6,476This is the final chapter of Raise.
While I will use my customary one week planning time next week and there will be no update, I also need to mention that I will be off on the week starting Sat 23rd, for my annual work event. I will be back as normal on Sat 30th.
That means you'll see the first chapter of the fic to replace this one in 2 weeks but then will need to wait another 2 weeks to see the 2nd chapter, but then it'll continue as normal.
Cover Art: GWBrex
Chapter 62
They spent two days in that terrifying place. Two days in which his fear and worry mounted, and until he began to think of everything he could have done differently. Two days dealing with Tyrian's exuberance and trying to pretend he wasn't afraid of all the people around him. It was just enough time for Jaune to think that he'd made a mistake.
And then Cinder came to him.
"We're leaving tomorrow," she said, and the relief he felt was crushing.
"Where?"
"I've picked out a small village on the border between Vale and Vacuo. It's a regular stopping point for people travelling from one kingdom to the other, but rarely city people. They fly from airport to airport, or sail from port to port. It's more travellers between the outposts and smaller towns and villages that have to go by land."
"It's isolated but not too much so. You'll have access to the CCT and the internet, but not much else. It's also not an important place other than for its position. You shouldn't need to worry about the SDC or anyone like that coming down to visit. There isn't much there to get excited about."
It sounded boring.
Perfect.
In time, perhaps, he'd get bored and wish he was somewhere more exciting, but for now he couldn't wait to be away from the blasted landscape he had to see every time he looked out the window. "It's not in the desert, is it?"
Cinder smiled. "No. It's near the border, but they obviously weren't going to settle in a harsh desert when they could move a few kilometres into the more temperate area where they can grow crops and have easy access to lumber. There's plenty of greenery. Also," Cinder tilted her head forward, eyes locking onto his. "It is going to become the safest place on Remnant. You should expect there to be no Grimm attacks on the place until after your natural death."
Because there was a chance his Semblance would evolve so it would be useful to Salem.
And because, for whatever reason, she could control the Grimm. He wasn't so stupid as to not have pieced that together; he simply also wasn't stupid enough to bring it up around her and invite an angry response.
"Do I want to know?"
"No." Cinder shook her head. "There are some things you're better off not knowing. Just rest assured that you will be safe there. You will have to resurrect any of us if we need you. That's an unavoidable thing."
That was fine. How many times could they realistically die? It'd be one time every few months, or maybe even every few years. As long as it wasn't every single day, he would be fine. "And Pyrrha…?"
"We will tell her where it is the moment you're there. But she won't be the only one checking up on you. Salem wants to be sure you will stay there where she can reach you, so myself, Tyrian, Hazel or Watts will be checking up on you often."
"I'd rather it be you, Mercury or Emerald."
"You and me both, but we do not get to choose. They'll be on their best behaviours." Cinder sighed. "I promised you freedom, however. And I've delivered it. It'll be up to you to maintain it. If someone discovers you, we won't be afraid to silence them, but they could send proof off faster than we can react. You'd have to be moved, and people would be on the lookout for you. Better you don't let yourself be discovered in the first place. To that end, Watts has made you a fake identity. That's part of why we've been here so long."
Jaune took the folder she offered and slid it open, taking out several documents. There was ID, hospital records, education and more. It had him being the son of a wealthy man who left him his fortune, which would explain the money he'd smuggled out of his accounts before his death.
"Nickel John Sanders." Jaune tested the name. The first part was familiar but the last was not. It would take some getting used to. "Nickel. At least I have that to go by. If it was too close to my original name then I think I'd trip over it too much."
"I'm glad you approve. Your middle name is an excuse if someone makes a mistake and calls you by your real name. You can say it's your nickname. Get some sleep. We will have a formal breakfast with Salem before we leave, but that is just to make sure we know our place. We'll be gone soon after." Cinder moved toward the door, but she paused to turn back. "I apologise for not warning you about Salem, but you would have never trusted me if I had."
Cinder had lied to him.
But she'd also come through on everything he asked for.
"You're right. I wouldn't have." He smiled. "But I'm glad you did."
Cinder returned his smile and closed the door behind her.
It was time to create a new life for himself.
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10 Years Later…
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Nickel "John" Sanders took the small amount of lien from the young woman and handed her the dress imported from Vacuo. She gushed over it, thanking him profusely before rushing out to show her mother. The older woman waved at him and they both left. His last customer for the day done, Nickel stood and stretched his back.
