RWBY: Trial of the Gods

"Jaune Arc, do you wish to change the fate of your World? To erase the damage caused by Salem and the mistakes of Ozpin? …Very well, Mortal, we shall grant you this chance. But to do so, you must face many of our trials, earn our gifts and end this bloodshed once and for all. So, Commands the Gods of Remnant!"

A/N a little experiment I want to try. Yes, it's a time travel fic, but I wanted to make it different from Restart. Kind of a mixture between RWBY and God of War. But without the killing of Gods, and instead, aid Jaune on his journey to stop Salem. I will continue my other fics, I just want to get this one and another story I have in mind posted before I do so.

Let me know what you think and if I should continue this story? Please leave a review and welcome to RWBY: Trial of the Gods!

A/N this is an edited version due to episode 3 of Season 6 - The Lost Fable. Watch it on Rooster Teeth. I will have to go back and edit alot of my stories becuase of it...oh boy.

Chapter I: The Gods of Remnant (Edited)

Rose…Crimson…Scarlet…Red was an intense and beautiful colour that always managed to capture the attention of anyone around it. It affiliates itself from the sensations of lust and love to the warnings of danger, blood and fire. It is a hot, strong and vibrant colour that always brought out excitement and energy in everything around it…

But to Jaune, Red was a colour that haunted his nightmares, soothed his dreams and stained his hands while being a sad reminder of someone he lost so many years ago and the many that had once stood close to him until the end. It was also the shade he had seen stain his hands too many times…

Just as it did once again.

Jaune held his hands on the chest of a young girl as the vibrant shade of red slowly leaked between his fingers and spread across her chest and floor. "Ruby, stay with me!" his hands pressed tight as he willed his aura into her, ignorant of the fact his hands no longer glowed with his semblance and the blood that freely flowed from his side.

"Don't you die, damn it! Don't you dare die on me! Ruby!" he yelled as he continued to try and summon his aura.

But no matter what he tried, he had nothing left to give…

"Damn it! Damn it! Not again! Not again!" he pressed his hands harder to her chest. Small tears landing on his blood-stained hands as he cried in both anguish and rage.

"J-Jaune?" he looked back as Ruby slowly smiled at him "…You're alright…I'm…I'm glad…." She said in between breaths as her silver eyes – that had once brimmed with innocence and life – were slowly fading to a dull grey.

"Ruby! Thank the Gods! J-Just hold on! I'll get you patched up! You're not going to die!" he continued to try and summon any power that was left in his system. But after the long and hard battle, they just went through even his massive reserves were depleted…

Which meant he had no power left for his semblance. A small hand grasped his own as he looked at the sad smiling face of Ruby.

"Jaune…it's okay…there's nothing you can do…" he furiously shook his head as he pressed his hands against her chest. A familiar shade of red hair and emerald eyes drifted over his memories as he refused to let it happen again. Not to another person that he cared for.

"No…No…not again…not again…" a firm grip brought him back to her as he looked at the dying form of his best friend.

"Jaune…are the others a-alright? Did...did we win at least? Is it over?" she asked as small rose petals scattered around her form, the colour slowly fading from her face as he held her close.

"…Yeah...yeah, it's over, everyone's fine, w-we won. You did it...you saved the world, and Sanctuary will be safe now because of you..." Ruby only smiled softly as she shook her head.

"Jaune…You never were good at lying..."

Silence drowned the castle as he looked sadly at the girl. "Salem told me during the fight...they're all dead, aren't they?" Jaune lowered his head as he sighed and looked at all of their friends that lay dead before them. Some holding each other, while others lay strewn across the floor.

"Yeah...all of them are dead and Sanctuary's gone…that must have been why there was so little resistance in the palace. She sent the bulk of her forces to our hideout when we began our attack, I saw the smoke on the way up. She lured us into a trap...and we fell for it..." Ruby nodded as her eyes slowly began to close.

"But at least...at least we avenged them, right? There will be no one to control the Grimm now...there is still hope?" she asked as Jaune sadly shook his head.

"...You know I can't lie to you..."

She chuckled as her eyes began to close, "Oh yeah...because I know you so well..." the small petals of red roses drifting around her form slowed as her breathing became slower and slower. "Later...Vomit-Boy..." Until the petals stopped floating and scattered to the wind...

He remained still as a stone as the wind blew gently across the tower, unable to say anything to the death of his last friend. He picked up her body and held her close to his chest as his blood mixed in with hers and tears streaked down his face.

"See ya...Crater-Face..."

Silence drowned the world around him, as he sat there cradling the lifeless form of his first best friend.

"...How romantic..."

Jaune slowly opened his eyes as he heard that voice, "I remember a time when I once spouted that sentential dribble...but that was before I became this," he turned and glared at the source of the voice

He was greeted with the sight of a pale-faced woman, pinned to the wall with an overly large broken scythe, as the blade punctured her chest and spilt her blood across the throne room. A look of annoyance on her face as she watched the rose warrior say her final farewell. This woman was the true mastermind behind the Fall of Vale, the Mistral Massacre, The Annihilation of Atlas and the Eradication of Vacuo and the overlord of all Grimm.

Salem...Ozpin's greatest enemy...his former love...and the reason for all this death...

