A/N thanks for your reviews and support.

Zoran Dawn-Eclipse: thanks for your review, my friend. So glad you enjoyed it!

Oscar's POV

White surrounded him. Was this death? Had Ironwood killed him? He hoped not and not for his own sake. Ironwood was kind to him during their time in Atlas. It reminded him of his time with Cobalt and how the older teen had been like an older brother. At least until he was felled on his way back to the village over a year ago.

Oscar remembered the day well. He had been in town waiting for Cobalt's return. Only to see his body torn in several places by a Grim. A huntress carried him back having been too late to save the boy.

While that was not the first death he had seen it had hit him hard. They were friends and swore they would be so forever. Something that was not meant to be, unfortunately.

After his friend's death, he withdrew into himself. It wasnt until Ozpin appeared that he started to come out of his shell. Would he ever see his friends again? Or was this if for him?

A voice that was familiar but not the one he was used to said, "You're not dead, Oscar. At least not yet. You have a choice to make."

Turning he saw a man with tanned skin with messy brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a blue-green tunic with a tan undershirt, a blue cape, and black trousers with brown boots. Both his tunic and cape are outlined with golden markings. Over this, he wears metal armor held by brown belts and straps. The armor is etched with ornamental patterns. There was no doubting who this man was. Ozma the first of them.

Oscar didnt know what he had been expecting if he had ever met the man. Certainly not the kind brown eyes that were not befitting a warrior. They seemed to search his very soul in a way that not even Ozpin had been able to do.

Then it hit him, Ozma said he had a choice, "What did you mean when you said I had a choice? There isn't a choice when it comes to our lives. Right? I was the next in line for being a like-minded soul."

Ozma's lips twitched up in amusement as he replied, "Under normal circumstances that would be true. You however are a special case in the fact that against all odds you are not in your original time. Years of time magic being stored in my staff sent you back quite a ways. Currently, you are in your twelve-year-old body at the town doctor's house closest to your farm."

What the fuck? How in the name of the Brothers had he gone back almost four years in time?

Wait time magic? Ozpin said they had access to magic but it was dwindling. Had he lied about that too?

Ozma shook his head rebuking his thoughts, "Ozpin doesn't know the extent that our magic is stored. Every time we reincarnate magic is added to it. Ensuring that we always have some in case of emergencies. The circumstances required to activate it is based on instinct, however. That is why you are the first in many generations to have activated its power."

Oscar asked curiosity lacing his tone, "I thought all our memories were connected? At times I could remember pieces of other's past that wasnt Ozpin," then a thought came to him, "How do I know this isn't a trick created by Salem?"

Ozma smiled gently causing Oscar to relax instinctively despite how much he wanted to stay on his guard, "Our memories are connected. The issue lies in how many memories there are. Most of the older memories are repressed to keep from overwhelming the newest reincarnation. A lot of the time there are memories that dont come into play because they aren't needed. Like the time magic. We dont want someone to abuse it after all. As for this all being a trick by Salem. Well, that is for you to decide for yourself. I will not lie to you and as such, I have no proof beyond my word that I am Ozma."

Oscar frowned at the other noting the way the world around them was going dark around the edges. Cold was seeping back in and he shivered in response. What the hell?

For his part, Ozma looked alarmed at his response. The memory of the man questioned worriedly, "Are you feeling cold? Or a pull like something is trying to draw you away?"

Now that he mentioned Oscar could feel a pull. It was almost unnoticeable until he was looking for it. What was going on?

Ozma said sternly, "As much as I would love to continue our chat we dont have much time. Oscar, you need to make your choice now. Will you take my hand and continue on with your life? Or will you pass on and find the peace that I never could? This choice is yours and yours alone. I cannot and will not influence it in any way."

Ozma extended a hand towards him as Oscar looked around warily. The cold that encroached upon him only deepened. Shadows drew ever closer wanting to make the decision for him.

Part of Oscar wanted to allow himself to fade. To crossover to the other side and see his mom and dad again. For him, it had been almost 8 years since their death. He still had scars both physically and mentally from their deaths. His first encounter with a Grim after leaving the farm sent him into a panic attack. It took Ozpin taking control and killing the Grim for him to calm down.

That was the first time he realized how powerful the man was. Even without his cane in a weak untrained teenager's body, he had effortlessly killed a Grim. Ozpin had made him feel safe when they were traveling. After meeting the others he still felt comforted knowing he was there.

When they had seen Ozpin's darkest secret he realized what a mistake it had been. Yes, they needed to know what he was hiding but not his entire story. They didnt need to hurt him the way they did. Without Ozpin and the other's giving him the cold shoulder, he was more alone than ever. In just a few days of Ozpin being gone he had three panic attacks that he had to deal with himself.

