The portal flared to life, its swirling light spilling onto the sandy ground. One by one, Team RWBY stepped through, their silhouettes momentarily illuminated by the vortex before they emerged into the blazing sunlight. Neo followed, her umbrella twirling idly in her hand, her mismatched eyes wide with wonder. Last came Jaune, his heavy armor scraping faintly as he crossed the threshold. The portal behind them fizzled and closed, leaving them alone in the vast expanse of Vacuo's desert.
The environment hit them like a tidal wave—blistering heat radiated from the golden dunes stretching endlessly in every direction. The air shimmered, and the distant cries of scavenging birds echoed across the barren landscape. The sand beneath their boots shifted and crunched, its coarse texture clinging stubbornly to their clothing.
To the west, the sprawling city of Vacuo lay nestled among rocky outcroppings. From their vantage point atop a windswept dune, they could see its shimmering walls, cobbled together from stone, metal, and whatever resources the people of Vacuo could scavenge. The city gleamed like a defiant jewel in the wasteland, its towers rising unevenly but proudly above the desert floor. Colourful banners flapped in the scorching wind, signalling life and resilience. A haze of activity surrounded the city—carts, travellers, and the ever-present signs of survival in a harsh world.
Ruby took a deep breath, her silver eyes wide with awe. "We're home," she whispered, her voice trembling. She turned to her team, a radiant smile breaking across her face. "We're back!"
Yang threw her fists into the air, her grin as bright as the sunlight. "Hell yeah, we are!" She turned to Weiss and pulled her into an impromptu hug. "We made it, Ice Queen!"
Weiss struggled for a moment but didn't resist long. Her usually stern expression softened, and a rare smile graced her lips. "I can't believe it," she admitted. "We're finally back."
Blake's ears twitched as the desert wind tousled her hair. She folded her arms, a content smile playing on her lips. "It feels…surreal," she said softly. Her amber eyes drifted toward the city. "But it's real. We're here."
Neo, standing off to the side, gave a triumphant flourish with her umbrella, spinning it above her head before planting it firmly in the sand. She leapt lightly onto one foot, raising both arms in a silent cheer. Her body language exuded excitement, and her face, normally an impassive mask, was lit with a rare expression of joy. She raised a hand to gesture enthusiastically toward the city, her eyes glinting with triumph.
Ruby turned to Neo, her grin widening. "See, Neo? We're all in this together now." She held up her hand in an offer of a high-five, and after a moment's hesitation, Neo tapped it lightly with a gloved hand, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Jaune stood apart from them, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the sand. His claymore rested on his back, the weight of it a constant reminder of what he had become. The sunlight gleamed dully off his tarnished Armor, which stood in stark contrast to the jubilant scene around him.
He didn't move to join them, his gaze fixed on the distant city. A cold knot twisted in his chest, an alien sensation in a place that should have felt familiar. He had dreamed of coming back to Remnant, to Vacuo, to the world he had fought so hard to protect. But now, standing here, he felt like a stranger.
This wasn't his home—not anymore.
The laughter and cheers of Team RWBY faded into the background as his thoughts swirled. He wasn't the same person who had left Remnant. The man they once called Jaune Arc no longer existed. In his place stood the Knave of Hearts, a butcher, a destroyer, a man who had done unspeakable things in service to a tyrant.
He clenched his fists, his armored gloves creaking faintly. His mind filled with memories—villages burned to ash, families torn apart, the countless lives he had extinguished without hesitation. He could still hear their screams, still feel the weight of his sword as it cleaved through Armor, flesh, and bone. Every step he took left a trail of blood in his wake, a legacy he could never escape.
Jaune's gaze dropped to the sand at his feet, the golden grains shimmering in the light. He had no right to stand here, to bask in the joy of returning to a place that had been denied to so many because of him. These people—his friends—saw him as someone worth saving, but he knew the truth. He was a monster cloaked in the tattered remnants of a hero…
The thought cut through Jaune's mind like a blade. It consumed him, and with it came a surge of darkness that rippled through his being. His chest felt tight, his grip on the claymore unyielding as the edges of his vision narrowed. There, in the golden sand of Vacuo, his gaze locked onto Neo, and something primal overtook him.
Neo's head snapped up, her instincts screaming. The air around her seemed to thicken, and an oppressive weight settled over her chest as she caught sight of him. His figure loomed like a Specter, his tarnished armour radiating menace. Most chilling of all was the darkness within his visor. It wasn't just shadow—it felt alive, swirling with something that sent ice through her veins. The faint red glint in its depths pierced her like a dagger, an unspoken promise of violence.