"Finally. Busy day today."
He moved over to the door and flicked the sign on it to closed. Nickel's Imports had become a beloved part of the village of Levenin. He'd been the village stranger at first, and then potential competition when he opened up a shop, but rather than compete on food or medicine or toys with the other local shops, he'd chosen to make use of his wealth to act as an importer, buying expensive products from Vale, Vacuo and Mistral and having them brought to Levenin to be sold.
It meant he sold unique things that couldn't be found anywhere else in Levenin, and they were often expensive things. He rarely sold at a profit, not really needing to with all the money he had, and the fact people could order luxury goods from the cities that they'd otherwise have to travel to them for made his store popular. Especially with younger people who wanted to order games consoles, games, fancy fashion that a village like this would never be able to produce, or specialist medicine.
There were no airports around here so travel to a city essentially meant a week's worth of travel to the nearest port, then another few days by ship. All to buy the latest videogame. It just wasn't reasonable, but he could afford to order things in bulk and have them shipped to Levenin by a courier.
Importantly, that meant he wasn't competing with the locals on what they sold, as his goods were niche and expensive. They soon relaxed around him enough to become friends, and even to invite him to the Friday night binge party with the other business owners.
Being involved in little things like that helped turn him from a stranger to a friend, and then to a welcome and even integral part of the community. Then again, he'd been here ten whole years so it would be a little awkward if he wasn't a part of it by now.
Ten years was a lot of time.
Ten years living in Levenin, ten years being dead in the rest of the world, ten years for Remnant to move on and find peace. It was time enough for Atlas and Menagerie to grind their war to a halt. No one won technically but everyone considered it the White Fang's victory solely because they had challenged a superpower and lived to tell the tale.
The populist leaders who had taken over on the promise of "dealing with Jaune Arc" had all run out of steam. Without him to stoke people's anger and entitlement, people started to realise that all those politicians had was that one angle. They didn't have working policies or good leadership. All they'd ever done was get people angry and then ride that anger to the polls.
After they were gone, it wasn't hard for General Ironwood to meet with Sienna Khan and hash out a peace treaty. Nickel was glad to hear the man was doing well, and that he'd both survived the war and come out on top. Atlas would be in a better place for it. Locking up his store, Nickel walked down the cobbled path that ran through the centre of Levenin, returning the odd greeting and pausing for a chat with the locals.
Everyone in Levenin knew one another, the village only having a population of some 600 people. Whenever strangers did arrive, it was big news, and he knew there were rumours about him and the "odd folk" that visited every now and then. Folk like Cinder, Mercury and Emerald and – less welcome – Tyrian and Watts. At least Hazel was a good guest whenever he came down. They never stayed long and rarely interacted with the people here, not wanting to draw attention to him, but people noticed. It was hard not to when they were all such unique people.
His home was a comfortable three-storey wooden house of narrow construction with a peaked roof. It was large for Levenin, and custom-built, with thick walls for privacy and a generously-sized garden at both the front and back. One thing the village had that the cities did not was space, and only a few homes in Levenin were built connected to one another. Most stood alone in spacious plots. Opening his gate, he strolled to his front door and pushed it open, calling out. "I'm home."
There was a rush of feet and then a streak of red hair. "Papa!"
He caught the seven-year-old girl around her waist and hoisted her up, holding her against his chest and shoulder as she giggled and hugged his head. A young woman, only about sixteen, strolled out from the kitchen. "Good evening, Mr Sanders."
"Good evening, River." He had to heft his daughter to keep her from slipping free as she wriggled in his arm. "Was Helena good?"
"Yes. I picked her up from school and she's had dinner."
"Great work as always. Give me a moment." Nickel sent Helena down and distracted her with a chocolate bar, then pulled out some notes and handed over a generous amount to his babysitter. River was the daughter of a local family, and one of the best students in Levenin's small school. She'd also come highly recommended by mothers for her babysitting, and Helena adored her. Money well spent when he couldn't pick her up from school. "Here you go. Thanks for your work today. And remember you can order anything you like from me and I'll waive the delivery costs."
River smiled. Mr Sanders was known locally for being an eccentric but kind man who always paid well above the average for any work. It didn't surprise her that he'd given her a hefty tip. "Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to visit."