"You're still alive? Of course, you are. You just don't know when to die, do you? Though with that blade in your chest I doubt you'll be living much longer," the woman chuckled as black blood dripped from her lips.

"It takes more than an oversize garden tool to finish me off...though I admit, I don't see myself living much longer either. Amazing, that mere children managed to undo the curse the Gods placed upon me...how I have wished for this..." she chuckled as black blood slipped from her lips.

He stared at the woman whose blood slowly inked the floor, as his mind wandered back to mere hours ago, and remembered the final moments before leading this suicide mission. A last-ditch effort to attack the Grimm stronghold and end Salem's tyrannical rule over Remnant.

It was the only move that was left to them that would hopefully secure Sanctuary, humanity's last stronghold, a fighting chance and maybe the possibility of mankind's survival. A team of highly trained warriors, with nothing left to lose, would lay siege to the palace in the moments when its defences were down.

But then Sanctuary fell, and it became not a mission for freedom but a mission to avenge the fallen humanity, by bringing down its leader once and for all...

But for Jaune, it was his only chance to get the revenge he so desperately wished for the one he had lost so long ago...

It had been five years since Beacon fell, since the death of his partner Pyrrha Nikos, that he had been consumed by nothing else if not for vengeance. For five years, he had done nothing but search Remnant for the culprit behind Pyrrha's death, and from Cinder learned the truth about why she died.

Salem's plot, the four maidens, their role in this war, the relics, the truth about Ozpin and everything else. He learned everything. But over the many years, he had realized that humanity would lose.

They had lost the moment they let Beacon fall.

"Why are you still alive? The Maidens are gone; the Relics can't help and your allies are no more… Why can't you do us all a favour and die already?" the woman chuckled as black blood trickled down her lip.

"...I don't know...I have wanted death ever since the Twin Gods cursed me for attempting to bring back my lost love...I guess the many years I have spent living has made my body harder to kill." She paused as she coughed black blood from her lips.

"A lot of people died because of you," he glared she chuckled as she shook her head.

"The Gods...they are the true cause of all of this. How I still curse their names for what they did to me so long ago. But can you really blame me? They denied me both love and death. Made me walk this earth for centuries because I wanted back the one thing that made me happy...then they turned that against me against me..." Jaune stared in silence before a dark chuckle escaped his lips.

"...You understand, don't you child? What it's like to lose someone you love?" he nodded as she looked at the fragmented moon. "All I wanted was the man I loved returned to me, to be by his side again and live a normal life...was that so bad?" Jaune felt conflicted as he thought about his partner from long ago.

"You know...if you had just realised what you did, none of this would have happened? My friends wouldn't have died...my partner would still be here...but you took that away from me." Jaune said as he shook his head and carefully placed Ruby on the floor, placing her cloak over her body and shrouding her face.

She chuckled as she nodded her head. "Maybe...but the Gods can be cruel...can't they?"

He looked over to his left as he spotted the gun mechanism of Crescent Rose – still functional – before he looked back to Salem as she smirked.

"…Well, aren't you going to do it? Finish what the silver-eyed girl could not accomplish? What Ozpin could not. What the Gods had denied me for so long."

Jaune reached over as he grabbed the rifle, stood up and carefully aimed it at the woman – even as blood kept leaving his wounds and every fibre of his being was screaming at him in pain. But he blocked it all out as he hefted the rifle and aimed down the scope at the woman before him.

His fingers trembled, and his vision blurred as he could feel the last of his strength was about to leave him.

"...At last...my end...has finally...come...thank you"

A loud bang resonated in the chamber before her body slumped and Jaune stared at her headless corpse, the barrel still smoking as he stared at the dead woman that had caused him – and others – so much pain…

On the one hand, he felt sorry for the woman, especially when he knew the truth about her suffering and her curse. How because of the Gods idiocy she tore the world apart. How if they had been just a little kind and returned a grieving woman her lost love or let her join him in the afterlife. Then none of this would have happened...

But on the other hand...she took everything from him...and that he could never forgive.

He roared with rage as he cocked back the rifle and fired again. The bullets ripping her apart as he fired again and again and again at the already dead corpse. Achieving little in the overall fact that she was already dead. But none of that mattered as he just kept screaming and shooting at the woman who took everything from him.

Fleshing tearing and ripping off her body as each gunshot resonated in the now empty castle. Till finally the gun ran empty and all he was left was the clicking of an empty cartridge.

He dropped the gun to the floor as rested on his knees and grabbed at his side. his hand covered in blood and no matter what he did, it would not stop. He was dying, and there was nothing he could do about it. He fell to his back as he stared up at the torn ceiling that revealed the broken moon that hung in the night sky.

A perfect representation of the man he had become, broken, but still strong. But as he looked onto the scorched plains and ruined earth of Remnant, he realised that this victory meant nothing.

There was no one left. Humanity had lost, the world was dead. Their victory came at too great a cost, and now there was nothing and no one to claim it. He breathed a shaky breath as he looked back to the sky and thought about everything he lost and everything that had been taken from him as a lone tear streaked down his face.

"Damn it…damn, it…it's not fair…"

The four Relics lay bare around him before they began to shimmer and shine and a bright light flashed before him as he turned away from the blinding light. He grunted and hissed in pain as the light seemed to burn as bright as the sun until finally, it stopped. When his eyes readjusted, they widened considerably as he gazed around at what appeared to be an empty void.

