Relic of the Future is one of my favorite RWBY fanfics of all time.
This story takes the classic time-travel fix-it premise and gives it real weight. Rather than simply rewriting events, it explores the consequences of changing the timeline and how even small alterations can create a completely different future.
The story takes place roughly a generation before the beginning of the original RWBY series. Because of this, many familiar characters grow up under different circumstances, while others never become part of the story at all.
One of the aspects I enjoyed most is its portrayal of Jaune Arc.
Despite being a veteran of a much darker future, Jaune is not portrayed as an unstoppable hero. He loses. He makes mistakes. His plans fail. What makes him compelling is not overwhelming power, but experience, determination, and his willingness to keep trying despite setbacks.
The fic does an excellent job showing the difference between being experienced and being overpowered.
Another strength of the story is its worldbuilding. The author expands many aspects of Remnant’s history and explores parts of the setting that rarely receive attention in the original series.
The story is also willing to let changes matter. As the timeline shifts, events diverge further and further from canon, creating genuine uncertainty about what will happen next.
This is a long read, and there were a few arcs that did not completely work for me. However, the overall story remains one of the strongest RWBY fanfics I have ever read.
If you enjoy time travel, alternate timelines, and character-driven stories with meaningful consequences, Relic of the Future is well worth your time.
One final note: this fic was written before the Ever After arc in RWBY canon, so readers should not expect any references to the Rusted Knight.
Fanfiction Link
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12863738/1/Relic-of-the-Future
Original Summary
Victory can prove bitter, especially when you’re the only one alive to see it. With the world in chaos and everyone he ever loved dead, Jaune Arc makes a deal with the devil for one last chance to go back and change it all. But devils don’t play by the same rules as humans, and Salem never did say how far back he’d go. Or how much deeper the war between her and Ozpin really went.