He waved the young woman off and brought Helena inside, letting her chat about her day at school and the friends (and mortal enemies) she had within it. Another day of her eternal rivalry with a boy who called her stinky today. Helena had dumped her juice in his hair as a rebuttal, and they'd both been told off.
Chuckling, he made sure to tell her to respond with words next time, and bounced her on his knee as they watched television together. It was a lazy evening, but that was how many of them were. There was no great rush of dying people, no war between Atlas and Menagerie, and no schemes or plots or pressure. Just the two of them, a sleepy village, and the occasional visits from Helena's mother.
Nickel smiled when the front door opened, and when Helena's head twisted. He hadn't told her that a certain someone would be coming today, and the way her blue eyes widened in absolute glee warmed his heart.
"Momma!"
Pyrrha Nikos swept into the room and scooped her daughter up off the sofa, laughing richly as Helena babbled so fast and so excitedly that not a single word could be understood. It was gibberish, but it was excited gibberish. Pyrrha came around and sat next to Jaune, leaning over to kiss him softly as their daughter calmed down.
"You didn't tell her I was coming, did you?"
Jaune smiled. "I like her reactions when it's a surprise."
"Dad is mean!" Helena finally managed to say, her face buried in Pyrrha's neck. "W-Welcome home, momma."
"It's good to be home, sweetheart. And I'll be here for three months at least."
"Things are that quiet in the cities?"
"For now, yes." Pyrrha leaned into him, and he shifted to make room for her to cuddle against his chest while Helena could sit between them. "There's still the usual drama and nonsense going on, not to mention they're still trying to find out who and where my child is, and who the father is." Pyrrha huffed. "It's ridiculous. You'd think they'd have calmed down after seven years."
"The media? I doubt it."
For the rich village eccentric to play host to Pyrrha Nikos had been a shock, but not half as much as the two of them being together. He knew there had been a few older women disappointed to discover he wasn't single, but then again it had taken them over half a year of constant visits to get to the point where they could be called "together" at all.
Sadly, she had her education in Beacon, and then her work as a huntress after. He would never have told her to leave all that for him, and so they'd taken to spending time together wherever they could. A few weeks here, a month there, and then a much longer stint when Pyrrha had gotten pregnant.
It had been a close call.
Cinder had even intervened, telling him off for getting someone so famous pregnant and not expecting people to want to know who the father was. The world knew that Pyrrha Nikos was involved with someone and had a family but, with the help of Watts and Cinder, they had managed to keep the who and where a secret. Now, people knew that Pyrrha Nikos often retired somewhere to be with a private family that didn't want to be part of the limelight. Thankfully, no one had any reason to think it might be Jaune Arc.
Though there had been attempts to find out who it was; attempts that ended with Pyrrha using legal threats and sometimes even physical violence to get them to back down. And at least one case of Cinder intervening to "dispose" of someone who had gotten so nosey as to think they could stalk Pyrrha to find them. He would have felt bad if Cinder hadn't revealed the man intended to try and kill him and his daughter to have Pyrrha for himself.
The world was full of messed-up people.
"My team are running interference," said Pyrrha. "They've gotten rather protective of my free time lately. I think it's because Ren and Nora understand how important snuggle time is now that they have it themselves."
Uncle Ren and Uncle Nora. Technically speaking, Helena had never met them. The risk was too great. They'd seen pictures of her though, and Pyrrha had promised to introduce them in the future. Helena had her mother's red hair and his blue eyes, which luckily meant she looked a lot more like Pyrrha than she did Jaune Arc. There wouldn't be that much risk of discovery if Pyrrha revealed her later and took her on a tour around Remnant.
Only the risks involving fame and aggressive fans intruding on their personal lives, which was why Pyrrha wanted to wait until Helena was a teenager who could understand why it was happening and how to deal with it.
Honestly, Jaune preferred the two people his family had never met to Uncle Tyrian.
Now that was a relation he wasn't so fond of, especially whenever he came back to find Uncle Tyrian on all fours being ridden horsey by his daughter. The man was a psychopath and a killer, and yet daddy couldn't exactly tell that to his daughter, so he had to sit tense and nervous as his baby girl swung on the scorpion faunus' tail.
The three of them watched television until Helena became sleepy, but she refused to go to bed when momma had just got back, so they stayed up another hour until she fell asleep between them. It was a weekend, so she'd sleep until noon the following day. Time aplenty for him and Pyrrha to spend "catching up" on lost time.
