The dull empty halls of the palace of hearts echoed with the sounds of a fierce battle. Team RWBY battle their friend-turned-enemy trying, by all means, to stay alive.
If one could tell them during their time in Beacon that Jaune Arc would be giving them a hellish fight they would laugh their lungs out and then some.
Yet not none of them found the situation funny.
"Yang look out!" Ruby yelled at top of her lungs as Jaune's claymore almost cost Yang another limb. The blonde backstepped avoiding the devastating blow and shooting a few quick shots to push Jaune back.
"Can you chill already?! We want to HELP YOU!" Yang exploded with her eyes turning crimson.
Jaune glared at her taking another swing at her but a timely attack from Blake's clones froze him in his spot. Second, later Weiss hit him with a powerful ice torrent that only solidified the ice around him, leaving just his head out.
"Jaune whatever she did to you, you need to snap out of it!" Weiss cried coming closer." Please! We're here to help you!"
Jaune's only response was to glow in blinding white light. Not even a second later with a mighty howl the ice broke releasing him.
"Here we thought that his semblance was only a battery…" Blake mumbled changing her magazine.
During the fight, the girls figured that Jaune finally managed to master his semblance enough to consciously use it on himself.
Boy, now they could see the difference. Neither of them gained such a power boost as Jaune exhibited now. Apparently, there was some loss of power if he was using it on others, yet there seemed to be none when he applied it to himself.
Aura amplification.
Nothing as flashy as Yang's or Blake's or many other semblances. One could argue it was mediocre at best, having now immense effects or firepower…
Yet what was the most important thing that made a Huntsman a Huntsman? What was the base of every single skill, every semblance that made Huntsmen a shield of Humanity?
It was Aura and Jaune Arc had a semblance that boosted Aura, beyond its normal capacities.
Be it speed, strength, reaction time, and many more abilities tied directly to the aura.
And Jaune even before unlocking his semblance had a lot of it…
The girls quickly regrouped waiting for another round. They already felt winded down while Jaune exhibited no such thing.
"We need to finish it quickly, he's regenerating his aura at inhumane speed," Weiss spoke remembering seeing his training in Atlas when he just barely grasped control over his semblance.
"Any bright ideas Ice Queen? Because all we tried failed miserably." Yang eyed Jaune warily.
Weiss bit her lip as if fighting with herself.
"I have one but it's a long shot and we would have to trust Cheshire…" She said slowly almost feeling the flat looks of her teammates on her.
"Any sane ideas that won't put us into an early grave?" Blake almost pleaded.
"Ummm guys he's coming…" Ruby gripped her scythe tighter feeling cold sweat running down her cheek. She was ashamed to admit but she was beginning to grow afraid of Jaune.
Whatever happened to him made him scarier than Cinder, Tyrian, or even Salem. She loved Jaune from bottom of her heart, he was like an older brother she never had…
Yet now all that was before her was thing cold emotionless killer wearing the face of her dear friend. His was and kind blue eyes now looked like blocks of pure ice putting Weiss's best glares to shame.
Jaune was not running or even walking fast. He knew that they had to get past him to defeat the Queen.
There was no need to rush. The girls were stubborn but those few months they spend here were nothing to the years he spent serving the Queen and fighting her battles. He was certain that the victory would be his.
For he was willing to go to any lengths to win unlike them. The moment when he was immobile Ruby should have taken his head off and won the battle.
Yet she did not which only proved that they were not ready to defeat Salem. Not when they held back like this.
He could not believe that he once upon a time looked up to those four.
Gripping his sword tighter he strode confidently, intending to finish it once and for all. He wasted enough time here.
Right before his attack, Weiss moved forward to meet him pushing her hand into her pouch. He did not see what she pulled out but he was cautious. Weiss could be deceptively crafty with her dust.
She moved her hand forward and opened and showed him…a bundle, something wrapped in crimson cloth…
"Welp that would show him!" Yang cheered weakly." Maybe try throwing it at him!"
"Yang…"Blake facepalmed." Look at his face"
True to her words Jaune for the first time exhibited emotion other than rage and hatred.
The utter shock was painted on his face as his eyes widened almost comically, giving girls a glimpse of the boy he once was.
Weiss gulped feeling the tension so thick that she could cut it with her rapier. Sheeting her weapon she slowly unwrapped the bundle allowing the crimson cloth…crimson sash to fall freely over her hand revealing a light gold, the glowing rock which pulsed with gentle light.