Devoid of all life and colour as the only thing he could feel was a weightless unpleasantly.

"What in the?"

"Jaune Arc" A loud voice spoke as he turned around and gazed in awe.

Before him stood two figures of gargantuan proportions as they easily towered over him. One was a being of pure golden white light with antler-like horns growing from his head stood before him. The other was a being of purple and darkness with goat-like horns growing from his head.

He had no idea who they were, but something told him he had known of them before. But where?

"Jaune Arc," the White Figure spoke as he looked back to them. "You stand before the Gods of Light and Darkness, the ones who created your kind, to answer for the extinction of the human race." The being of Light spoke as the Dark one drew closer.

"Your kind has failed in the task we gave Ozma years ago. You allowed Salem to ravage your world and bring forth our judgement." The Dark Being said as the Light stood tall over him.

"Because of your inability to defeat Salem in time, Remnant is lost and humanity will be judged as a failed species…what do have to say in your final words?"

Jaune could only stare up in disbelief as the Gods that created him towered over him, not believing what they told him.

Were they serious? Were they really blaming him for what happened to the world? Were they really going to ignore their own part in this catastrophe? But if it wasn't that, that pissed him off, it was the way they spoke to him. It was almost like a parent scolding a child for breaking something.

He should have expected no less, they were Gods after all while he was a mere mortal to them.

So, of course, they would blame him for the extinction of mankind and Salem bringing forth all the Relics. But when he thought about it, it wasn't his fault that the world ended up like it was, it was theirs for what they had done years ago.

So yeah, he had something to say to the Gods of Remnant.

"Oh yeah…I have something to say…" the gods looked down upon him as he drew in a deep breath and screamed at the top of his lungs…

"FUCK YOU!"

Absolute silence met the two Gods as they, for the first time in over a thousand millennia, stared in disbelief at the mortal that stood before – who had screamed Fuck You directly to their faces. This had never happened to them before. There was no way a mortal – let alone a human – had ever bravely stood before them and cursed in front of them.

They were stunned, for the first time in eternity they were stunned.

"E-Excuse me?" the God of Light asked as Jaune nodded.

"Yeah, you heard me! Fuck! You! You have no right to say that after I just lost everyone I ever cared about!" he glared at the Gods before him.

"My home is gone! My friends and my family are dead! The only one who ever believed in me sacrificed herself to keep me safe! And I just watched my last friend die in my arms! And what is it the first thing you Gods do?! You blame me for everything that's happened! How dare you blame me for what happened to the world! How dare you blame me for not stopping it when there was no way I could have prevented it! And how dare you think yourself better than me! You have no right to cast blame on me when all of it is your fault in the first place!" he yelled as the Gods grew angry at this.

"Careful of what you claim, Mortal! We are not responsible for the state of your world, we left your kind centuries ago because of your kinds greed and misuse of our gifts. What happened afterwards was your own doing!" Jaune shook his head at this.

"No, it wasn't, it was Salem's! She tricked everyone to stand up against you! She was the one who wanted to use the Relic! She was the one who took control of your Grimm! But the funny thing is, she's not really to blame for all of this! When you really think about it, it's actually your fault, to begin with!" he accused the Gods as they glared at him.

"Us! How are we at fault for this!?"

"You're the ones who thought it was a good idea to give a grieving woman eternal life!? For what!? For wanting to bring back someone she loved! But instead of granting her that wish or heavens forbid let her rejoin him in the afterlife, you instead cursed her with never-ending ending life and then send her dead love to clean up your mess! Great idea jackass!" he pointed to the God of Light who flinched back at his rage.

"You're Gods, Omniscient beings that should know everything. You've watched us from the day we were born, you should have understood her pain! What did you think was going to happen?! That she wouldn't curse your names and try to get back at you for it?! What kind of Gods are you?!" he yelled as the Gods seemed to glare at him before the God of Light spoke.

"We believed that she would come to understand her transgression against the balance we created. Your world was an experiment to see if you could find peace and balance within yourselves. But you were deceived and turned against each other and us so easily. Clearly, we were wrong about your kind…it was why we left you centuries ago."

"That's bullshit! If you had left then why did you have to send Ozpin back?! Why did he have to fix up your mistake for cursing her with immortality?! If you truly were Gods, then you would have done something about it!"

"We could not. There are Rules that even we must abide by. Salem was Ozma's problem, and he had to resolve it. Not us," Jaune chuckled as he shook his head.

"Really? Then answer me this, if you had the power to curse her with unending life then surely you could've taken it away, right? You took away our magic, why couldn't you do the same to her? End all of the sufferings before it could happen. But you didn't, instead, you sent Ozpin to do your dirty work. Because you couldn't admit that you were wrong..." He laughed as he shook his head and glared up at them.

"Ancestors forgive me, but I actually agree with Salem! It's all your fault! You're hypocrites! Both of you! Spouting your reasons and excuses for keeping the balance when in actuality you're the ones who messed it up in the first place! Even now you're blaming me for something you did centuries ago." he looked down as he thought about the last thousand years.