The claymore came down without warning, a blur of steel aimed to cleave her in two. Neo threw herself to the side, the massive blade carving a jagged scar in the sand. The force of the strike sent a shockwave rippling outward, the displaced air tugging at her hair and coat.
She rolled to her feet, her umbrella snapping open to shield her from the flying debris. Her eyes darted back to Jaune, who rose from the attack with terrifying speed. His movements were mechanical yet fluid, like a predator closing in on its prey. She had fought many Hunters, but none like this. He was relentless, unyielding, and utterly devoid of hesitation.
"Jaune!" Ruby's voice rang out, sharp with confusion and fear. "What are you doing?!"
He didn't answer. Instead, he lunged forward, his claymore arcing down in a strike meant to end her. Neo flipped backward, narrowly avoiding the blade as it slammed into the ground. She landed lightly, her heels skidding in the sand as she spun her umbrella defensively.
Jaune was on her in an instant, his speed belying the bulk of his armor. He swung again, his strikes brutal and deliberate. Neo ducked under one blow, only for his free hand to lash out and catch her by the collar. He hurled her to the ground with a force that knocked the wind from her lungs.
Neo's semblance flared to life. Her body shimmered, splitting into a flickering illusion just as Jaune's claymore came down. The blade passed through her doppelgänger, scattering it like glass. She reappeared behind him, aiming for his exposed back with the sharp tip of her umbrella.
Jaune twisted as though anticipating her move, his claymore sweeping in a vicious arc. Neo barely managed to block, the impact rattling her arms. Her illusion flickered again, this time leaving a copy of herself that darted to his left. Jaune ignored it entirely, his blade tracking her true form with chilling precision.
His strikes were faster now, more erratic yet no less precise. Neo's heart pounded as she dodged, her semblance allowing her to leave illusory clones in her wake. Each time, Jaune obliterated the false Neo without pause, forcing her further into a corner. Her breaths came sharp and shallow as her aura flickered, the strain of her semblance taking its toll.
Jaune's claymore came down in a wide sweep, and Neo used her semblance to dart backward, leaving another illusion in her place. The blade shattered the copy, spraying shards of light across the sand. But this time, Jaune didn't stop. He thrust forward with brutal force, catching Neo off guard. The tip of the claymore grazed her side, drawing blood and sending her sprawling.
She scrambled to her feet, her umbrella held in trembling hands. She tried to focus, to summon another illusion, but her concentration wavered. Jaune advanced, his silhouette dark against the blazing desert sun. The shadows in his visor seemed to deepen, and Neo swore she could feel them reaching for her, suffocating her.
He raised his claymore, the blade gleaming with lethal intent. Neo's vision blurred, the oppressive weight of his presence crushing her spirit. She couldn't fight him—not like this. The realization sent a cold chill through her as she raised her umbrella in a desperate attempt to block.
"JAUNE, STOP!" Ruby's Crescent Rose intercepted the blow, locking his claymore in place. The force of the collision sent a shockwave through the air, pushing sand in every direction.
Ruby gritted her teeth, her silver eyes wide with desperation. "What are you doing?! She's on our side!"
"She's a threat," Jaune growled, his voice muffled by the helmet but no less menacing. He pressed against Ruby's scythe, forcing her back. "She's dangerous, and you know it."
Yang rushed in, her fists ablaze with golden fire. She landed a punch against his side, forcing him to stagger. "That's not your call!" she shouted. "Neo's fighting with us now. She's not the enemy."
Jaune swung his claymore in a wide arc, forcing Yang to retreat. His voice was colder now, laced with quiet fury. "How many people has she killed? How many more will she kill when it suits her? Nothing stops her from joining Salem."
Blake moved swiftly, Gambol Shroud flashing in the light as she interposed herself between Jaune and Neo. "And how many people have you killed, Jaune?" she said firmly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Should we have turned on you because of what you've done?"
Jaune froze, the tip of his claymore hovering in the air. The shadows in his visor seemed to swirl violently, and for a moment, his grip on the blade faltered. Then he straightened, the weight of his resolve pressing down on everyone around him.
"She's not like me," he said quietly. "I know what I am. She's still a threat."
"She's not a threat to us," Weiss said, stepping forward. Her voice was steady, but her icy blue eyes shimmered with determination. "And you're not the Knave anymore, Jaune. You're better than this."