'I swear Cheshire if this won't work I will skin you if I survive!' Weiss thought feeling sweat run down her cheek as Jaune's eyes were glued to the glowing rock that happened to be…
His Heart
Weiss only guessed that was Queen's of Hearts semblance to be somehow able to pull the heart out of people and turn them into her servants.
The irony that Jaune's heart was wrapped in Pyrrha's sash was not lost on Weiss. Even after death, the Champion continued to protect her knight.
'Pyrrha wherever you are help us bring him back
"Where…where did you get that?" Jaune rasped his voice dry with his hair covering his eyes. The atmosphere suddenly got more oppressive as his whole posture emitted nothing but pure rage.
"Does it matter?!" Ruby bellowed joining Weiss." We are your friends Jaune! Fight whatever she did to you!"
"Yeah Vomit-boy! While I dig this whole dark avenger type of stuff ngl, still I think I liked the non-psycho version more." Yang gave him thumbs-up with a smile.
"We are all here for you now Jaune, come to us and together we can make everything alright" Blake joined the rest of them.
Jaune looked at each one of them giving him those looks of utter support and…love. In those 3 years that had been nothing but blood and darkness, those 4 were nothing but dazzling. He took a step further almost feeling the warmth coming from them as their smiles grew as he pulled his free hand towards his heart…
Wrapped in this piece of crimson cloth that would forever chain his heart and remind him of his greatest sin.
Being weak.
His hand with lightning speed passed Weiss extended arm and wrapped his fingers around her thin neck.
Weiss's eyes bulged out as she started to claw against his armored glove to pry her neck free, the girls were about to jump to help but Knave was faster.
He rammed Weiss's body into Yang and Blake sending them flying while at the same time slashing diagnostically at Ruby forcing her back.
HE did not deserve to be in the light. His path was now only shrouded by darkness and drenched in blood.
As it should be for someone like him...
"J-Jaune…please…" Weiss gasped weakly feeling her consciousness drifting away. With a sneer, he threw her at Ruby sending both girls flying. With a tangled mess of limbs, they landed roughly on the floor, with Weiss desperately gasping for air. Even though aura protected her throat was bruised and sore.
Yang and Blake instantly rushed to cover for them but Knave just stood looking at his heart stone with a blank expression.
"You think you have it all figured out don't you?" He spoke not looking at them." That you are the heroes that can save the world with hope, friendship, and determination?"
He looked up but this time he had only pity in his eyes. Somehow this cut each and every one of them more than his rage.
"Do you have any plan on how to defeat Salem? Do you have any means to counter her armies? Or to sabotage her network of spies and agents? Do you have any connections among the remaining governments of the world to pressure the leaders to aid you? Or maybe you plan to have another inspiring speech on TV, and then just go with the flow?"
Ruby cringed as the last sentence was clearly a jab at her.
"Maybe we don't but it's still better than supporting a Tyrant!" Blake shouted back. "We are at the least on the good side!"
"Like when you were part of White Fang? You were also on the good side then too?" Knave countered making Blake's eyes widen.
"I left them!"
"Yes you do that when the heat is too much to take, you run you, coward. Just like you abandoned your team after the fall of Beacon." Knave words were like daggers that cut her to the very bone.
Yang was about to open her mouth but the man was faster.
"How about you Yang? Will you go into another depression after just losing a limb? So much that you will let your sister go on a mad quest after the group of murderers alone, with just the support of a few
friends?" Yang's mouth closed with an auditable click. "Or maybe like you took her to the forest infested with Grimm in search of the mother who abandoned you? " At this Yang's eyes flared her but she did not charge." At the least you learned to not charge head in bravo," He mocked.
"J-Jaune stop it! That is not right!" Ruby was pleased with her heart close to breaking.
"Right? Ruby, do you think the world cares about what is right? You're as naïve as you were when you entered Beacon." He sneered." I am sure the people of Atlas surely were grateful that you did the right in opposing General Ironwood and caused the city to fall…even more when you decided to dump them in the deserts of Vacuo instead of let's say Mistral or Vale… wonder how many of them died…"
Ruby's silver eyes widened in horror." You don't think, you act but you lack the foresight to see the consequences of your actions."
Weiss remained silent not daring to utter the word but Knave's cold eyes reached her too. Yet he remained silent.