"Because of you two, Salem made everyone's life miserable, manipulated so many of my friend's lives and had the only person who truly believed in me killed because she got pulled into Ozpin's darkness…everything and everyone is gone…and I'm never going to see them again…" he then glared up.

"Which is why you are going to change everything and put it back to the way it was…Right…Now!" he commanded as the Gods glared at him.

"You dare command us?! The Gods who created you?! To fix your world!?" his form shifting and changing until he was a large serpent-like dragon.

"Do you have any idea what we can do to you for your arrogance?!" the anger in the Gods voice as resonated in the void as he became a large skeletal dragon with dark purple flames spewing from his mouth. Any lesser men would have been quaking in their boots by now...

But Jaune was no lesser man anymore and he didn't care…he had nothing else to lose.

"Oh yes, I know…and I am. You can punish me all you want, disintegrate my soul, banish me from death like you did Salem and Oz. Deny me the chance to see my friends again, but it won't matter to me…" he drew his weapon as he transformed it into its two-hander form.

"Because whatever you'll do will only prove that I'm right… you're no Gods…you're just children that can't take responsibility for your actions and keep on repeating the same mistakes..." he gripped his sword as he prepared to fight.

"…And I'll be damned before I pray to either of you…"

A beat of silence drifted between the three as none dared to move. Until suddenly a loud laughter began to resonate in the void as all three of them looked around.

"By the Ancient One! I've never seen a human actually stand up to a God like that! That is priceless!" a pillar of fire appeared as another towering figure appeared before them.

The figure taller than the two other Gods as its being was red like fire dressed in armour forged from molten rock, with all his hair swaying like fire in the wind. The colossal being chuckled as he looked at the Gods of Light and Darkness as they reverted back to human form.

"This is the first time I've ever seen you two show any kind of shock whatsoever! Oh man, that is hilarious!" the being laughed.

"Ignis! What are you doing here?! This is not your concern!" the God of Light spoke as the now named Ignis grinned.

"Oh, come on. I wanted to see the first mortal that has ever actually had the courage to curse you two to your faces. You always did proclaim them as your 'Perfect Creation' on this earth after all. To see one making you stammer for the first time in Millennia is so worth it!" he grinned as the Light God glared.

"We have this under control, Brother!" Darkness claimed as the fire God grinned.

"Oh, I can see that. Great job, by the way, letting all your creations die like that. You totally have this under control," he mocked as the twin Gods glared.

"That's enough, Ignis." A pillar of water shot out from nowhere as a gigantic woman made from pure water appeared, holding a vase in her arms with clothes that swayed like water, as she glared at the burning being.

"There's no need for that, Light and Dark are embarrassed enough as it is without your blunt honesty reminding them,"

Jaune only stared in confusion as he watched the bizarre scene.

"But you've got to admit Aquarius that this is funny? I mean how long has it been since a mortal has actually stood up to one of us? Not even Ozpin had the spine to argue with these two knuckleheads when he was brought before them," the Light and Dark brothers flinched at the comment.

"He does have a point, sister." Two pillars of wind and lightning appeared as two beings made of hurricanes and thunderstorms stood next to the fire.

"It is the first time a Mortal has ever had the gall to stand before us Gods and curse us to our faces." The female wind deity spoke as the thunder deity crossed his arms.

"And these two do deserve it for their error of judgement and creating the very cause of its destruction. Something they were warned not to do." the deity spoke with a thunderous voice as the Brothers looked almost afraid at seeing the new beings.

"Yeah!" a slightly smaller being said that radiated with pink and love as she floated around the two brothers.

"Mum and Dad warned them multiple times not to leave that poor woman alive with immortality, but they never listened~!" the smaller woman said in a sing-song voice as she zipped away from the glare of the Dark God.

"Why are you all even here?! This Mortal is our concern, he is from one of our creations and not any of yours!" Light argued before a new voice spoke.

"Now, now children…" a kind voice spoke as an extremely tall tree took shape before becoming the visage of a beautiful woman with plants and mountains growing off her body as she towered over the blue, red, black and white beings.

"There is no need to fight amongst yourselves,"

"Mother!" the twin Gods shrieked as the tall woman looked them.

"The Mortal is no longer your concern, my Sons, and there is a reason for us all being here. And Ignis, be nicer to your siblings, they're in enough trouble as it is. How would you feel if one of your creations started shouting at you?" Ignis scoffed at this.

"First Mom, fire can't speak, and even if it could speak it would say it loves me. I'm her daddy after all, and the Sun is my precious baby!" the tall fiery being said as Gaia rolled her eyes.

"Enough!"

An old and ancient voice spoke as clockwork-like shapes appeared before an even taller being towered over the other four gods. "Why is it that every time we met up like this, you are always arguing amongst yourselves?" the being spoke with the voice of wisdom and age. A long white beard and a staff in his hand with an hourglass slowly pouring sand.

"Father!" the Twins grew more afraid as the taller being stood before them.

"Oh great, dads here," Ignis said before the staff bonked him on the head. He rubbed his head as he looked at the man. "Ehehehe eh~ Sorry, Pops" the older being sighed as he rubbed his forehead in frustration.

"I swear I wonder why I put up with your shenanigans?" Gaia placed a hand on his shoulder as he sighed.

"Easy Chronos, remember your blood pressure." She kindly said as the elderly being sighed.