Jaune turned his helmeted head toward her, his voice cutting through the desert air. "Am I?" he asked, his tone hollow. "After everything I've done, after the lives I've taken—am I really better? It takes a monster to know a monster Weiss"
Weiss held her ground, her rapier steady in her hand. "You are," she said firmly. "Because you regret it. Because you're still fighting to be better. And if you stop now—if you give in to the Knave—you'll lose everything you've fought for…and you will become what you claim."
The claymore trembled in Jaune's grip. The darkness in his visor seemed to waver, he lowered his blade slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing as Weiss stepped closer.
"Let her go," Weiss said softly. "Let us help you. Like we always have."
Jaune's breath came heavy, the sound echoing in the hollow chamber of his helmet. Finally, he stepped back, the tip of his claymore sinking into the sand. "This is a mistake," he muttered. "I hope you don't regret it."
Ruby exhaled shakily, her silver eyes darting between Neo and Jaune. Neo, still trembling, rose to her feet with Ruby's help. Her mismatched eyes flicked toward Jaune warily, but her trembling spoke volumes. If Team RWBY did not intervene she would have been killed…
She looked at Ruby, a girl she vowed to kill and felt like crying right now.
"Neo" Jaune suddenly spoke spooking the girl in question who took defensive stance along with the rest of Team RWBY. If that had any effect on Jaune his visage did not show anything." They are trusting you…but know this, if I even as much as suspect that you are planning to betray us I will finish what I started in Ever After and no one will be able to save you….there will be no third chances"
Saying this he spun on his heel and moved towards the city leaving the ladies behind. The girls exchanged worried looks
Weiss placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "Let's keep moving," she said quietly. "We still have a long way to go."
The trek toward Vacuo was heavy with tension. The city's towering walls grew closer with each step, but the atmosphere within the group was far from celebratory. Ruby walked at the front, her silver eyes darting toward Jaune occasionally.
Weiss, Yang, and Blake walked together, exchanging uneasy glances. Neo was a few steps ahead, her movements cautious, her umbrella held close as if prepared for another attack. Though her face betrayed nothing, her body language was stiff, her usual grace replaced by a wary edge.
Yang broke the silence first, her voice low but tinged with frustration. "So…we're just gonna ignore the fact that Jaune tried to kill Neo back there? Like, what the hell was that about?"
Weiss sighed, her tone sharp but measured. "He's…not himself. He's been through things we can't understand."
"Things we can't understand?" Yang said incredulously. "We all went through hell, Weiss. But we're not trying to cut down someone who helped us."
Blake frowned, her tail flicking as she glanced back toward Jaune. "He's carrying more than we know. Whatever happened to him in Ever After… it broke something. And I think he believes it's too late to fix it."
Yang scoffed, crossing her arms. "And what was that thing he said? About third chances? What does that even mean?"
Ruby stopped abruptly, turning to face her team. Her expression was tight, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and guilt. "I know what he meant," she said softly.
Weiss, Yang, and Blake exchanged puzzled looks before Weiss asked, "What are you talking about?"
Ruby hesitated, her hand tightening around Crescent Rose. "It happened a few months ago. After we first got to Ever After. We found Neo—well, I found her. And Jaune…he….
Flashback
The forest of Ever After was thick and oppressive, the gnarled trees casting twisted shadows under a pale sky. Ruby moved cautiously, her scythe at the ready. She'd gotten separated from the others during a skirmish with the Queen's forces and was now trying to find her way back. The eerie silence of the woods made her skin crawl.
Then she heard it—a faint, labored breath. Ruby froze, her silver eyes scanning the area. The sound came again, weak and ragged, like someone struggling to breathe.
She pushed through the underbrush and found the source.
Neo lay crumpled at the base of a tree, her body battered and bloodied. Her umbrella lay discarded a few feet away, its frame bent and torn. Her usual composure was gone, replaced by a fragile, broken figure. She looked up as Ruby approached, her mismatched eyes dull and unfocused.
Ruby's breath caught. "Neo?"
Neo flinched at her voice, her hand weakly reaching for her umbrella. But the effort was futile—she was too injured to do anything more than twitch.
Ruby hesitated. Every instinct told her to keep her distance, to remember what Neo had done, the lives she had endangered, and the trust she had broken. But another part of her saw the humanity in the woman before her—the pain, the vulnerability.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Ruby said softly, kneeling a safe distance away. She wasn't sure if Neo understood, but the tension in her body eased slightly.
Ruby glanced around, her heart sinking. The signs were clear—Neo had been in a fight. A brutal one. Her injuries weren't from Grimm or an Ever Afteran; they were too precise, too methodical.
"Knave…." Ruby whispered electing a whimper from the other girl.