"W-What?" She hated herself for shuttering. "No smart comments about me?"
"I don't understand how could I ever have a crush on you" Knave's words felt like a harsh slap.
"Ouch" Yang almost felt the burn herself.
"You not only abandoned your own younger sibling to an unfeeling trash of a father and an alcoholic mother. You treated him like garbage just because the boy learned how to adapt and then even had the gall to threaten him to do what you wanted…" Knave's voice oozed with disgust." Even with all the resources of SDC and lessons you got, you follow an immature girl who is way over her head just because you're afraid of loneliness…pathetic." He shook his head." For all your intellect and skills you are a failure of your own making."
Weiss felt tears gather in her eyes as each of his words cut like a knife.
"Oh yeah?! How about you Mr. Perfect Vomit Boy!? You are without flaw!?" Yang exploded finally with her hair turning ablaze." How about we rip into you?!"
"Is this person still here?" Knave's empty look managed to quell her flames.
"What?" Yang uttered confused.
" I left Jaune Arc behind. Shed like an old coat." Knave pointed his sword at the glowing rock at his feet." That is all that remains of that pathetic creature." He growled." He was weak and gullible allowing his petty feelings and delusions to cloud his judgment of what he was…an utter failure of a human being." Knave gave them a dark glare." The Queen showed him all of that, his every single failure, every single life lost because of HIS weakness, layer by layer she torn down this weak boy, mercilessly burning out his weakness so that I could have been born." Knave's eyes rolled back as if he was in ecstasy." I became free…"
At this point team RWBY was positively terrified of what Jaune went through.
"Jaune Arc is no more and only the Knave remains" He lifts the sword over his head." High time to destroy the last vestiges of that pathetic rat"
With blinding speed, he brought down his sword at his heart that like nothing else was pulsating with gentle gold light
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" Weiss screamed at top of her lungs but was too late. With a mighty hit, Knave's sword hit the heart creating a massive explosion of dust and debris.
"Oh, God!" Ruby's tears slid down her cheeks." He destroyed his heart!"
Just as the smoke died down the girl could see that the Knave was standing glaring at the bottom of his self-made crater…
Right at his heart that kept glowing as if nothing happened. Just like the first time he saw his heart, Knave had a look of utter shock on his face that quickly turned into rage.
"Fitting that the vermin refuses to perish" He spat.
"No!" Weiss stepped forward." Jaune is not a vermin!" She pointed her finger at him." You can say what you want JAUNE but this is proof of your biggest strength! You NEVER break. You can get beaten down, hurt, and tormented but in the end you always stand up! You may say whatever you want about this so-called Queen but she is nothing more than a liar and manipulator who preyed on your vulnerable state!"
Knave just leveled her with a flat glare.
"Yes poor Jaune, always in distress crying over dead women he failed to protect." He said mockingly looking at the heart.
"BECAUSE HE CARED YOU ASSHOLE!" Yang rushed at him but he paired easily." HE CARED ABOUT THEM AND CARED ABOUT US!"
"Load good it brought to the world…"
"It didn't need to!" Blake appeared from behind and slashed at his armored back. " Even if he wasn't the strongest he was always there when we needed him!"
"You are nothing compared to Jaune!" Ruby bellowed unleashing a volley of shots." You are just some stupid EDGE-LORD parody of Jaune! Do you think this all dark and mighty is cool!? Well, it isn't!"
Shooting one last bullet at Knave she did not expect the shot to be cut in half. Even more with that halves hitting Yang and Blake…
"God damn that was cool…what an ass…" Ruby mumbled eyeing the heart. Suddenly her eyes widened." Guys, I have an idea!" She quickly zipped in a torrent of petals towards the heart grabbing it, while narrowly avoiding Knave's sword.
"I'm all ears Sis!" Yang shoots a few rounds at Knave quickly reloading her last magazine.
"We give him his heart back!" Ruby announced. " We need to put it in his chest again!"
"You think that it will work?" Blake questioned sending a few clones at her opponent.
"I don't know but it's obvious that something happened to him when Queen took him. Putting it back might work and help us get REAL Jaune back."
"We need to get him still to open his chest plate and shove it in." Weiss added." It won't be easy."