"I wouldn't have a blood pressure if our children weren't always causing problems." He pointed to the two Gods of Light and Dark. "Do these two have any idea what they have done to the Time Stream?" both brothers flinched as the ageing God glared at them.

"They're young dear, they don't know the consequences of their actions." The Old man gave her a deadpan look.

"They're 5 Billion Years Old, Gaia. When we gave them that earth we told them not to meddle with the lives of mortals. Especially when one of them is- !"

"Hey!" all the Gods looked down as Jaune had finally had enough. "Can someone please explain what the hell is going on here?! Because I am really confused here?!"

"You dare to interrupt our father, you insolent little-!" the God of Darkness glared before the sound of a cane slammed into the void.

"Enough Darkness!" all were silent as the God of Time glared at his youngest son.

"There is no need for that, the young man merely wants to know why he was truly summoned before us. Our family reunion can wait," he turned down to the last human as his face became gentler.

"I apologise for the rashness of my Sons, Mortal. But you have not been called here to answer for the Extinction of the Human Race. Rather, you have been summoned here for another reason. But first, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Chronos, I am the God of Time and the father of all these Gods you see before you – aside from Gaia…" he gestured to each one of them.

"You are already familiar with my youngest Children, Light and Dark – the Gods that created you and the Grimm, who also left the Relics on your World," the twin Gods glared at him.

"We've just met" Jaune glared back.

Chronos nodded, "Of course, and I apologise for anything they had said to offend you. This here is Ignis – the God of Fire – who gifted the universe with the Sun and warmth of the Flames." Ignis grinned as he leaned down to the boy.

"Nice to meet you, kid. I got to tell you I love how you tore into these two here, especially since you are right about it being their fault." The Twin Gods were about to argue but one stern glare from Chronos instantly made them quiet.

"This is my eldest daughter Aquarius – the Goddess of Water – who gifted the earth with the oceans and rain," the tall goddess bowed as Jaune did so in return. He already pissed off two Gods at the moment, he would rather not accidentally tick off a third.

"Um…Nice to meet, Miss Aquarius." The Goddess chuckled.

"No need for formalities young man, it's a pleasure to meet you too."

"And these are the twins Ventus and Thor – The Twin Gods of Wind and Lightning – they created the air and the storms that keep your world alive," the Wind twin bowed slightly while the Other folded his arms and nodded at the boy.

"And this is my beloved Wife, Gaia – the Goddess of Earth – who created the earth that you stand upon." The tall woman smiled like a mother as Jaune bowed as he didn't want to piss off the being that created–!

"Hey, wait a minute! You guys created the earth?! I thought the planet and everything else was created by the Gods of Light and Dark?" he gestured to the two Gods as they flinched while the others glared at them.

"What have you two been telling these mortals?" Ignis asked as the Gods shoulders sagged. Chronos sighed as he returned his gaze to the boy.

"No, the earth was not created by them. They merely created upon our creations. We gave them the earth you stood upon for their experiment. In your people's texts, it was said that the God of Light created, while the God of Darkness Destroyed. But it never mentions either of them creating the sun or the oceans, or even the Planet itself. Merely the animals and the plants that grew upon her back...Honestly, these two need to learn some humility." Chronos massaged the bridge of his nose.

"Um…sorry, and um thank you, Gaia, for giving a home to my people and um…sorry about the digging and the…polluting?" Jaune said with nervousness as the Motherly Goddess merely shook her head.

"It's quite alright. I will admit that it does hurt to see one of my beautiful worlds be slowly mined and stripped of its resources. But I can assure you that the Earth is stronger than it looks…but do be kinder to it, it is your only home after all," Jaune nodded.

"And this…" the pink sparkle zipped around as she shrunk to the size of a fly as she zipped right into Jaune's face.

"Hi! I'm Venus! – I am the Goddess of Love and Emotions – I was born after Light and Dark put aside their silly differences to create you all. I was created to help regulate all your emotions! My particular favourite is Love~! Oh, there is so much of it and it's such a beautiful thing!" she smiled happily at the last human.

Jaune seemed to almost smile at the Goddess, knowing that love was still a thing.

"I've been watching your kind since the day you were born. And I have seen so much love in this world, especially in your partner…she truly loved you Jaune. And I was saddened to see your love diminish over time. It wasn't fair what happened to you two."

Jaune looked down as he thought of his partner. Pyrrha, the only person who truly believed in him from the beginning. Who saw potential and greatness in him, when he could not. How he wished he could have seen her feelings for him.

Maybe then things could have been different?

"That's enough Venus, those wounds are still fresh to him," Gaia spoke as Venus nodded and returned to the other gods in her gargantuan form.

"Now the next God you shall meet is…" Chronos was cut off as a dark shroud began to appear before them. The shroud becoming a cloak of darkness as a long-handled scythe appeared in the figure's hands. A skeletal face appeared in the hood as empty eyes sockets starred down at him.

"Ah, speak of the Devil. Mortal, this is Death – God of the Underworld and the Carer of Souls. He is my Brother, I'm sure you know of him?" the skeletal being looked down at Jaune as he flinched at the empty gaze.

"I-I'm familiar with him," Death looked down before turning back to Chronos.