Ruby hesitated before speaking, her voice trembling but steady enough to carry her words. "Neo… I need you to know something." She placed Crescent Rose on the ground, a gesture of peace, and met Neo's wary gaze. "What happened to Roman… that wasn't my fault. It wasn't me."
Neo's mismatched eyes narrowed, her body stiffening slightly. Ruby continued, her hands held out in a pleading gesture. "He was eating by a Grimm…but it was Cinder who betrayed him. She used him, Neo. She used all of us."
The woman's chest rose and fell unevenly as she struggled to process Ruby's words. The mention of Cinder's name was like a spark in a dry forest, reigniting memories she had buried beneath layers of rage and grief. Roman's sly grin, his unwavering loyalty, and the sharp laughter they had shared—all of it came rushing back, tainted by the reality Ruby's words had forced her to confront.
"We need to work together," Ruby said, her voice soft but insistent. "Cinder doesn't care about you, about me, or anyone else. She'll betray anyone if it serves her. But we—we can stop her. We don't have to let her win."
Neo's grip tightened around the bent frame of her umbrella. Her gaze dropped to the ground, her mind churning. Deep down, beneath the layers of fury and despair that had driven her since Roman's death, she knew Ruby was right. She had always known. Ruby hadn't killed Roman. Her rage had simply needed a target, someone to blame, and Ruby had been the easiest to hate.
Her lips pressed into a thin line as the truth she had avoided for so long settled like a stone in her chest. It wasn't Ruby's fault. It never had been. But admitting that now didn't erase the pain, the years she had spent consumed by grief and vengeance.
Slowly, Neo's mismatched eyes rose to meet Ruby's. There was no apology there—she couldn't bring herself to offer one—but there was a flicker of acknowledgment. Her silence, usually a weapon, carried a different weight now. A tentative truce.
Ruby offered a small, tentative smile. "We'll figure this out together," she said. "I promise."
Neo didn't respond, but as Ruby carefully helped her to her feet, she didn't pull away. For the first time in what felt like forever, Neo allowed herself to believe—not in forgiveness, not yet, but in the possibility of something more.
Flashback ends
Ruby's voice faltered as she finished recounting the story, her gaze fixed on the sand. The others walked in silence, the weight of her words settling heavily over the group. The only sounds were the distant howl of the desert wind and the crunch of sand beneath their boots.
"That's what he meant by third chances," Ruby said quietly.
Ruby's voice faltered as she finished recounting the story, her gaze fixed on the sand. The others walked in silence, the weight of her words settling heavily over the group. The only sounds were the distant howl of the desert wind and the crunch of sand beneath their boots.
Yang was the first to speak, her voice low and tense. "So, we just… let him keep walking around with that sword, knowing he could snap at any moment?" She turned, her golden eyes flickering with frustration. "Ruby, he tried to kill her. What if it's one of us next time?"
Blake frowned, her tail flicking as she glanced toward Jaune's distant figure. "Yang's right. He's… unstable. Whatever happened to him in Ever After—it's not just about what he did. It's about what it did to him. Can we really trust him anymore?"
Ruby turned, her silver eyes glistening. "We have to. He's still Jaune."
"Is he?" Yang shot back. "The Jaune we knew wouldn't have raised his blade against someone who was down. The Jaune we knew wouldn't be…" She gestured toward his armored figure, her voice breaking slightly. "This."
Weiss stepped forward, her voice sharp but not unkind. "He's not the same person, Yang. None of us are. Ever After changed all of us in some way. But Jaune…" She glanced back toward him, her expression softening. "He didn't have anyone. He was alone. Whatever we've been through, at least we've always had each other."
"And what did he have?" Blake murmured, her amber eyes darkening. "The Queen of Hearts."
Weiss nodded, her voice quieter now. "He told us what she did to him. 'Layer by layer, she tore down this weak boy, burning out his weakness,'" she recited, her tone heavy with emotion. "That's what he said. She didn't just hurt him—she destroyed him."
Ruby wiped at her eyes, her voice trembling. "We weren't there to help him. He fell into that world alone. He lost Pyrrha, Penny… everyone he cared about. And then she—she took what was remaining."
Yang exhaled sharply, her frustration giving way to guilt. "I get that, but—" She hesitated, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. "What if he's too far gone? What if there's nothing left of him to save?"
"There's always something left," Weiss said firmly. Her blue eyes glinted with determination as she looked at Yang. "Even in Ever After, when he was the Knave, he still tried to let us go. He could have killed us, but he didn't. That wasn't because of the Queen or whatever she did to him. That was because of Jaune."
