Chapter Text
Dear Sister,
I was writing to you to see if you are okay. I have been feeling a mix of different emotions. I am really happy because Jaune and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. It feels like just yesterday when I confessed my feelings to him after the movie he, Oscar, and I watched in Atlas. I was a stuttering and blushing mess. I remember fearing that he would reject me, just like I did to him back in Beacon all those years ago. I must have looked like a blushing high school girl. But he accepted me.
After everything I said to him in Beacon, I once asked him why he didn’t hold it against me. He told me he didn’t care about the past—that all he cared about was whether his "Snow Angel" was happy. That was the third happiest day of my life. The second was my wedding to MY knight, and the happiest day of all was the birth of my children.
Tears began to stain the letter as Weiss paused, memories flooding back. She remembered the day that the monstrous Tyrian Callows took away her precious angels. Regaining her composure, Weiss resumed writing.
"Again, that was one reason I feel happy, but I also feel so much sadness. Sad that we buried Ruby, Yang, Blake, and Ren one year ago. Sad that I can no longer see my ever-cheerful and caring partner again. Sad that Yang—my close confidant and the person who helped me confess my feelings to my husband—is gone. Sad that Blake died in Yang's arms in one last act of love. Sad that Nora almost ended her life after losing Ren. But more than sadness, I feel anger and hatred toward Ozma."
Weiss gripped the letter tightly, her anger rising as she thought about that man—no, that parasite—who had used them all in his war with Salem. A war that cost her her mother, her brother, her team, her children, her peaceful life with her husband, and her chance at happiness. All of Remnant suffered because of that body-hijacking monster who had deemed the seven years of peace as "wrong." He had merged with Oscar, claiming full control of his body, and even manipulated Ruby into awakening Salem. He wanted to feel important again, calling himself the "savior of mankind and faunuskind." His selfish ambitions destroyed the peace we had worked so hard to create.
"But it’s good that Jaune and I aren’t alone. We still have friends who are helping us and counting on us." Weiss wasn’t lying. People like Mercury, who had defected from Salem’s side to help them, gave her hope. Of course, Mercury and Emerald weren’t just helping for selfless reasons—they wanted to start a new life, free from Salem, Tyrian, and especially Cinder.
Weiss paused, recalling the tragedy that had struck Mercury and Emerald. A very pregnant Emerald was alone in their house when a furious Cinder showed up and killed her in cold blood. Mercury had found Emerald’s lifeless body in the cradle meant for their daughter. Consumed by grief and vengeance, Mercury had sought justice. Using one of Pietro’s inventions—the Ultimate Nullifier, a device created from a mix of all the relics that could nullify aura, Maiden powers, and even immortality—Mercury stripped Cinder of her powers and avenged Emerald by beating a powerless Cinder to a pulp and then burn her to ashes.
"I know I’m making this letter longer than it’s supposed to be, but there’s so much I want to tell you. Yet I know you’ll never respond, because you died three years ago. You saved us from Salem’s wrath and gave me the Winter Maiden powers. I’m forever grateful for what you did for me, Winter. I miss you so much. But I know that wherever you are, you’re watching over me.
With love,
Weiss Arc-Schnee"
Outside the camp, Mercury Black sat on an improvised chair. To his left was Jaune Arc-Schnee. A man he wouldn’t have even considered a friend ten years ago, but now he saw him as a brother.
After Salem’s defeat a week ago, the Brothers had appeared and offered them a spell that could send them back in time to a specific point in Remnant’s history.
For the past week, they debated when to return. Eventually, they decided on Beacon’s initiation. Weiss and Jaune wanted to prepare their teams for what was coming, while Mercury would act as an inside man within Cinder’s circle.
"I think I’m ready to use the spell," Weiss said, stepping out of her and Jaune’s tent. "According to what the Brothers told us, we need to focus on the time and place we want to go."
As Weiss prepared to cast the spell, Jaune stopped her.
"Give me a few minutes to say goodbye," he said, glancing toward the graveyard where their friends and children were buried. With a nod from Weiss and Mercury, he walked to the graves.
First, he visited the tombstone of Blake and Yang, which read: Not even death could tear us apart.
Next was Ruby’s: Here lies the true hero of Remnant.
Then Ren’s: Beloved husband, friend, and brother.
Finally, he knelt before the graves of his precious angels, Nicholas and Whisper Arc-Schnee. Their tombstone read: Here lie two of the most wonderful and beautiful gifts in Remnant.
Jaune collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face. He blamed himself for letting that monster near his children. But he had faith that, if the plan worked, he could see them again.
Returning to the camp, Jaune looked at his wife. Weiss embraced him, whispering, "Don’t worry, my knight. We’ll see them again." She kissed him, and he returned the kiss with equal love.
"Now, I think we’re ready to begin," Weiss said. She looked to Mercury and Jaune, who both nodded. She began casting the spell. As the camp filled with white light, the three of them were blinded.
Jaune felt as though he were free-falling, like skydiving from a Bullhead. Suddenly, he realized someone was in his arms—Weiss. But she looked younger, just like when they were in Beacon. Wait… That meant the spell had worked!
Before he could celebrate, he hit the ground hard, just like at Beacon.
"Oh God, Jaune, are you okay?" Weiss asked. She looked as beautiful as ever.
He responded with a kiss, which she reciprocated. "More than ever," he said. He felt no back pain or exhaustion. The only downside was being the "noodle knight" of Beacon or "Vomit Boy".
"We should look for the others. If I remember correctly, this is the initiation, and they’re probab—" Weiss was interrupted by Nora, who was screaming and raining death on a Deathstalker.
"I think we should get going now," Jaune said.
Together, Weiss and Jaune headed toward the sounds of battle. They saw Pyrrha fighting alongside Nora, but Ren was nowhere to be seen. Jaune quickly started giving commands until they met up with Ruby, Weiss, and Blake.
Then, noises came from a nearby bush. Jaune tensed, ready to fight, until Ruby burst out in a flurry of rose petals, clinging to someone.
It wasn’t Yang—it was Mercury and Emerald.
"Emmy! Did you see how I blasted that Grimm?" Nora excitedly asked Emerald, who patted her head in response.
"Big bro! Did you see me fly?" Ruby asked Mercury, clinging to him like a sloth.
Weiss and Jaune exchanged confused glances. The only thought in their minds was: What the fuck is going on?!