"This is him? The one that the Ancient One has deemed worthy?" the cloaked figure asked as Chronos nodded. Death sighed as he took his place by Chrono's side. "This is going to be a lot of paperwork you know? I suppose the Ancient One has chosen worst to participate." that peeked Jaune's interest.

"Um, who's the Ancient One? Sounds like a pretty important…person? And what am I participating in?" he didn't want to assume anything.

"Has mankind truly forgotten the Legend of the Ancient One?" Chronos asked himself before he looked down at the boy.

"The Ancient One is the One, the First and the Last of everything. Who created the Gods of Old and the Universe you reside in, and the many others like it. Who also watches over all in the Multiverse and decides their fate." Chronos spoke as he gestured around him as many planets and stars appeared before them.

"Your world is not the only one in existence...just one more in an ever-expanding multiverse..."

Jaune stared in awe at the many amazing sights that passed before him. Multiple versions of Remnant passed him by as each had a different look and different versions of his friends

"There are many more Gods that you shall meet, but for now we must speak. Jaune Arc, your world is lost and the souls of all your friends now rest in the Eternal Kingdom. Normally, we cannot change what has been done as it would go against the rule of the Universe. Such as the decree of the Ancient One, the being that precedes over all creation…" Jaune's heart sunk as he heard this.

"However"

Jaune's head shot up at this. "The Ancient One has seen the tragedy and the injustice brought upon your world and has taken pity on it. Therefore, has granted you the right to rewrite its fate and give you a second chance," Jaune felt hope for the first time in so long. The Gods of Light and Dark, however, were shocked.

"What?! Father, you know that such a thing cannot be done. The planet is in ruins and humanity is lost! How would he even go about these changes? He is but a mere Mortal?" Light asked as Chronos turned to him.

"He will be taking part in the Trials of the Gods" Light and Dark's eyes widened at this.

"The Trials! Him?!" they both pointed at the young man who looked confused.

"But the Trials are not meant for Mortals, father! They can only be taken by a God of Remnant or a Champion Chosen by a God! Anyone else would be driven mad!" Darkness pointed to the young man.

"And he is anything but ready for such a task! He failed to prevent Salem from taking over his world and suffered the consequences for it! He's not worthy of such a task!"

Chronos shook his head.

"It was not my decision for granting this. It was the Ancient Ones…and you dare go against The Ancient One's Decision?"

Both Gods showed true fear as they looked up to the cosmos around them and the swirling mass of what Jaune could only describe as a vortex of white stars. The twin Gods looked at each other before nodding and bowing to their father. Hoping not to incur the wrath of the One Being that could destroy even them.

Now even Jaune was afraid of this Ancient One and the supposed Trials he had to face.

"What is the Trial? And how will they change my worlds fate?" Jaune asked as Chronos turned to him.

"The Trial of the Gods is an ancient set of tasks that a chosen Champion of the Gods must undertake in order to gain our gifts. Normally its a test for a powerful spirit to ascend to the level of Godhood. But for you, it will allow you to alter the Fate of your world and rewrite it in your favour. We will reverse time back to before the war and give you the chance to change its fate. With each Trial passed you will be rewarded with one of our gifts that you will use to defeat Salem and end her reign before it can begin."

Jaune instantly shook his head as he heard the word gifts.

"No, I don't want to accept any gifts from Gods. The last ones left behind by Gods caused a war that destroyed everyone I love. I don't want to risk whatever you give me falling into her hands," Chronos shook his head.

"Fear not, these gifts can only be acquired by you and used only by you should you succeed. Anyone who attempts to take them from you will be met with a severe punishment from the Gods, one that shall have them begging for the mercy of Hell itself." Chronos reassured as Jaune felt a little more at ease with that.

"However, with these Trials there are Rules."

"One: the chosen Champion cannot abandon the Trials once started. If you attempt to do so, then we shall condemn you to eternal torment." Jaune nodded at this. There was no way he was going to quit if it meant bringing his friends back to life.

"Two: We can only go back so far into your own personal timeline from between your birth to your death. You cannot go back to when Salem first stole the Grimm and kill her, as you had not existed before then and only met her in your late teens. There are Rules that even we must follow," Jaune sighed but nodded at this. He understood seeing as there were rules that Gods must abide by.

"Three: You are allowed to make four changes to your own timeline that can alter your chances of defeating Salem. Nothing too major and nothing that completely alters the history of your bloodline. And you cannot erase her from existence for she is a part of the Trial itself. Not to mention the Curse that is still upon her. We can only make changes that alter your chances, not change them."

"Four: The Gifts we shall grant you must be mastered after you acquire them before you can use them in battle. You have to earn them in order to control them." Jaune nodded. From his experience, nothing can be simply given and mastered in an instant.

Fifth: Your knowledge in how to defeat Salem will be taken from you. This trial is a fair one. It would go against the rules if you knew how to defeat your enemy so easily. I am sorry Mortal," the god of time spoke as Jaune sighed.

"There's always a catch...fine...I'll figure it out again, eventually."

"And Finally, should you fail in this Trial, even once. Your soul will be banished to the deepest pits of hell and you will never see your loved ones again. Do you understand?"

Jaune took a moment to weigh the conditions of the Trial. If he succeeded, then he could prevent the entire War, save everyone and stop Salem from killing all of his friends…even Pyrrha. But if he failed, he would be sent to the pits of hell and he would never get to see his friends again…forever.