Blake remained silent, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Her voice, when it came, was soft but laced with doubt. "What if the Jaune we knew is gone? What if the only thing left is… him?"
Ruby's shoulders tensed, her fists clenching at her sides. "He's not gone," she said, her voice firm despite the tears in her eyes. "We've seen him fight against what the Queen did to him. He's still in there—I know he is."
Yang shook her head, her frustration bubbling back to the surface. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because he's still fighting," Ruby shot back. She gestured toward Jaune, her silver eyes blazing. "If he really believed he was the monster she made him, he wouldn't still be here. He wouldn't have helped us fight her. He wouldn't have cared about getting us home."
Blake glanced between Ruby and Yang, her expression conflicted. "But he almost killed Neo. He told us himself—he's willing to do whatever it takes to win, no matter the cost. What if that includes us?"
"He's scared," Weiss said quietly, her voice cutting through the tension. "Scared that he's become exactly what she wanted him to be. That's why he keeps pushing us away—because he doesn't think he deserves to be with us anymore."
Ruby nodded, her voice softening. "He's trying to protect us, in his own way. But he doesn't see that pushing us away only makes it worse."
Yang sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know, Rubes. I want to believe in him—I really do. But after everything he said, everything he's done…"
Blake placed a gentle hand on Yang's arm, her voice thoughtful. "We've all done things we regret. We've all had moments where we thought we'd lost ourselves. Maybe we need to remember that Jaune is no different."
Yang glanced at Blake, her fiery eyes dimming slightly. "I just don't want him to hurt anyone else," she muttered. "Or himself."
Weiss turned to Ruby, her gaze steady. "We have to help him see that he's not alone anymore. That he doesn't have to carry this on his own."
Ruby nodded, her voice trembling with emotion. "We'll figure it out—together. We owe him that much."
The group fell into a heavy silence, their eyes turning toward Jaune. He walked alone, his figure weighed down by more than just his armor. The desert wind swirled around him, tugging at the tattered edges of his cloak.
Weiss exhaled softly, her heart aching as she watched him. "Whatever he went through in Ever After… we'll never truly understand it. But we can try to help him heal."
"And hope it's not too late," Blake added quietly.
Ruby's grip tightened on Crescent Rose, her silver eyes glinting with determination. "It's not too late," she said firmly. "It can't be."
The walls of Vacuo rose high above them, shimmering in the heat of the desert sun. As Team RWBY and their companions drew closer, they noticed the steady hum of life spilling from the city. The gates were packed with refugees, a throng of humanity pressed together in a desperate tide.
Families huddled in the shade of makeshift shelters, their faces weathered and hollow. The chatter of different dialects mingled in the air—Mistralian merchants bartering for supplies, Atlas refugees dressed in tattered remnants of military uniforms, and even the softer lilt of Valean accents weaving through the crowd. People from all four kingdoms had found their way here, drawn by the promise of safety in one of the last strongholds against Salem.
Ruby's heart clenched as she took in the scene. Children clung to their parents, their wide eyes filled with fear and exhaustion. Men and women sat on the ground, their gazes distant, their belongings reduced to what they could carry. It was chaos, yet there was an undercurrent of resilience—a quiet determination to endure, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Yang glanced at Ruby, her voice low. "This is worse than I imagined. I didn't think Vacuo could hold this many people."
"It's barely holding," Blake murmured, her amber eyes scanning the crowd. "Look at the walls. They're fortified, but not enough for this many refugees. If Salem attacks here…"
Weiss's expression was tight, her gaze lingering on a group of children sharing a single canteen of water. "The city's doing what it can. But there are too many mouths to feed, too many people to protect."
Ruby swallowed hard, her grip tightening on Crescent Rose. "Then we need to make sure Salem doesn't get the chance."
The guards at the gates barely glanced at them as they entered, their attention focused on managing the throngs of people trying to get in. Inside the city, the streets were just as crowded. Vendors called out from stalls hastily erected along the pathways, selling everything from food to weapons. Refugees lined the roads, some tending to injuries while others simply sat in silent exhaustion.
Neo's gaze flickered across the scene, her expression unreadable as she clutched her umbrella tightly. Even she seemed unnerved by the sheer scale of the suffering around her.
Jaune walked in silence at the back of the group, his armor drawing wary glances from passersby. The darkness of his visor and the imposing presence of his claymore on his back seemed to mark him as something other, something dangerous. People instinctively gave him a wide berth, whispering nervously as he passed.
