassed "Why should I have a second chance..."
The brother gods spoke "BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT, THE SPIRITS OF YOUR DEPARTED CHOSE YOU TO BEAR THEIR MEMORIES IN THE NEXT LIFE, THEY ASKED US TO HELP YOU LIVE A HAPPY AND FULFILLING SECOND LIFE"
once more Jaune was flattered, thankful even.
Ozma patted Jaune's shoulder "Go, Jaune, you have done enough, leave the rest to you friends"
Jaune hesitated "Can I. Can I see them one last time?"
The brothers paused but nodded. A mirror appeared, and through it Jaune's love one's.
"Everyone..."
Jaune saw them, his friends, his family, companions and brothers and sisters. For they who stood beside him, for they who believes and trust in him. Jaune can ask none of them.
Nora Valkyrie is unbending and resilient. Chaotic and cheerful. Her fun-loving eyes drowning in sorrow as she beheld the dead body of her brother in all but blood.
His brother, Lie Ren, the ever calm and reasonable. Whose control over his emotions is without equal, freely screamed in loss, punching the ground as he held Nora.
Blake Belladonna, the silent but kind woman who was stubborn, unyielding fought for what she believed in, and defiant to those who would harm her friends. Stared blankly at his body, hands on her weapon tightening then loosened, letting it fall as she knelt. Tears brimming in her eyes.
Weiss Schnee, ever pragmatic but steadfast, would choose what is good over what is right if given the choice. She is kinder than most would realize, as she held his head on her lap, tears dropped down his sleeping face
Yang Xiao Long, held his cold hand, for the extroverted, loud, and emotional woman whose loyalty to her loved ones is unbreakable. She wept silently, eyes closed and lips quivering. Her actions now spoke louder than ever before.
Ruby Rose, his best friend, the girl now woman who first believed in his dream. His fellow leader and second partner. The woman who believes in the goodness in people, is kind and caring to all. Willing to lend a hand to even the most lost individual. Cried on his chest, her sorrowful mourning ached his soul.
"One last goodbye Jaune Arc, this much we can interfere with. Go, be as you are now but remember, you can no longer walk with the living on remnant"
Jaune nodded and stepped through the viewing glass.
There was gasp, scream, and joy when he opened his eyes.
The first person he saw was Nora who ran at him, he opened his arms to catch her but...
"Wha-what?"
Nora went right throw him
"No longer can I walk with the living, I'm sorry Nora but... This is it, I'm dead, this will be my last goodbye" Jaune looked at the rest, their face hopeful but turned to sorrow as he spoke.
"Thank you, all of you. I can't ask for a better family" Jaune looked at Ren
"Ren, peace is finally here, go and live your best life with Nora, rebuild what you have lost. With the two of you, I leave I and Pyrrha's memories, Goodbye brother"
Ren in tears, nodded "You can count on me, Brother"
"Blake, thank you for your patience and support, you have done enough for the future of your people. It's time to seek your happiness" Jaune gestured to Yang, Blake blushes in between tears
"And Yang, thanks for being awesome"
"H-ha! O-of course Vomit boy, you care for yourself up there you hear?" Yang said, her words broken and mirthful
He turned to Weiss, even with all the tangled hair, bruises, and blood and grime she looked beautiful.
"Weiss, even though we didn't get on the right foot at first. I still consider you one of my great friends, you'll do good changing the legacy of that bastard Jacques."
Weiss giggled in between sniffles "You saved me Jaune, I'm sorry I couldn't save you. Thank you, for everything. I promise I'd be better than my father and..." Weiss smiled, her tears made her that much more sincere "I'll smile for the both of us from here on out"
Kneeling behind him, Jaune smiled at Nora. "Boop" he said gesturing to his nose
Nora despite herself chuckles "I... I don't want to lose you Jaune, you are the elder brother I never had. You tolerate my antics and go along with whatever nonsense I do, But..." Nora looked at Jaune's ethereal body.
"There's nothing I could do..." Jaune nodded sadly.
Nora wiped her tears and stood up "Then I'd do the greatest goodbye speech ever!"
"I Nora Valkyrie say goodbye to the bestest, fearless, handsomest, smartest, coolest, warmest, awesomest, awkwardest, sweetest person in all of Remnant!"
Jaune smiled wide at that, then he turned to the last person.
"Ruby I-"
"No, I don't want you to go, please..." She walked up to him "I lost so many, dad, Uncle Qrow, Penny, so many Jaune, why my best friend too?"
"I'm sorry Rubes, for leaving like this. I want to be here with you and the rest. To experience all the fruits of our labor, but this is it, my time has come and all I can say is thank you and find your happiness Ruby Rose"
She reached for him, Jaune felt sad, he couldn't comfort his best-
Then he felt her hand on his face, it froze them both and shocked the rest
"One last gift"
Two Voices said, and like a damn everyone rushed and hugged Jaune one last time, Final tears, goodbyes, and well wishes were said and shed. But this too was a fleeting moment of joy, as Jaune started to fade, speckles of white broke off Jaune's ethereal form. his friends watched him go with longing but resolute eyes.
He gave them his last words before he was fully gone
"Promise me! All of you live happy and fulfilling lives!"
"You got it fearless leader!
"We will Jaune"
"I promise Jaune"
"You betcha Vomit boy!"
"Hmp, a Schee keeps her words Arc!"
"I will, despite everything I will Jaune! for you and all that couldn't make it!"
"ARC PROMISE!"
Jaune laughed with tears falling down his fading face, and as the tear fell on the ground, he was gone from remnant.
...
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...
Brockton Bay: 2010
Sitting in a car a teen boy around 16 years of age was barely listening to the voice of his handler.
"You are a lucky young man, your uncle was eager to find out he still had family and rushed to get you, do you know how many-"
She continued her speech, but the boy did not care, as he gazed out he saw the filth in the city, left to fester for too long. It might try to hide it, but look just a bit longer and you'll see it.
This was gang territory, protecting rackets and intimidation, he saw them enter stores and threaten the owners. It was subtly enough to go unnoticed by most people.
He was not just some people, not anymore, he thought about this city, how its protectors are bogged down by bureaucracy, how they are always outnumbered and forced to pull their punches.
And the super-powered villains run amok among the populace, reigning over the heads of people as if they were kings and queens...
The City was not the only place he had grief with, the entire world is in rough shape, billions were suffering, and the defenders were stretch too thin to do anything heroes on average are outnumbered by villains on every continent.
And that's not counting the monsters, Endbringers they called them.
A baleful eye
A slithering tail
A flapping of wings
'I felled greater beast' the boy, no, the man thought, for he was Jaune Aubert no longer, he was no longer the clueless boy living in France, whatever the monster, Behemoth, came for in the country matters not, because it made a mistake, it awoke the memory, the soul of someone it shouldn't. He was Jaune Arc, Unifier, General, Warrior, and The Aura of Humanity.
the tragedy that befell Jaune Aubert, the loss of family, of friends, was the catalyst that would change the fortunes of the world. The Rusted Knight, The Hero of Remnant, walks among the heroes of Earth.
The car stopped, and he was beckoned to get out, the first person he saw was a man in a powder blue suit, he had blue eyes and blond hair, and on either side of him, were women in almost too skimpy secretaries clothes.
"Jaune Aubert, I believe? honestly, I did not think I had family left in the old world, I am glad I was wrong, Max Anders" He extended his hand and gave Jaune a kind smile.
"I'm glad too, uncle Max" and Jaune shook the hand, smiling at the man.
Both knew the smiles were fake.