"Especially when you talk your plan in front of your enemy…" Knave spoke." Another example of your foolishness…you of all people should understand that it almost killed you, Weiss." The white-haired woman unconsciously touched her left side. " Alas, try your pathetic ploy it won't change anything. You and your allies will perish here and Queen of Hearts will stand triumphant today…and tomorrow over the Remnant."
Knave took his sword in both hands putting it close to his chest while the tip faced the ceiling. Then he began glowing whiter than ever before.
Instantly the girls knew that it was going to be or die situation.
The air was thick with tension as both parties were readying themselves for the final ARC of this fight.
In a blink of an eye, Knave was upon them this time fully intending to kill his former friends and they knew it.
Team RWBY felt that Jaune wanted to kill them…and it tore them inside.
Their friends and comrade were set to extinguish their lives. Weiss once said that they had been in a fairy tale but she had been wrong.
It was nothing more than a nightmare.
Team RWBY spread out around intending to avoid his initial attack, then like a well-oiled machine, they instantly closed in attacking Knave from all sides.
In the second two clones of Blake were bisected, and Ruby's scythe met an unmovable iron glove. Weiss's rapier slid down the back plate while an armored foot kicked Yang's block shaking her very bones. Yet girls pressed knowing that they got more and more worn down while their opponent could recharge his aura given enough time.
In the battle of attrition, Knave had an upper hand by miles.
So the weapons clashed, each creating waterfall of sparks, semblances failed to light the dim halls of the palace of hears with colors of all kinds. Each and every member of team RWBY pushed themselves to the very limit of their skills and abilities to simply survive the hellish battle Knave had been giving them.
Then by the stroke of pure luck, an opportunity opened itself. Blake with the help of her clones managed to freeze Knave's sword hand in a block of ice. Yang with her eyes glowing crimson charged at him delivering a punch yet Knave managed to grab her fist in his hand. What he wasn't expecting was for Yang to use her motion to do a gracious flip and hit him square in the jaw with the heel of her feet.
Yang's fully charged hit was so devastating, that it send Knave flying right towards the floor making a manmade crater with his body. Even then while still stunned Knave rose to fight further growling like a savage beast.
Yet this second was enough for Weiss to get past his guard and with one precise stab she managed to break the hinges that held the chest plate. The piece of armor flew away revealing the bottomless darkness that used to be his heart.
With a primal snarl, Knave swung his sword at the white-haired but with a quick blur of red Weiss was taken away.
Knave growled feeling the wave of anger overtaking him. He gave them all the chances to escape and live their lives but they stubbornly refused.
His hateful glare turned to Ruby who held his heart in her hand looking at him with pure determination.
Unknowingly to him, a trail of black smoke started to emit from his chest as his emotions have risen.
Yes, he remembered this burning sensation well. The flame that one cleansed his soul from his weakness…
The flames of the Queen of Hearts.
She gave him the signal to end this charade as the smoke grew stronger with embers of fire appearing inside his chest much to the horror of the girls in front of him. Their friend was being enveloped by more and more trails of thick black smoke with his face being almost completely obscured by it. The fire in his chest was now burning brightly illuminating the dim walls of the Palace of Hearts.
"Guys stay strong!" Ruby bellowed holding her scythe. " We will get through it! All of us! Including you!" She pointed her finger at Jaune who by now resembled more a demonic apparition than a man.
Knave raised his sword high.
"Farewell team RWBY" He spoke in an eerily detached voice. " You could have lived."
Without any more words, he rushed forward covered in darkness with only his eyes being the two sole points of white light signaling the use of his Semblance to his fullest.
With rapid swings, he created multiple arcs that shot toward his opponents while at the same time right behind them not intending to give team RWBY a second to breathe.
Yet this time Weiss was ready with multiple glyphs being read to intercept them. As both aura constructs clashed and broke like glass the combatants clashed again among the falling shards.
Neither side was willing to consent. Neither could do it.
Ruby rushed forward clashing with Knave every time their blades collided she felt her bones tremble as the man's strength was simply monstrous.
But unlike Knave, she had her team to back her. Blake materialized out of nowhere along with two of her clones that instantly rushed at Knave. The man bisected them both and immediately was zapped by the electric current of Blake's elemental clones.
Yet that seemed to not faze him in the slightest as he closed in and rammed his shoulder into the Fanus girl sending her flying. Not a second later Weiss came in with a storm of thrusts each empowered by gravity glyphs giving them the force of cannon balls.