The group moved quickly, weaving through the crowds toward Shade Academy, the heart of Vacuo's defense. The towering structure loomed in the distance, its walls reinforced with layers of metal and stone. Armed Huntsmen patrolled the perimeter, their weapons ready and their expressions grim.
As they approached the gates, Ruby's heart raced. This was it—the chance to see their friends again, to reconnect with the people they had fought so hard to protect. She only hoped they would recognize her after so long.
A guard stepped forward, his weapon held at the ready. "State your business," he barked, his eyes narrowing as he took in the group.
"We're Huntsmen," Ruby said, stepping forward. She pulled her hood back, revealing her face. "We're here to see our friends—Oscar, Nora, Ren, and anyone else from Beacon."
The guard hesitated, his brow furrowing. "Ruby Rose?" he asked, his tone incredulous.
Ruby nodded. "That's me. And this is Weiss, Blake, Yang, and…" She glanced back at Jaune and Neo, unsure how to explain their presence. "...some allies."
The guard stared at her for a moment longer before stepping aside, his voice rising as he called to someone inside. "Get the Headmaster! They're alive!"
Ruby blinked, exchanging a stunned look with Weiss. "Headmaster?"
The gates creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped out, his green eyes wide with disbelief. Oscar, the farm boy turned Huntsman, stood frozen for a moment before breaking into a run.
"Ruby! Weiss! Yang! Blake!" His voice cracked with emotion as he closed the distance, his expression a mixture of shock and relief.
Ruby barely had time to brace herself before Oscar enveloped her in a hug. His arms were strong despite his slight frame, and she could feel him trembling.
"You're alive," he said, his voice muffled against her shoulder. "We thought—we thought you were gone."
Ruby pulled back, her silver eyes shining. "We made it back," she said, her voice breaking. "It's… it's a long story."
Oscar turned to Weiss, Blake, and Yang, hugging each of them in turn. His gaze then shifted to Jaune, his expression faltering. "Jaune?" he asked, his tone uncertain. The sight of the armor, the claymore, and the helmet gave him pause.
"It's me," Jaune said, his voice low and hesitant.
Oscar's lips parted in shock. "What… happened to you?"
Jaune hesitated, his gaze dropping. "It's… complicated," he said. "We'll explain everything inside."
Oscar nodded slowly, though his expression remained troubled. His gaze flicked to Neo, his brows furrowing. "And her?"
Neo gave a small, exaggerated bow, twirling her umbrella with a flourish. Her smile was thin, more an acknowledgment than a greeting.
"She's with us," Ruby said quickly. "It's a lot to explain, but she helped us in Ever After."
Oscar's brows knitted together, but he didn't press further. Instead, he stepped aside, gesturing toward the gates. "Come on. Everyone's going to want to see you."
The group followed him into the academy, their hearts heavy with the weight of what was to come. The reunion would be joyful, but it would also bring questions—questions they weren't sure they were ready to answer.
The halls of Shade Academy were bustling with activity, Huntsmen and refugees alike moving through the building with purpose. But when Oscar led Team RWBY into one of the academy's central chambers, everything seemed to stop.
A group of familiar faces turned toward the newcomers. Nora, Ren, Winter, Qrow, and Taiyang stood together, their exhaustion and grief etched deeply into their features. At first, their expressions were blank, as if their minds refused to believe what they were seeing. Then, like a wave crashing over them, recognition took hold.
"Ruby?" Nora's voice was the first to break the silence. It trembled, rising with disbelief. "Ruby!"
In an instant, she was running, her arms outstretched. She collided with Ruby, nearly knocking her off her feet as she wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed into Ruby's shoulder.
"You're alive!" Nora cried, her voice muffled. "You're really here!"
Ruby clung to her, her own tears spilling over as she tried to speak. "We're here, Nora. We're back."
Ren followed at a slower pace, his steps measured and his expression calm. But his normally stoic demeanor cracked as he approached. His lips trembled, and his shoulders sagged under the weight of emotions he couldn't suppress. He placed a hand gently on Ruby's shoulder, his voice steady but thick with emotion. "You're safe," he said quietly, as though saying it aloud made it real.
Ruby reached out, pulling him into the embrace with Nora. He stiffened for a moment, then let himself relax, his eyes closing as he exhaled a shaky breath. "We thought… we thought we'd lost you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Weiss, Blake, and Yang were quickly swept into the reunion as well. Taiyang stepped forward, his expression crumbling as he pulled Ruby and Yang into his arms. "I can't believe it," he murmured, his voice breaking. "My girls…"
"Dad…" Yang's voice was thick with tears as she clung to him. "We're okay. We made it."
