Juhani: A RWBY Story

Chapter Sixty Seven - The End Of One Journey

As Juhani and the others cross the door, they appear and land in the spiritual plane of the Tree. They walk and see the Blacksmith in their forge. The Blacksmith whittles a wooden figurine of the Hawker and places it with the other figurines of the Afterans.

Blacksmith: Welcome...to my workshop.

Blake: Um, Ruby, is this the Tree?

Ruby: Something like that.

Jaune approaches the Blacksmith.

Blacksmith: I've been waiting a long time for you.

Jaune: Well, I made it.

Blacksmith: I'm glad you did.

Jaune: Can you....answer a question for me? I need to know if it's true what the Cat said that Lewis went back and...Alyx....

Blacksmith: Yes. Only Lewis returned home. The Girl Who Fell Through the World is the story as he wished it happened.

As the Blacksmith walks around the table, two figurines of two certain familiar dragons are seen on the table.

Juhani: What are those?

Ruby: The Brothers.

Blacksmith: Yes. These Brothers were the Tree's earliest blossoms and the first to inhabit the Ever After. Remarkable beings, very ambitious. The Tree did not perceive what they would become. But that is the joy of creating. The not knowing. First, they were given the power to destroy, to clear the wilderness away. Then they were given creativity, to imagine what -- and who -- could replace the wilderness. The Brothers built homes for them, and gave them roles to play. And so, using the skills and tools they have been given, they began to design their own creations....in utmost secrecy. Soon they realized their new creation could do their job for them.

It was at this moment that they learned that this creation was in fact the Curious Cat. At the same time, they also learned that the Jabberwalker was created for a similar purpose.

Yang: So how did they get to Remnant?

Blacksmith: The Ever After could no longer bear the Brothers' experiments. And so, the Tree built them a special doorway to a greater beyond where the Brothers could try creating worlds of their own. A doorway that would remain open for the Brothers' return, and any of their creations. And what truly remarkable things they accomplished. Whenever the Brothers' creations have come to the Ever After, the five of you have had a greater impact than you know. Just like Alyx and Lewis did before you. Just like others will after you. One small kindness in one small moment would be such a marvelous transformation.

Ruby smiles at Somewhat's figurine with tears welling up in her eyes.

Blacksmith: Much like one act of dishonesty...caused an unfortunate change....

Jaune: Alyx broke her promise to the Cat.

Blacksmith: A terrible thing to have a broken heart... And there's nobody to send them back to the Tree for repair.

Ruby: But what will happen to Neo?

Blacksmith: She will have the chance to return her broken heart... And becomes something new. Such is balance.

As the Blacksmith holds a knife, Jaune recognizes it.

Jaune: That's Alyx's knife. Wait, how did you have this?

Blacksmith: When Alyx's life ended, she chose to leave a part of herself behind. A wish to fix what she had broken.

Jaune takes Alyx's knife and is engulfed by a glowing light. An apparition of Alyx appears, smiling. After Alyx's apparition, along with the light, disappears, Jaune is now back to his younger self, with an exception of white streaks on his hair. Jaune becomes overjoyed.

Jaune: I....I can't believe it. It's been so.... This....is what I sounded like?

Weiss laughs. As the group takes the time to process this, the Blacksmith summons a portal, resembling the ones made by Ambrosius previously.

Ruby: Where will this take us?

Blacksmith: Not where, when you are needed most.

Ruby smiles and nods at the Blacksmith. As they prepared to walk through the portal, the spirits of Revan, Bastila and Jolee appeared before Juhani and Team RWBY.

Spirit Of Revan: You have done well. All of you.

Ruby: Who...who are you?

Spirit Of Bastila: In another lifetime, we fought alongside Juhani.

Blake: You mean...you're...

Spirit Of Jolee: Now they're getting it.

Spirit Of Revan: Together with Juhani, we saved the Galaxy from Darth Malak.

Weiss: How is this poissible?

Spirit Of Jolee: You're asking that question now, Weiss Schnee? After everything you've seen from this place?

Weiss couldn't think of a proper response to Jolee's question. After a moment, Team RWBY had indeed recognized the spirits as that of Revan, Bastila Shan and Jolee Bindo.

Ruby: I...I don't understand.

Spirit Of Revan: The path before you has always been there.

Spirit Of Jolee: You all simply needed a little guidance along the way.

Spirit Of Bastila: The Force has been guiding you on your journey every step of the way as it did for us.

Spirit Of Revan: The dark times are still to come. You will face many more trials and tribulations on your journey just as we have.

Juhani: But we will prevail. We will not falter. We may stumble. We many fall. But we will stand strong against the tide of darkness for even a single spark of hope can drive off the darkness.

As Juhani reaffirmed her beliefs, Team RWBY and Jaune stood beside her in solidarity with the Cathar Jedi. The three spirits smiled.

Juhani: So...this is goodbye.

Spirit Of Revan: For now, Juhani. Know that we will always be with you, guiding you every step of the way. May the Force be with you.

With that, the spirits of Revan, Bastila and Jolee vanished. After a moment, Juhani took a deep breath.

Juhani: Come. It's time to go home.

With that, the group walked through the doorway. They soon find themselves in the deserts of Vacuo. They see the capital city in the distance, with Shade Academy towering over the kingdom. In the skies above, there are various airships from Vale, Mistral, and Atlas, as well as a retrofitted Amity Colosseum/Tower. The group look upon the impressive sight as the portal closes behind them. In that moment, Juhani and her allies had returned to Remnant.