No one cared then what happened to him. Why would they care now? He was no one again. The people he called his friends were young and had not experienced the horrors of the war that was coming.

Then he remembered what Ozma had said. He was back to being 12 again. If Ozpin didnt remember what would happen in the next few years that meant Salem wouldn't either. There was a chance he could save Ozpin from his death at the Vytal Festival. Save so many lives that had been lost that day and the days after.

That would mean leaving home again this time almost three years younger than originally. What would he do about Aunt Em? She likely had accepted his leaving as a natural part of growing up before as he had almost been fifteen at the time. From what he could remember she was still overprotective of him at twelve. It was rare that he was allowed out by himself.

If he was to go through with this he would have to find a way to get around on his own. He couldn't allow them to coddle and baby him. What choice should he make?

Ozma's hand was still extended out towards him. A look of understanding in his warm brown eyes. Oscar's shoulders slumped briefly as his decision was made in his mind. There was never a choice. He was always going to choose the world over his own peace. Like-minded souls indeed.

Oscar extended his hand and clasped Ozma's. Their auras rushed forward to greet each other. Light green and dark green chased away the shadows that had come too close for comfort. They chased away the cold that had numbed him.

The return of the warmth nearly had him collapsing into Ozma. Ozma steadied him gently as he said, "Close your eyes, young Oscar. When you wake things will be better."

Oscar wanted to ask what the other meant but his eyes were already closing on their own. The last thing he remembered was Ozma placing his palm on the younger's forehead. Then there was nothing.

Ozpin's POV

Seconds turned into minutes which seemed to drag on forever. Ozpin was sharing his aura as instructed but nothing seemed to be happening. Oscar's aura was not responding in kind. Even the most damaged and broken auras would have sought out another in order to heal. Yet this child seemed to have already given up.

Tears of frustration pricked at his eyes. This couldn't be where things ended. He never got the chance to know his son. Losing a child he didnt know had existed a few hours ago would tear him apart. Guilt ate at him enough that they were even in this situation.

Oscar's aunt choked out, "He's going cold!"

Immediately Nero was by their side and placing his hand on Oscar's chest. He tsked a second later sounding angry both at himself and the situation they were in, "Damn it! His aura's not responding. It's as if the aura is being pulled from his body. If it doesn't respond to the Headmaster's aura soon then he will die."

Barty made a sound in the back of his throat that he couldn't explain. They really couldn't do anything. It was up to the child to extend his aura to Ozpin. There was no way for him to forcefully heal his aura and soul.

Beside him, the aunt was crying and gripping the freehand tightly. If Oscar died she would be all alone in this world. It was just Ozpin who was blaming themselves.

He said gently causing her to look up at him, "This wasnt your fault, Miss Pine. Whoever did this to Oscar is to blame. I promise you, I will my best to find out who did this."

As he finished speaking his aura flared to life. Around the child, a light green aura flared in response. It was weaker than it should be. Unlike before it was responding trying to heal again.

Miss Pine said breathlessly, "His hand is growing warmer. Is that his aura? Are you helping him?"

Ozpin didnt answer instead focused on trying to knit back his son's aura. It was a long strenuous effort as there was so much of it missing. When Nero said he only had half of his soul that wasnt entirely accurate. Now that it was responding back to him he could tell it was less than that. Maybe a third of his soul and aura remained.

This explained why he was fading so quickly. Half a soul would have last longer without its other half. It did beg into question why his child was fighting so hard to stay alive. Not that he was ungrateful. Any less of a will to survive and he would have come to meet a body.

Sharing the strength of his soul despite how many lifetimes it had to grow took a lot out of him. When he had stabilized Oscar's soul he collapsed back into the chair. While stable his soul wasnt fixed. Ozpin's aura was keeping it within the body it was housed in. If luck was on their side then over time Oscar's soul would heal itself. Otherwise every time his aura broke it would put him in danger of falling back into the abyss.

Miss Pine said genuinely, "Thank you, Headmaster Ozpin. When I first heard about you I thought you a bastard. To leave his mother had broken her in ways not even my brother could completely fix. I cannot hate you for she brought my brother happiness. You also have risked a lot to save the son you just learned about. So I thank you."

Ozpin said with a small smile, "Please, Miss Pine call me Oz or Ozpin if you must. I believe we are past such formalities."

Miss Pine replied with a watery smile, "Then you may call me, Emilly, Ozpin. For Oscar's sake, I will accept you but if you ever hurt him I will find a way to make you pay. He is like the son I could have myself."

A hoarse young voice said, "Do... dont fight. Please..."