Winter's composure held for only a moment longer than Ren's. She approached Weiss with her usual measured gait, her sharp blue eyes scanning her sister as if to confirm she was real. "Weiss," she said, her voice faltering.
Weiss stepped forward, her own tears spilling freely. "Winter." She closed the distance, wrapping her arms around her older sister. Winter stiffened briefly, then softened, holding Weiss tightly.
Qrow lingered at the edge of the group, his crimson eyes glistening as he took in the sight of Ruby and Yang. When Ruby caught his gaze, her lip quivered, and she broke away from the others to run to him.
"Uncle Qrow!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck.
He hugged her tightly, his voice thick with emotion. "Kid… you're a sight for sore eyes." He pulled back slightly, his hands on her shoulders. "You've got no idea how much we missed you."
The room was filled with sobs, laughter, and words of relief. For a moment, it felt like the weight of the war had lifted, replaced by the simple joy of being reunited.
But not everyone was included in the embrace.
Jaune stood near the entrance, his helmet firmly in place. The dark visor obscured his face, and his battered armor seemed to absorb the light in the room, exuding an oppressive presence. He remained silent, watching as the joyful reunion unfolded, unsure if he had the right to step forward. This warmth, this joy, someone like him did not deserve to bask in it. He should stay where he is, with Neo because ironically that's where he belonged.
Neo lingered farther back, leaning against the wall with her umbrella balanced over her shoulder. Her mismatched eyes darted around the room, scanning the gathered faces with an air of indifference that barely masked her unease. She shifted her weight subtly, her grip tightening on her umbrella as though bracing for what was to come.
It was Nora who noticed Neo first. She pulled back from Ruby, her eyes narrowing as she pointed toward the diminutive woman. "Wait, wait, wait." Her voice cut through the warmth like a blade. "Neo? What is she doing here?"
All eyes turned to Neo, the joy of the reunion giving way to confusion and tension. Winter's icy gaze hardened instantly, her hand twitching toward the hilt of her rapier. Qrow crossed his arms, his crimson eyes narrowing as he sized Neo up. Even Taiyang's posture stiffened, his protective instincts kicking in.
Ruby quickly stepped between Neo and the group, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "It's not what you think," she said hastily, her silver eyes wide with urgency. "Neo's… she's with us now. She helped us in Ever After."
Winter's brow furrowed deeply. "Ever After?" she repeated, her tone skeptical. "What in the world is that?"
Blake spoke up, her voice calm but firm. "It's a… place. Another realm. That's where we've been for the past few months. Time works differently there."
"A realm?" Qrow repeated, his tone dripping with disbelief. "You telling me you got stuck in some kind of fairy tale land?"
"It's real," Weiss said sharply, her icy blue eyes daring him to question her. "We've all been there. We lived it."
"But that doesn't explain her," Nora interjected, jabbing a finger toward Neo. "How is she part of this? She tried to kill us, like, a hundred times!"
"She fought with us against the Queen of Hearts," Ruby explained quickly. "She saved our lives more than once."
"Neo?" Taiyang asked, his voice heavy with suspicion. His eyes flicked to Neo's umbrella. "You're saying she saved you?"
"She did," Blake confirmed. "And if it weren't for her, we might not have made it back at all."
Winter's hand remained on her rapier, her sharp gaze fixed on Neo. "That doesn't erase what she's done. You expect us to believe she's suddenly trustworthy?"
Neo responded with a small, theatrical bow, twirling her umbrella in a gesture that could have been mocking or conciliatory. Her mismatched eyes flicked to Ruby, her expression unreadable.
"She's not perfect," Ruby admitted, her voice softening. "But none of us are. And right now, she's with us. That has to be enough."
The tension in the room remained thick, but the group's attention began to shift toward the armored figure standing silently by the door. Qrow's eyes narrowed as he took a step forward. "And who's the guy in the tin can?" he asked, gesturing toward Jaune. "You bring along another stray?"
Taiyang frowned, his gaze lingering on the imposing figure. "Ruby, who is this?"
Ruby hesitated, glancing toward Jaune. Her voice was soft but steady when she spoke. "It's Jaune."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Nora's face scrunched in disbelief. "What?" she exclaimed, taking a step forward. "I call bull! No way. That's not Jaune. Our fearless leader is not dark and edgy!" Nora protested. "Not his vibe!"
Ren's calm demeanor cracked slightly, his lips tightening as he scrutinized the figure. "Jaune?" he asked, his voice quieter but no less heavy. "Is that really you?"
Jaune didn't respond immediately. His hands rose slowly to the sides of his helmet. The gathered friends watched with bated breath as he lifted it off, revealing his face.
