[RWBY] The Great Temporal Step-Sibling War!

[AndrewJTalon]

Radian, Vale

Five Years After Salem's Defeat

- - -

The cathedral in Radian was quiet in the way only ancient stone and centuries of reverence could manage. Sunlight filtered through tall stained-glass windows in soft shafts of gold and crimson, illuminating rows of simple wooden pews. No towering ice sculptures. No imported flowers from every kingdom. No orchestra. Just the gentle hum of distant birds outside and the faint scent of old incense and fresh pine wreaths.

Weiss Schnee stood before the tall mirror in the small dressing room off the nave, adjusting the simple white gown one last time. It was elegant, yes, but plain by Schnee standards. No extravagant train. No diamond tiara. No endless press (they were kept outside the city walls). Just clean lines, delicate lace at the sleeves, and a single blue ribbon at her waist the color of her eyes. She had wanted simple. She had insisted on simple. And for once, the world had listened.

A soft knock preceded the door opening.

Klein stepped inside, dressed in his finest formal suit, eyes already misty behind his glasses. He closed the door gently behind him and simply looked at her for a long moment.

Weiss turned, hands clasped in front of her.

"…Well?" she asked, a touch of nervousness in her voice. "Do I look all right?"

Klein's smile was warm and proud in a way that made her chest tighten.

"You look beautiful, Mistress Weiss. But more importantly…" He stepped closer, voice soft. "I am very, very proud of you."

Weiss's eyes shimmered. Before she could stop herself, she crossed the small room and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Klein let out a surprised but delighted chuckle and hugged her back just as fiercely, careful not to wrinkle her dress.

"Thank you," Weiss whispered against his shoulder. "For everything. For raising me when… when no one else would. For being there when I needed you most. And for… for walking me down the aisle today."

Klein pulled back just enough to look at her, eyes bright with unshed tears.

"I am honored, Miss Weiss. More than you will ever know."

Weiss smiled through her own tears, the kind that came from joy instead of pain for the first time in a very long while.

"I'm marrying the man I love," she said quietly, almost in awe. "In a little cathedral in a little town. With my family. With my friends. No politics. No nonsense. No expectations. Just… us."

Klein squeezed her hands gently.

"That," he said, "is exactly what you deserve."

From beyond the door came the soft swell of the organ beginning to play. Weiss took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and gave Klein one last grateful smile.

"Ready?" he asked.

Weiss nodded.

"Ready."

Klein offered her his arm. She took it.

Together, they stepped out into the golden light of the cathedral, where Jaune Arc waited at the altar with the biggest, brightest smile she had ever seen. Where all their friends waited.

And for the first time in her life, Weiss Schnee felt truly, completely at home.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Vacuo City, Vacuo

- - -

The ancient stone was cold beneath her back. Blake's eyes fluttered open to a canopy of stars and the shattered moon hanging high above. Four towering pillars surrounded the ritual platform, their surfaces carved with grotesque, twisting figures of long-forgotten gods-or perhaps demons. The wind carried the distant sounds of battle: explosions, Grimm roars, and the crack of gunfire from the city far below.

Her hands flew to her throat. A heavy Aura-suppressing collar was locked around her neck. She clawed at it desperately, fingers finding no release.

She'd been rushing out to join the defense against the attack-It was large enough it might have been Salem's final, or just an opening gambit. But then, she'd felt a hit to her head... Darkness...

A quiet, painfully familiar voice drifted from the shadows.

"The Ancient Xolotl Empire would sacrifice victims to the Grimm in this temple, long ago. To gain power from their blood. As though it would save them… buy them a little more time against the inevitable."

Blake froze. Slowly, she turned her head.

Adam stepped into the firelight. He was taller than she remembered, his white coat replaced by dark tactical gear. A cybernetic mask covered the ruined half of his face, glowing red optics fixed on her. Both of his hands were now sleek black prosthetics, clenching and unclenching with unnatural precision. He looked… calm. Too calm.

This made him far more terrifying than the raging bull she had known.

"But in the end, Death comes for us all," he finished quietly.

"Adam-How-?!!"

"Yes, Blake…" His voice was almost wistful. "I survived Atlas. I always survive."

The bitterness at the end of that sentence was almost palpable.

Blake forced her breathing to stay steady. She sat up slowly on the stone altar, carefully, as though he might strike her at any moment. She locked eyes with him.

"…Adam. Salem's going to destroy the world. She's going to kill us all. Or worse. You know this."

Adam inclined his head minutely.

"…I do."

"Then why?! Why do you still serve her?!"

Adam tilted his head, the red optics flaring faintly.

"You think I was left with any choice? You think I am here by chance?" A bitter chuckle escaped him. "My orders were simple: split you up. Taking you would lure your friends here… Divide and conquer."