"Weiss released a single about you," said Pyrrha, suddenly. "Did you hear it?"
"Against my better judgement I gave it a listen. I cried a little."
Pyrrha wrapped an arm around him. "I did too," she admitted. "It was a lovely song about the love she lost. It's become a big hit and everyone is being reminded of you. There's a parade in Atlas and three charities in your name in Vale. Hearing Weiss sing about how she misses you made me feel sick, though. To know what we're doing. Jaune, is this right?"
He wound his fingers with hers. "It's Nickel."
"Not when we're together alone like this."
Jaune Arc smiled. "I guess I can let it slide. As for Weiss, I did cry, but it was more because I felt bad for her. The lyrics talk about how selfless I was, how I put everyone else above myself. It's more idealism." He laughed softly. "Weiss is mourning the Jaune Arc in her head. I guess that's how it is when someone dies. You remember the good and forget the bad. Listening to her, I could tell she was in pain, but it felt like she was mourning a stranger. I didn't recognise the man she was singing about. At least not as being me."
Weiss had moved on, and that song felt like a final farewell to the man she wished he could have been. It had been touching, sweet, and he'd wished her all the best. He still did. But their time had come and gone. It hadn't worked out.
And he wished they could have split up like mature adults and not had this faked death thrown into the mix, but the world wouldn't have accepted anything less. His Semblance was too powerful to not be the centre of every conflict.
Ozpin had said it best.
Remnant was not ready for such responsibility.
He had never used his Semblance since then.
Cinder and her allies had not needed it, and Jaune had let people in Levenin die. Considering the Grimm hadn't been seen here in ten years, most of those deaths were natural causes anyway. To those that weren't, injuries and accidents, he helped in the more traditional way of using his wealth to order the best medicine and donate it to the family. He had not raised anyone again, and hopefully would never have to.
"You know," said Pyrrha. "There's a reason I've told everyone I'll be gone for three months."
"I assumed that reason was me."
"Idiot." Pyrrha pinched his arm. "I meant specifically. It's been ten years. We have a child. Don't you think we should take the next step?"
Marriage.
When Weiss offered that, he'd felt a gnawing dread.
That wasn't the case here.
In truth, he didn't feel much of anything. Amusement, affection, a little happiness. They'd been as good as married for ten years and they even had a child together, so he didn't feel that a pair of rings and a signed piece of paper would make all that much of a difference. They loved one another, they were happy together, and he didn't need any further validation.
But if she wanted that, then he'd give it.
"I do."
Pyrrha pinched him again. "Ask me."
"Didn't you just ask me?"
"I want to be the blushing bride."
He laughed. "Pyrrha Nikos, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
"No."
He paused. "Ouch."
"I mean no to this," she said, grinning. "You're going to take me out tomorrow and we're going to eat out, then you're going to propose romantically. Not on the sofa in front of the TV with our daughter trapped between us. I want a big moment."
"Yes dear. Good lord, I didn't realise my future-wife could be so demanding." Jaune laughed. "What about news of it getting out? Even if we keep it private there are bound to be renewed interest when you show up wearing a wedding band, and people here might take pictures."
"We can do it privately. Just you, me, Helena, maybe Cinder and a few others. I wish I could invite Ren and Nora, but seeing Cinder there and then a blonde guy with blue eyes? It would trigger them, I think. Ren is smart and he'd piece it together. I don't think they would expose us, but I don't want to take that risk. Nora can be absent-minded sometimes. I'll tell them it was just a private thing between us. They'll understand."
"And the rest of the world screaming to hear who Pyrrha Nikos has married?"
Pyrrha gripped his chin and drew his face to hers. Their kiss was much deeper than they would have normally shown in front of Helena, but she was peacefully sleeping away. "To hell with the rest of the world," she hissed. "They had their chance with you and they failed you. Now it's my turn, and I'm a very selfish woman, Jaune Arc. A very competitive woman. I am not prepared to share you with the world now that I have you."
"Man, my wife sure is scary." Jaune shivered under her sharp, emerald gaze.
But it was not a shiver born out of fear.
"It has been two months since I last saw you, Jaune, and I am not in the mood to play games. Take Helena to bed," ordered Pyrrha. "And then come take me to bed. If you're a good boy, I might consider letting you out of bed sometime this weekend."