He blocked and paired them yet few managed to get past his guard. Knave failed to understand that.
They were worn out, beaten up, and low on aura yet they kept coming on him!
Ruby was already swinging at his back, Yang joined the fray too with a series of rapid punches and kicks and he could already see Blake coming back to the fight despite obviously being in pain.
Rage consumed him as the fire in his chest roared mirroring his fury. Smoke started to escape from his mouth too.
"WHY!?" He roared his eyes wide with what seemed like madness." Why don't you give up!? YOU CANNOT WIN!"
"Because I…Because WE love you Jaune." Weiss spoke somehow finding his eyes through the layer of smoke. " We will not give up until we save you."
Knave did not understand.
Something so utterly ridiculous as affection for another would not grant them victory.
His past self was a prime example of these feelings bringing you nothing but grief.
"You love us too Jaune." Ruby showed him his heart stone which now was pulsating rapidly. " I can feel it, I can feel the agony that you're hurting us." She put h the heart to her chest." We will save you Jaune, no matter how hard it will be."
He hated it. He utterly hated this. He hated their looks filled with determination to save not hurt him. He hated their words. He hated their feelings.
But what he hated the most was…that he wanted to indulge them. To give up and let them win.
No sooner this thought crossed his mind the smoke exploded in force, this time causing him agonizing pain and making him scream in torment.
His roar echoed through the halls of the palace. His mind gained a moment of clarity and he was about to continue the attack but in his moment of distraction, all he could see was Team RWBY already on the move to finish the fight.
Ruby is at the back with three others at the front to create an opening for her. Moved more by instinct than mind Knave swung his sword with an inhuman growl.
Yet his movements lacked the precision from before. It almost seemed like he changed his fighting style like they were fighting someone else and Jaune was…
Just a puppet on strings.
Yang slugged him square in the jaw almost dislocating it, at the same time Blake using her weapon tied his other hand and using all of her force dragged it to the side forcing him to awkwardly parry Weiss's storm of thrusts.
As predicted using the commotion Ruby zapped between her allies landing right in front of him with her fist clenched ready to push his head back to his chest.
Predicting this move Knave delivered a brutal knee hit with intention of sending the girl flying. Ruby blocked it with BOTH of her hands giving him the biggest, toothiest shit-eating grin she could muster.
Qrow would be proud. Ruby was a decoy too.
With terror Knave looked at Weiss who was now the closest to him her hand holding his damnable heart.
"St-" Was all that he managed to muster before she promptly shoved it back into his chest.
The time seemed to slow down as Knave's mouth opened in a silent scream.
"Give us back our Jaune" Weiss spat yanking her hand back feeling the nasty burns the fire in his chest gave her.
"Aaaaaaa….aaaaaa" Knave/Jaune felt like his whole being was about to be ripped apart. Knave and Jaune almost like two separate beings were now merging together. Jaune's old feelings were clashing against Knave's steel-cold resolve. "I….I…." With his last remaining ounces of strength, Knave managed to raise his sword above his head." KILL YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"
He dropped the blade with lightning speed to unprepared Weiss much to the rest of her team's horror.
Weiss knew that she would be too slow to block it so all she could do was close her eyes and wait for the finishing blow as her aura was completely drained.
Yet the blow never came. Daring to hope she opened her eyes seeing the crimson blade milometers from her neck, almost feeling the cold steel on her skin.
Looking up she could see the look of utter confusion on Knave's face as….his whole blade had a slight black aura around it.
Feeling her throat tighten, out of nowhere she realized that the blade was held by…magnetism.
Not a second after, an autumn leaf fell out of nowhere between the two. Slowly descending to the ground both Weiss and Jaune looked at its fall.
"Pyrrha…" Jaune breathed as he fell to his knees, spent and defeated. The fire that a second ago roared inside him was gone with the last embers of smoke leaving his body leaving nothing but a broken man.
Nothing but ashes.
Not a second later Weiss joined him on the ground feeling immense relief, finally letting her tears slide down her cheeks as the nightmarish fight ended.
They won.
"Never do that again you dunce!" She managed to choke glaring at Jaune but one could hardly call it that since it was filled with so much relief.
Jaune remained silent with his head hung down, most likely staring at the leaf that was right before him.
"We did it!" Ruby cheered hugging both Yang and Blake who were also on the verge of tears." We saved Jaune!"