Blake's ears flattened. "You don't have to do this! The last time we fought-!"

"The last time," Adam cut in, voice tightening, "you killed Watts. But my freedom was brief. Even so… this must happen, Blake. Our fates are entwined."

"No! Adam, please… I know the conflict inside you. Jaune could have killed you the last two times. He didn't. I could have insisted… but I didn't."

"Weakness."

"Compassion." Blake's voice cracked. "You know what Salem is going to do. What good does it do Faunus if we're her slaves? Or… or monsters?!"

Adam's shoulders sagged slightly. When he spoke again, his voice was hollow.

"I am already her slave and monster… as I have always been my entire life. This is the only way, Blake."

"Adam… Please. You have a choice!"

"No," Adam said, still soft and maddeninly calm, reaching up to touch his mask, "no... I never have."

The sound of distant fighting echoed up from the trail below. Mechanical footsteps. Atlas Knight-III drones-repainted in crude White Fang colors-emerged from the shadows of the pillars. They marched in formation to the cliff's edge overlooking Vacuo and raised their rifles in perfect unison.

A familiar figure appeared on the path below, white armor gleaming under the starlight, hood thrown back.

Jaune Arc.

The drones opened fire.

Jaune didn't even draw his shield. He simply stepped into the hail of bullets, Aura flaring like a golden sun. Rounds sparked harmlessly off his chest as he surged forward. One drone was punched so hard its head crumpled. Another was bisected by a single Aura slash. A third Jaune grabbed by the arm and slammed into the other robots until there was nothing but a pile of scrap.

In under a minute, the entire platoon lay in twisted, smoking ruins.

Jaune stood at the edge of the plateau, Crocea Mors in hand, staring across the distance at Adam.

Blake's heart leapt.

"JAUNE!"

Adam's voice was low, almost amused. "Only you?"

Jaune's reply carried clearly across the arid stone.

"I Amped everyone else to fight the battle. I went after you."

Adam sneered, red optics narrowing. "Clever, clever human… No one else?"

"I don't need anyone else."

Adam studied him for a long, silent moment. Jaune stared back, stance calm, sword held ready. Blake quietly went back to working the collar's lock, fingers trembling.

Adam's head tilted. "No… You don't. But what do you have? A last, desperate defense against the inevitable! Stolen time with the woman you stole from me!"

He kicked the campfire in sudden contempt, sending sparks flying. His voice dropped to a hiss.

"No… No… You're not in denial. Your hope… is genuine. But why?"

Jaune remained silent. Blake kept still, every muscle tense. She had forgotten how terrifyingly perceptive Adam could be with body language. Who knew how long he'd been watching them! If they didn't stop him now-!

Adam hissed sharply.

"What are you hiding from the Old Witch? What are you plotting?!"

Jaune's eyesbrow narrowed, and he slowly raised his sword into a defensive posture. Adam drew Wilt with a metallic shing, spinning the red blade once in his cybernetic grip before settling into an aggressive stance.

Jaune shifted his feet, opening his guard slightly. Adam mirrored the movement almost unconsciously, back foot sliding just a fraction farther.

Jaune brought both hands around the hilt of his sword, and moved it closer to him, eyes never leaving Adam's. Adam sneered, scooting his dominant foot forward an inch, fingers flexing.

Blake's fingers finally found the release on the collar. It clicked open. Her Aura surged back to life like a flood.

"Adam, no—!"

"RAHH!"

Adam exploded forward in a blur, unleashing a devastating Moonslice. Jaune met it head-on with a golden Aura slash. The collision detonated in a blinding flash of light and force that shook the entire plateau.

Adam charged straight through the afterimage, sword aimed for Jaune's heart.

Jaune deflected the first strike. Then the second. On the third, he stepped inside Adam's guard and thrust.

The tip of Crocea Mors punched cleanly through Adam's back.

For one frozen heartbeat, neither man moved.

Then Jaune withdrew the blade in a single smooth motion, flicked it clean of blood, and sheathed it.

Adam stood perfectly still. His arms slowly fell, his sword clattering to the rocky ground from his numb fingers. He took one shaky step forward… and collapsed into Jaune's waiting arms. Jaune knelt, laying Adam down face up.

Blake was already sprinting across the stone, dropping to her knees beside them. She rested a trembling hand on Jaune's shoulder. He met her eyes and gave a small, reassuring nod.

They both looked down at Adam. His breathing was shallow, face rapidly paling beneath the cybernetic mask.

"…Can… Will you… defeat her?" Adam rasped.

Jaune's voice was quiet but steady.

"…Yes."

Adam slowly nodded. A faint, bitter smile tugged at his lips.

"Then… it wasn't… in vain… Blake…?"