The gasps were audible.
Jaune's features were sharper, more mature, though not yet aged. His hair was shorter, and his once-boyish face now carried the weight of experience, his face now having a short beard. His eyes, darker and more shadowed than they had ever been, held a depth that hadn't been there before. Not to mention dark circles underneath them.
When team Rwby have seen him for the first time in palace of hearts they could not focus on his face due to him trying to actively kill them but now they could see how gruesome his stay there was.
If there was one thing shown on his face it was exhaustion. An exhaustion beyond belief.
Nora stumbled back, her hand covering her mouth. "Jaune…" she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. "You… you look so…"
"Different," Ren finished, his usual composure slipping. His voice was calm but thick with emotion. "What happened to you?"
Qrow's crimson gaze swept over him, sharp and wary. "Kid's not a kid anymore," he muttered. "How long were you in this… Ever After?" He have seen that look way to many times in his life…a look of a man that went though hell and back.
Missing few parts of himself.
"Five years," Jaune said quietly, his voice steady but heavy with regret. "Time moves differently there."
"Five years?" Winter's brows knit together, her lips tightening. "That's impossible."
"It's the truth," Blake said softly. "We were only there for a few months, but for Jaune…"
Nora's tears spilled over as she stepped closer. "Jaune," she said, her voice trembling. "You're still you, right? You're still our Jaune?...Right?" She put her shaking hand on his armour plate and looked deeply into his eyes.
What she have seen in them froze her soul as the darkness threated to almost swallow her.
Jaune hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I'm trying to be," he said finally. "But I'm not the same person you knew."
"Then…who you are right now Jaune…what became of you in Ever After?" Ren asked slowly joining Nora.
"You all know this fairy tale about the girl who fell through the world? "The gathered nodded. "The author Lewis…he also ended up there…with his sister Alyx…" Now even team RWBY was shocked by the revelation. No one knew that.
"Woah woah woah…"Taiyang spoke" You mean all of that was real? Curious Cat, Red King and so on was real?"
Jaune looked at him,
"Yes…"
Nora felt like she was about to collapse. Now that he said this his armor, his sword they started to look familiar….she felt dread started to creep up her spine.
"Mr Arc…"This time Ozpin's voice reached him drawing his attention. "Myself being part of more than one fairy tale I have to ask, what part of the story you became?"
"When I met Alyx and Lewis I guess I became Rusted Knight…." That elected a round of gasp from ALL the gathered yes even Neo. They did not know that part of the story. To be honest they were all wondering where the biggest hero of all children was in all of this darkness. Surely with someone as evil as Queen of Hearts he would surely be first one to fight her.
"Okkkkkeeeyyy" Nora said slowly allowing herself to feel glimmer of hope but the look on Jaune's face still put her on the edge. "So why the girls look at you like you're about to take somebody's head off?" Nora said noticing the cringe on team RWBY's face with Neo growing suddenly very pale. " I mean Rusted Knight! Hero of all children and so on! That's good right? Right?" She looked at them but they avoided her stare fuelling her paranoia.
"Have you even heard the saying you either die a hero and see yourself become a villain?" Jaune spoke quietly crushing that small hope like a bug.
"Jaune….what happened?" Ren whispering activating his semblance to probe Jaune. In the months they were gone he managed to increase his mastery over his power to the point he could feel what was inside of people. He could discover their true nature, to see the deepest part of their souls.
What he felt in Jaune was…flames. Flames so raging, so hot and so painful that he recoiled back as if it burned him!
"Ren!?" Nora quickly ran to her boyfriend side putting her hand on the panting boy shoulder. "Are you ok?!" The black haired teen was sweating now with his eyes wide open, it was one of those rare moments the could not compose himself.
He lifted his head looking at Jaune…no looking at what used to be Jaune. In this flames, this pain…there was such darkness almost as if there was somebody else there. He swallowed hard, not image of Jaune overlapping with something more sinister, more dark… out of nowhere he recalled the moment his mother reached the point in the story where she described the biggest bogyman of the fairy tale…and it wasn't the Jabberwock…
"And there was a monster who used be a man, but he lost his heart due to betrayal, once noble and kind he became out of his mind. " Ren's mom voice rang in his ears. " He cut and dice, swung and stab leaving nothing but sorrow and strife. On his Queen's orders he laid many to waste and his name was!"
His mother always loved those dramatic pauses. Normally that memory brought him immense joy but right now it was nothing but dread as he looked at what used to be his friend.
"Knave of Hearts" Ren whispered…