But the chance to change the fates of his friends, even if it cost him his soul if he failed...he would gladly take it.

He gripped his fist as he knew his answer.

"I'll do it…I take the Trial"

Chronos and the other Gods – even Light and Dark Reluctantly – nodded as they circled around the Arc. "Now, what changes do you wish to make to your timeline? Choose carefully, for once you make it there can be no hesitations."

Jaune thought for a moment as he considered what things he needed change to his own time stream. He never met Salem until he was older, so that was out of the question. He couldn't also just wish for some sort of superweapon to kill her once and for all because that would go against the rules of the trial and he needs to earn their gifts.

But he also needed to improve his chances of winning, but what if he didn't? "Question, can I do anything to the Relics?" he asked as the God of Time nodded.

"Yes, so long as it doesn't fully affect the time stream. You can alter even the Relics themselves," the God of Time answered as Jaune nodded knowing what to do.

"First: I want to be brought back to six months before the Vytal Tournament. That should give me time to improve myself and make my progress more believable to others." Chronos nodded seeing the logic in that.

"Second: I want to be able to retain my current power and fuse it to my past self. This way I only have to retrain my body rather than build up my Aura reserves again."

"Third: I want to return Ozpin's powers back to what they were before he was cursed. While I admit I no longer trust him anymore after all the shit he's done, the guy has suffered long enough. And it would be good to have a powerful ally on my side. But if he tries that shit again with Pyrrha I get to decide his fate."

The Gods nodded at this.

"And finally, I want you to take away the Relics power but leave their shells behind with only a sense of their power. That way even if I fail and my soul is sent to Hell, Salem will not be able to get her hands on them. They've caused enough pain for one lifetime, I'd rather not let them ruin another." Chronos looked to the Gods of Light and Dark as they looked ready to argue but nodded as they began to realise their error in leaving them behind.

"Very well, we shall make these changes to your timeline. But there will be conditions for them, as are most things in life. First: retaining your current power will be a trial on its own. Your younger body may not be able to handle that much power, no telling what it would do to your mind?"

"I can handle it, too many have doubted me before." The God nodded at this.

"Second, we cannot just return Ozpin's power back to its original state. You must be the one to gift him this power, only if you survive the journey back in time." Jaune nodded as he figured something like that would happen.

"Finally, we can remove the Relics power, as their vaults are in a sperate dimension from Earth and is a simple task for us. But why do you wish to remove only their power? Why not remove them entirely?"

"Because then there will be nothing that motivates Salem to attack us. She did all of this just to gain the Relics. If I remove them completely, then she will have no reason to come to me. Leaving the shells behind will make her think they are still there and become the perfect bait to draw her to her doom...plus it will be a nice trick to play on her for once," the Gods nodded at this.

"One last thing young Arc, once this is done there can be no second chances. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Are you sure this is what you want?" Jaune nodded. "Very well, then let's begin…"

"Jaune Arc, do you wish to change the fate of the World? To erase the damage caused by Salem and the mistakes of Ozpin?" Chronos asked with a powerful voice, full of authority and might. Jaune nodded with no hesitation in his eyes. He had lost too many and sacrificed too much to give up this chance.

No way he would back down now.

"…Very well, Mortal, we shall grant you this chance. But to do so, you must face many of our trials, earn our gifts and end this bloodshed once and for all. So commands the Gods of Remnant!" Chronos slammed his staff into the ground as the many stars in the cosmos shined.

His body glowed as the world around him began to shift and change. Bringing him back to the tower and back to when he finally killed Salem once and for all. Then like the rewind on his scroll, the world began to rewind as everything was turning back. Back to before the War had ravaged their lives. Back to before the world knew of the horrors that were Salem and her acolytes. Back to when he and his friends were young and innocent.

Back to before everything…

Everything slowing down as he found himself back in the cafeteria at Beacon. Everyone was frozen as if they were statues in a garden. He looked over at his old table as his heart ached at the many familiar faces that surrounded him.

Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang, Ren, Nora…and Pyrrha.

All of them alive and well and smiling at the peace that once reigned over their world. He looked over at his younger self as he wondered how it was he ever survived the past five years of hell that would befall him. But then he looked at all of his friends and partner as he knew that they were the only reason he lived so long…

And why he was never going to fail them again.

Five Years Ago – Beacon Academy

Jaune smiled as he and his friends were gathered around their usual table. Ruby standing at the font of the table telling them all about all the fun activates that she had planned – while also denying the fact she stole Weiss's binder. it was times like these that he enjoyed the peaceful life that he had with his friends. Especially now that the whole Cardin incident had blown over and he made up with his partner.

Now the only thing he had to worry about was the Vytal Festival that was coming up in a few months, which meant he had to step up his training with Pyrrha and find a date for the Beacon dance that was coming in only four. All he had to do now was to start asking Weiss out if he wanted to get a date.

But he wasn't worried about that. So long as he just followed his dad's advice about asking out girls, then Weiss should accept his request to go to the dance. He looked over to all his friends as he smiled.

Yep, things were finally looking up for-!

Suddenly he felt like his head was hit by a jackhammer as he grabbed the side of his head. This seemed to stop everything at the table as he grunted in pain.