Blake's vision blurred with hot tears she didn't understand. "Jaune-heal him! We can still save him-get those things out of you-!"

"No…" Adam coughed wetly. "No. This is… how it should be. Just… please. My mask?"

Blake hesitated only a second before gently removing the cybernetic mask. Adam's single remaining blue eye stared up at the stars and shattered moon. A faint smile grew on his face, like he was recalling a long forgotten memory.

"…I see… I see… it all…"

His eye slowly drifted to Blake, filled with something she had never seen from him before.

Regret.

"Blake… I…"

He tried to speak again, but the words died. His hand twitched toward Wilt, still lying on the stone. Then he went still. His chest rose once, fell… and did not rise again.

Jaune stared down at him in silence. He reached out and gently closed Adam's eye with two fingers.

Blake's breath hitched. The storm inside her chest was too big, too loud. A million memories of pain, fear, rage, love... It all raged inside her, and she panted almost frantically. Jaune looked at her, opened his arms without a word, and she fell into them, burying her face against his chest as the first sob tore free.

He held her tightly, one hand stroking her hair, saying nothing.

The distant sounds of battle from Vacuo drifted up on the wind.

Blake sucked in a shaky breath and pulled back. She wiped her eyes, stood, and picked up Wilt. She sheathed the red blade and fastened it to her own belt. Then she carefully arranged Adam's hands over his chest. She looked at her boyfriend, pleading.

Jaune nodded once. He swung Crocea Mors and carved a deep grave into the stone with a single Aura slash. Blake lifted Adam's body and laid him inside with surprising gentleness. Jaune rolled a large boulder over the grave.

She studied Adam's face as it slowly vanished from view. For the first time since she'd met him... He looked almost serene.

Then the stone covered him entirely. She stepped back, staring at the grave.

She lingered for one long moment, then turned away.

"…We have to go."

Jaune nodded grimly.

Together, they ran back toward the trail, toward the distant lights and chaos of Vacuo, leaving the ancient temple and its final sacrifice behind them.

- - -

In case you couldn't tell, this was inspired by this scene from Star Wars: Rebels:


View: https://youtu.be/_ScD_OUvHR4

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The sun was sinking behind the distant spires of the Albus Mountains, painting the ruined training yard in long streaks of amber and rose. Craters and shattered marble pillars cast jagged shadows across the grass. Theodore stood in the center of it all, breathing hard, sweat glistening on his forehead. His coat was half-unbuttoned, and he looked thoroughly wrung out.

Isabel and Winter had finally called a halt. The three of them sat on a low stone bench that had miraculously survived the afternoon's chaos, sharing a canteen of water and a few protein bars Isabel had pulled from her coat.

Theodore sighed deeply and rubbed both hands over his face.

"Sheesh… You're just as tough as in my timeline, Mom."

Winter's lips twitched into a small, proud smile.

"Thank you, Theodore… Or Theo?"

Isabel tilted her head, eyes twinkling.

"Why not Teddy?"

Theodore groaned like a dying man.

"Ugh, no to both."

Winter's expression turned instantly frosty.

"Certainly not!"

Isabel chuckled, waving a hand.

"Yes, I suppose it does sound a bit off. So, Theodore… were you always this impertinent, headstrong, and reckless?"

Theodore blinked, then gave a crooked little smirk.

"How was I any of those things? …Today? In the last hour?"

At the synchronized flat stares he received from both women, he shrugged and sighed, the smirk fading.

"Sorry. It's just… the fate of the world. Eleven worlds. That we're talking about here. What am I supposed to do, sit around?"

Isabel's voice softened.

"I suppose not. Still, you could at least ask for help from us. You have your own team, right?"

"Yeah… but I'm also the leader."

Winter studied him for a long moment, something quietly vulnerable flickering behind her usual composure.

"Am I a permissive mother? A bad mother?"

Theodore's head snapped up.

"What? No! But come on. When you have power, you must use it for good. You did teach me that."

Winter's shoulders eased.

"Good."

Isabel gave him a fond but pointed look.

"Still, you could learn some tact."

Theodore grinned, clearly unable to resist.

"Grandma, Dad told me about the time you destroyed an entire castle."

Isabel coughed into her fist, ears turning faintly pink.

"Well, there were mitigating circumstances… Still… I suppose, under your circumstances, I certainly understand your desire to do good… and cause giant explosions."

Theodore's grin widened.

"That's half the fun!"

Winter gave him a stern look.

"Theodore…"

He raised both hands in surrender, but his eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Balto Pass. The Jörmungandr Grimm?"

Winter's expression tightened.

"That's hardly fair to keep using future knowledge against us that we can't verify-"

"Also your team captured a serial killer at Atlas Academy."

Winter flushed a deep, mortified red.