"You know how to give girl rough time, eh Vomit-Boy?" Yang wipes the stray tear out of her eyes.
"Jaune…why aren't you talking?" Blake asked seeing as their friend was non-responsive.
"Jaune?" Weiss dared to inch closer and put her hand on his shoulder, shaking it gently. He slowly almost painfully lifted his head and looked into Weiss's eyes.
The girl almost drowned in the sheer agony in them. His face was twisted in pain so intense that it was a wonder that he was even able to kneel.
They all knew.
Knave was a monster with the blood of hundreds on his hands. He brutally quelled any resistance against the Queen. Burned villages, butchered families, and committed horrible deeds in the name of his ruler.
Now it all came crashing down on Jaune as he finally was able to feel the weight of his deeds.
At this moment Weiss did not see the horrible monster or even a grizzled fighter that forced all of them to fight for their lives on his own.
She could see the young boy she met in Beacon being overwhelmed by reality. Wordlessly she moved in and wrapped her arms around him pushing his head into her chest.
"It's not your fault." She whispered the only words she thought could help ease his burden.
Not even a second later a blur of red joined them hugging him too, with Blake and Yang putting comforting hands on his shoulders.
"We're here for you Jaune," Ruby mumbled through the tears.
Yet as much as this should give him any semblance of comfort Jaune did not even feel the warmth. He was drowning in the blood he spilled and no amount of love he was getting would change that.
He was a murderer. A mass murderer, not unlike Cinder.
His lip trembled, the dam almost breaking, yet he used the only thing he always had to push it down. His willpower was indomitable, the pain as soul-breaking as it was could be managed.
If there was no salvation for someone like him why be afraid? Taking a deep breath he called upon his semblance one more time.
Alarmed by the glow the girls tensed but not even a second later they all felt their aura being replenished.
"Jaune?" Weiss asked still holding his head. Yet slowly he got out of her hold. When he looked into her eyes she sucked the breath in.
For she wasn't sure if she was seeing Jaune or Knave. The blue orbs that one shone with light were dull and filled with suffering yet not as raw as it was seconds ago but more…dead.
"Your aura soon will be full again." He spoke with this detached tone Knave spoke. " You will need it to defeat the Queen and end this nightmare."
"Jaune…"Ruby bit her lip. She looked at him with those silver eyes full of worry.
"Don't…you need to stay focused or all of…this will be for nothing." He whispered looking her in the eyes…their faces almost touching.
If this was Ruby from before Ever After she would have protested. But right now she understood the gravity of the war they were fighting.
"I know…"She stood up feeling her aura was almost full," But you WILL come back with us Jaune!" She spoke with passion." Ren and Nora are waiting for you, your family is waiting for you!"
If that made any impression on Jaune his face did not reflect it.
"I don't blame you for Penny's death Jaune." She added finally getting the ever so slight widening of his eyes." You did your best."
"Go." He replied simply. "I will replenish myself and join you as soon as possible."
The girls stood up and collected their weapons preparing themselves for the oncoming battle. Without any further words they departed giving him last worried glances but they could not wait any longer. Their allies were fighting for their lives outside and they need to end this now.
When the footsteps went quiet Jaune picked the lone autumn leaf that out of nowhere came…Ever After was a strange place where your emotions shaped the world around you. Where your heart desires manifested in bizarre forms and it was up to you to make sense of them.
Pyrrha was dead.
He knew her for only a year.
Yet somehow she always managed to manifest in his life. In Ever After he could swear he caught sight of her vibrant red hair a few times. He could feel her scolding eyes boring into his back when he was committing yet another atrocity.
It was a curse and a blessing at the same time.
He was blessed to have such wonderful friends as he did. He was a curse that was cast on them.
A Damnation to those he loved.
Jaune felt this aura was fully regenerated. He stood up hiding the leaf in his pouch. He collected his sword and his helmet putting them on. The sounds of battle were already echoing from the throne room.
While he did not doubt that Team RWBY could deal with Queen he had a debt to settle with her.
He took a step towards it surprised at how sure it was. But then he realized that he finally found the answer to whom he was.
He was no longer Jaune Arc, the delusional weakling.
He was no longer Knave of Hears, the crutch so willing used by the weakling Jaune Arc.
He was a curse, a damnation to those around him be they friends or foes.
His eyes glowed white as he speed up toward the battle. It was high time for the Queen of Hears to have her own heart removed.