Warning: dark thoughts
...
"What do you mean?" Squeaked Oscar.
Ozma didn't answer at first. Instead he simply stared at Oscar. 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.
He wanted to demand answers from Ozma. Apparently he was dying and it was the first soul's fault. All of this was technically his fault but Oscar didn't blame him for Salem. Though he wanted answers and he wanted them now.
Noting the look Ozma sighed, "I'm sorry Oscar. It is through my curse that has brought you to this point."
"Because I'm the next reincarnation?" He asked confused.
Oscar shivered as the cold deepened. He looked behind him with fearful eyes. The area they were in was mostly white just like when Ozma met the God of Light. But behind Oscar there was a darkness creeping in. Without even knowing how he knew that the cold he was feeling was coming from that.
Ozma asked softly, "Oscar what is it? What do you see?"
Oscar blinked at him, "You can't see it? The darkness that is creeping in?"
"A darkness? Where?"
Oscar pointed to it. His heart jumped into his throat with fear when it seemed to jump closer. The boy tried to jump closer to Ozma but something unseen stopped him. It was as if there was a wall between them.
Ozma swore colorfully and Oscar gaped at the man. Fear radiated within him. Ozma was cool calm and collected. If something worried him then Oscar should be equally as worried.
Finally Ozma seemed to reign in his thoughts and declared, "We don't have much time. You're dying Oscar."
"So you said," interrupted Oscar darkly, "What do you mean by that? How am I dying, Ozma? Why am I dying?"
Ozma sighed his eyes trailed to behind across for a moment then snapped back towards him, "When you were shot out of the vault you grabbed Long Memory. Whether this was instinct or as a comfort you grabbed it. In doing so you tapped into the magic that was hidden in it."
"Magic?" Croaked out Oscar.
He knew they had magic but in the cane? Why?
Ozma held up a hand and chastised, "Not now, Oscar. I don't have time to explain everything about it. 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. Specifically it is Time Magic and it sent you back to now."
Here Ozma paused looking at him. Slowly Oscar nodded to show that he understood.
"Unfortunately when you were sent back, Oscar you had already started merging with Ozpin," explained Ozma, "The first things that merge are aura and magic. It's the simplest things to merge and they make the rest of the merge easier. Your aura was more than half way merged with ours. So when you were sent to the past your aura was torn as Ozpin here is still alive. A child with only half a soul."
Half a soul? Was that even possible? He thought back to Mantel and Penny. It was possible that he could only have half a soul. But why was he here?
Ozma gave him a look, "I know what you're thinking. Your friend was not a living being exactly. In our world a human cannot live with only half a soul. Thus why we are here."
Another shiver ran through him. The darkness that had been creeping in was far too close for comfort. Was that death? A part of him was tempted to just a step back. He was tired. Far more tired than he should be at his age. The war against Salem and Grim had taken its toll on him.
Ozma the look changed into a knowing one and he said, "You can if you want to. I won't blame you for wanting to find a peace that you don't have in this life."
Oscar looked back considering it. Then he looked back at Ozma. He couldn't just abandon his friends or Ozpin. There was no way he could just step back into the darkness. Ozma's eyes softened as he saw the determination.
"Good," he said softly, "I'm proud of you Oscar. Your life has not been easy but your knowledge can save many lives."
Warm flooded across his chest. A dark green aura enveloped him and the feeling of home encased him. Ozpin...
He looked to Ozma who nodded, "Good luck, Oscar. Don't forget we are here for you."