"We were forced into it!"

Isabel laughed softly, the sound warm and genuine.

"I suppose… that adventurousness is what attracted my son to you."

Winter's flush deepened, but she managed a small, sincere nod.

"Thank you… Um… Isabel." She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Forgive me. It's still… overwhelming."

Isabel reached over and gently patted her knee.

"I think we're all feeling that way. Still… like Ozpin said: we know that we save the world in eleven timelines. And you have a happy ending. So it's not all bad."

Theodore went quiet at that, looking down at his hands. In his timeline, Isabel had died. He didn't say it out loud, but the weight of it sat heavy in the silence.

Isabel noticed. She smiled softly at him, voice gentle.

"No… not all bad. But… it would have been nice to have known you then, Theodore."

Theodore's smile grew warmer.

"Well, I'm glad we can meet like this, Grandma."

He stood up without another word and resumed his katas, golden Aura flickering around his fists as he moved through the forms with renewed focus. Isabel scooted a little closer to Winter on the bench, voice dropping into something more conspiratorial.

"So… how did the date go?"

Winter's cheeks immediately turned scarlet.

"I… I believe it went very well."

Isabel beamed.

"I'm glad. My Jaune's only other girlfriend had to basically force him to be her boyfriend."

Winter's head snapped toward her, one eyebrow rising sharply.

"Previous girlfriend?" There was a distinct note of tension in her voice.

Isabel waved both hands quickly.

"No no no, it's fine! It was puppy love. They broke up before Jaune ran away to Beacon. They were friends longer than anything else. Besides… you have enough competition as it is, don't you think?"

Winter let out a long, weary sigh.

"Unfortunately. I don't know… I hope it's a genuine feeling. I'm afraid I never had much experience in… love before."

Isabel's expression softened with understanding.

"That's all right, Winter. We're all doing the best we can in this situation. And I'd say you're on the right track, hm? Given you two kissed?" She winked.

Winter's blush returned full force.

"Yes… That was very nice."

Isabel grinned, looking far too pleased with herself.

"I imagine it was. Also, good on you for being direct. I practically had to strip naked and tie Nick up to get my feelings across to him!"

From a few feet away, Theodore called out without breaking form:

"Grandpa says he knew he loved you when he saved you from Count Caliban. Like, how your eyes sparkled when he, Uncle Arjun and Aunt Saia saved you from him."

Isabel flushed bright red.

"Aww… But yes. That helped a lot… Though I will admit, I was very stubborn about it. I didn't think I could love such an idiot… but I did. And I was never happier."

Winter looked down at her hands, voice quiet.

"That's wonderful… But here, well…" She sighed. "I'm competing with so many other women… My own sister…!"

Isabel's voice was firm but kind.

"Again… it's just as crazy for everyone else. So take it a step at a time… but don't be afraid to make a move. You don't want him to get distracted."

Winter nodded slowly.

"I suppose not…"

Theodore, still flowing through his katas, added helpfully,

"Yeah, distraction can cost you everything in an insta-"

"BANZAI!"

Theodore barely had time to yelp before Nick came charging out of the treeline like a golden comet, railgun sword blazing. He swung and unleashed a massive golden Aura Blade straight at his grandson.

"GYAH!"

Theodore teleported at the last second, reappearing on top of a half-shattered marble pillar, breathing hard.

Nick didn't even pause. He fired another blast.

"OH COME ON!"

"TOLD YOU!" Nick shouted cheerfully, already charging up another shot. He glanced over at the bench with a bright grin. "Hey Winter, hey Izzy! Is my boy treating you right, Winter?"

Winter, still flushed from the earlier conversation, managed a small, genuine smile.

"Just fine, Mister Arc."

Nick pointed his sword at her.

"Hey, told you to call me Nick! You okay, Izzy?"

Isabel chuckled, waving.

"Yes, thank you, dear."

"Great!" Nick turned back to the pillar, cackling as he fired another Aura-charged railgun blast. Theodore barely dodged, teleporting again mid-air.

"GRANDPA! SERIOUSLY! YOU ALREADY AMBUSHED ME! THE SURPRISE IS SPOILED!"

"IS NOT!"

"IS TOO!"

Isabel laughed softly, the sound warm and fond as she watched her husband gleefully torment their grandson. Winter sat beside her, watching the chaos with a quiet, thoughtful expression.

For a moment, she let herself imagine it.

A future where this kind of ridiculous, loving madness was simply… normal. Where her son teased his grandfather, where she sat beside Isabel like this, where Jaune came home every night and kissed her in the doorway.

"GAH! GRANDPA! I'M GOING TO ERASE YOUR BEARD!"

"HAHAHA! IT'S TOO AWESOME TO ERASE!"

The thought brought a small, warm smile to her face.