/-/
River considered herself fairly lucky all things considered. She was doing well in school, she had a good family and her village had been peaceful for over ten years. The local militia called it the calmest period in the village's history.
In addition to that, she had a ridiculously well-paying part-time job looking after the eccentric Mr Sanders' daughter after school and on the occasional weekend when he had work. River remembered when he first arrived and how suspicious her family had been of him, but they'd soon warmed up to him.
He was still considered eccentric and a little mysterious in the village, but more in the sense that people wondered who his father might have been to leave him with such an inheritance. Of course, that interest had soon turned to the strangers he often played host to, most of whom were mysterious as he was. And one of whom was so famous that every woman over the age of ten knew her name and face.
River didn't care for huntresses or fights but even she idolised Pyrrha Nikos a little bit.
It was hard not to.
Which was why when the doorbell went off urgently and her mother called her name, in an amused voice, she had headed on down only to freeze in the hallway as Pyrrha Nikos herself stood in the doorway carrying her and Mr Sanders' daughter on one arm.
"Hi," she said. "River, isn't it?"
"Y-You know me!?" she squeaked.
"Of course. You've been babysitting Helena for us."
The famous woman smiled, and she was gorgeous. Long, luscious red hair and bright eyes and teeth. River stood frozen, but she was jolted to movement when a small bundle of frustrated child was pushed into her arms. Used to children, she held her immediately, setting Helena down on her feet. The girl pouted and crossed her arms.
"Um…"
"I need you to look after Helena for today. Sorry for the short notice." Pyrrha Nikos pulled out her purse and shoved far too much lien into her hands. "Go take her out. Buy whatever you want."
"Um. S-Sure? W-What time should I have her back by?"
"Give me at least twelve hours. Actually, you may want to call ahead. I'll let you know if I'm done with him." It took a second for understanding to dawn, and River squeaked, her face flaming red. Pyrrha Nikos laughed. "Yeah, give us a call ahead of time. If we're too busy then I'll pay you to look after her overnight."
"But momma," whined Helena. "I want to spend time with you!"
"We'll have plenty of time together, darling. I'll be here for months. But mommy and daddy need to do something for today, and tonight, and maybe for tomorrow morning."
River choked a little.
"Can't I watch?" asked the little girl.
"No!" howled River, yanking her back. "Um. No. Y-Your mother and father are doing… um… paperwork."
River's mother snorted.
Pyrrha Nikos giggled. "That's right, sweetie, paperwork. Very vigorous paperwork. Your daddy needs to sign a few forms and his pen is…" She trailed off, unsure where to go with that. River desperately shook her head. "Well, let's just say it'll be messy. Lots of spilled ink." River groaned. "Anyway, I promise we'll take you out to the lake after and I'll teach you to swim."
Helena grumbled but couldn't really say no, and Pyrrha kissed her daughter's cheek before hurrying off with an almost too-desperate sprint. River groaned, while her mother laughed at her misfortune. "Oh my," she said. "To be young again. Maybe your parents are filling out paperwork for a baby brother or sister for you, Helena."
"Don't want a brother or sister!" the girl grunted. "I want a puppy."
River sighed. "How about I fill you with sugar? Would that do?"
"Sugar! Yay!"
Lavender Arc-Schnee and Whitley Arc-Schnee open children's hospice in name of Jaune Arc.
Atlas Times
.
Headmaster Ozpin steps down from Beacon Academy, handing over reins to Headmistress Goodwitch.
Vale Daily Tribune
.
Team of Pyrrha Nikos defends her right to privacy as curiosity over lovechild with unknown man continues.
The Mistral Review
.
Gillian Asturias declared Vacuo's first "Queen" in over 200 years. Swears to lead Vacuo into a new age of prosperity.
Vacuo Today
.
Adam Taurus convicted of murder of Ghira and Kali Belladonna in absentia. Sienna Khan swears vengeance, and promises she had no involvement. Albain brothers implicated.
Kuo Kuana Express
.
Haunted moans coming from Sanders' manor confirmed to "not be ghosts". Parents advised to keep impressionable children away for at least the weekend.
The Levenin Weekly
Oh, good lord two stories ending in one week. That's going to play havoc with my scheduling. I know some people were hoping for some anti-Salem campaign at the end, but Jaune isn't a huntsman here and he just wants out. Salem is happy to have him be out as long as he isn't aiding her enemies.
New Story: 21st September (Two Weeks)
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