"Jaune, are you alright?" Pyrrha asked, instantly concerned about her partner as he shook it off and nodded.

"Urgh, y-yeah I'm fine. Just a headache, must have stayed up too late reading X-Ray and Vav again?" he answered weakly as a migraine still rung in his head. "I'm fine, don't worry about-gah!"

Another migraine batted inside his skull as he grabbed both sides of his head. Strange images flashed across his vision as the ringing in his ears grew louder. He felt a warm liquid run down his lips as he only just managed to open his eyes to see a small drop of blood land on the table.

"Gah!" he choked out as another migraine pounded his brain.

Eyes widened as another drop of blood landed on the table, this time dripping from his right eye as he cried out in pain. "Argh!" he screamed out as his entire nervous system felt like it was burning from the inside.

"Jaune?!" his friends cried out as he fell back and landed on the floor.

His body writhing in agony as the migraines increased. Everyone in the cafeteria back off as someone called out to get the teacher while his friends gathered around to help him. But Jaune could barely hear anything as his mind pounding like a hammer against an anvil.

Strange images of Beacon lying in ruin appeared before him as he tried to make sense of it all. The voices of his friends screaming all around him as one by one they fell to a pale visage with glowing red eyes. Four glowing lights appeared to him, before what looked like an enhanced version of his blade shattered them into pieces.

The last image he saw, however, was a vision of Pyrrha kissing him on his lips before sending him away in a rocket-propelled locker. Then her circlet in his hands as his tear covered face stared back at its reflection.

His eyes winded in shock as he found himself standing before an older version of himself. His armour different as his stance was taller than his own as the man glared at him. He held out a hand to him as the man placed his hand on the side of his head.

"I'm sorry…" the man spoke as he watched himself start to blend into each other. "But for the survival of our friends, this has to happen…do not worry, you will not die…but you will never be the same again." memories and personality started to blend as Jaune felt himself becoming something else. Something…

More

His entire body exploded with light as his physical body matched the same as pure aura exploded off his body. Tables were pushed back, bodies were thrown all over the room and windows shattered into a million pieces. Showering anyone passing by with tiny fragments if the glass.

But none of that mattered as Jaune fell down to the floor, his aura swirling like a flame before dying out and receding back into his comatose body. No one said a word as everyone from teacher to student stared at the boy in the centre of the room, wondering what it was that had set off that strange reaction.

None of them could have known what would become of this. And if they had, then they would have recoiled in horror at the event that was to come and prayed for his success.

But now the first trial had begun. Jaune had travelled back to the beginning, fused with his younger self and became something in between. Not Jaune of the past, nor Jaune of the future. He was someone else. Someone who had to compete in trials designed by the very Gods themselves in order to change the fate of his world…

May the Gods truly have mercy on his soul.

And Scene. Well, here is the first chapter of Trial of the Gods, something that just popped into my head one day and I just had to write down. Fear not, I'm still working on the main stories you all live and even working on a few of my old ones. But I have one more story to work on and try to balance it with my one social life.

Tell me what you think and if I should continue with this story?

And stay tuned for Chapter II: The First Trial

List of the Gods

God of Light – Older brother to the Twin Gods (RWBY Owned)

God of Darkness – Youngest Brother of the Twin Gods (RWBY Owned)

Ignis (Latin for Fire) – God of fire and the Sun who gifted the universe with the light and warmth of his fire that protected life from darkness. But also, brought the destructive and unrelenting power of flames.

Aquarius (Zodiac Sign) – Goddess of the water and oceans that filled the sky and the sea with water and nutrient for plants and animals. But also, the destructive and unrelenting power of the waves.

Ventus & Thor (Latin for Wind and Nordic God of Thunder) – Are the Twin Gods of the Wind and Thunder, that breathed life into the world of Remnant. It is they that moves the clouds and cools the earth from overheating. But can also bring a thunderous wrath upon the world.

Gaia (Greek Mythology) – The Goddess of the Earth and Mother of the Gods. It was she who crafted the Earth and the plants from her body and gifted the inhabitants of the planet with a home to stand upon. And while pained at the way her planet is treated, she still cares and loves all living creatures on Remnant.

Chronos (Greek Mythology) – The God of Time and Father to all the Gods. (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE TITAN CRONOS) It is he who created the concept of time and brought about beginnings and endings of all things. He is the husband of Gaia and the keeper of all Time.

Venus (Roman Mythology) – The Goddess of Love and Emotion. Born after the creation of mankind to help regulate their emotions. Helps to match those who are truly in love and bears the weight of every soul on the planet…has strange hobbies.

Death – The God of the Underworld and Carer of Souls – It is he who ferries the souls of the deceased to one of the three afterlives. Purgatory, Heaven and Hell. The being has no gender and judges all based on your sin and actions in life. He does not tolerate those that cheat their appointed hour. However, he is lenient in certain events but ultimately will claim their souls eventually.

Possible Gods to include in later chapters:

The Fates (Greek Mythology) – The Gods of Destiny and Fate – Who weaves the webs of Fate of the Past, Present and Future and watches over all beings in the universe. they do not control the fates, merely spin threads of destiny based on the choices of those who live. To those who live good lives, good fortune. For those who lead bad lives, bad fortune.

Kratos – God of War…self-explanatory