Patriot-112: And here we are again my friends! Another chapter of Alter Zwei! And while you all read this, I'll be brainstorming the next installment of my AM: Alter series, Alter Drei. As for the overall plan, well you're all just gonna have to wait till it comes out. But one thing you're gonna know for sure, it won't be a Pyrrha-possessed Cinder who will be the one to raise the children. Yes I said children. Enough spoilers!

On with the show!

Chapter 11:

Stealing a Relic

Beacon Academy

Ozpin's Office

Ozpin was currently massaging his head, as his mug of coffee was sitting not too far away. The past two weeks have given him a massive headache, with the council on his back, Salem no doubt rethinking her strategy at this moment, and probably already has, and most of all...the future daughter of two of his students.

Canus was not kidding when he told him that she hated his guts with a burning passion, due to the fact that his decisions, which were prevented by the girl's rather rash intervention at the tournament, had caused her so much grief. Especially being denied the right of actually being a human, rather than as a test tube baby. Her anger definitely reminded him of Hazel in a way, but unlike Hazel, she was able to keep herself from maiming him.

Didn't mean she was his number one fan.

Of course, hatred for him aside, what was peculiar was the fact that she is the Fall Maiden of her time. And what had Canus had said during the time Miss Arkos was recovering from her ordeal...

Flashback - Almost Two weeks ago

"I see...," the Headmaster said, musing on what Canus just informed him, while James, Glynda, and Qrow, were both gobsmacked, though Qrow didn't show it, as he just took a long swig from his flask.

"She's the Fall Maiden of her time!?" Glynda asked, while Canus nodded.

"Yup," he said, "And before you start asking me how it's possible the power could exist here in the present time, let's not forget, Dorée's from an alternate future. And if you're worried about two sets of the same power, coexisting in the same timeline causing an imbalance, Oz, don't be. When my semblance sent me back here, I immediately sensed for any disturbances and looked for any signs that an imbalance is in play. Nothing's happened as of yet, so we can play it cool for now, and if there is, you'll be the first to know,"

Ozpin sighed at that, "Still, if what you told me about her personality is true, then she might've shown Cinder her true identity as a Fall Maiden. From what Miss Nikos told us, she tried to do something to Dorée before the...Grimm inside her took temporary control and beated her back," he said, before looking a James.

"Speaking of which...did your men find the chip in the ruins?" he asked, and James sighed.

"Nothing yet," he said, before frowning, "But I do know this, since it was Merlot who was the one that created something that could graft a piece of a Grimm onto a human like that, I believe it would be best to destroy it, then let it fall into Salem's hands,"

"Something we can both agree on, Jim," said Qrow, before shuddering slightly, "I'm scared to even imagine the thought of our Queen of Darkness getting her hands on that thing and using it to one day create a army of Grimm-Human hybrid warriors,"

Everyone shuddered at the idea of that.

"Back to the situation with Miss Arkos," Glynda said, "If Cinder knows her identity as a Fall Maiden, and since she's still alive, what is to stop her from informing Salem?"

"She probably already has, by now, Glynn," said Canus, "The Flame Bitch's not stupid enough to withhold information from Salem of all people. The question you should be asking, is what can we do to make sure Dorée doesn't end like Amber in that damn tube?,"

Everyone flinched at that, especially Ozpin as he considered it one of his greatest failures in not preventing the ambush on Amber.

He certainly understood one thing however, he wasn't willing to let what happened to Amber ever happen again. Despite the 'second' Fall Maiden having a deep seeded grudge against him.

"For now, it's best if we let her rest," he said, "And despite their inexperience, and the recent circumstances, Miss Nikos and Mister Arc are possibly the only ones who have the best chance of keeping her calm when she wakes up. They're her parents after all,"

Canus then gave Ozpin a pointed look, "And what will happen once she sees you?" he said, "There is still the possibility that she would rather stab you in the eye than accepting any form of help from you,"

Ozpin groaned softly at that, "I'll cross that bridge when I get there. In the meantime, I have to deal with the Council regarding what people are calling the Rogue Huntress Incident,"

Canus sighed irritably at that, "Great, politics...though, I like the name. Better and less ominous than The Fall of Beacon,"

Everyone tensed and silently agreed with that logic.

Flashback End

After that meeting, and managing to convince the Council that the said Huntress' whereabouts were currently unknown, he had James to check the systems of the CCT, and his own robots, as Canus had pointed out among the important parts that happened in the old timeline. Another thing that was taken care of as well as placing Neopolitan, in a secure prison cell, along with Mercury Black who was left behind after the incident.

Then, Dorée woke up, and like Canus warned, she was not happy to be in Beacon at all. Luckily Canus was able to calm her down, but then the ANCIENT professor remembered four days later when they ran into each other in the hallway leading to the cafeteria...

2nd Flashback - 4 days ago

Dorée looked at Ozpin, her eyes cold as ice and sharp as knives. If looks could kill, the Headmaster of Beacon would be six feet, times ten, under the ground. Watching this was Pyrrha and Jaune, as both partners could only look in worry at the glare that their child was giving.

The said immortal knew that look all TOO well, since he had been on the receiving of so many in the past, including one giant of a man who lost a sister who went against her brother's wishes and joined Beacon, only to perish months later.

"Miss Arkos, I know you hate me, but understand-,"

"Save it," She bit out, cutting him off, "I don't want hear any bullshit excuse you have in that damn head of yours. Be thankful that they're here, or else this could've been very, very messy. Just know this, and I expect you to follow it...STAY. AWAY. Pyrrha, Jaune, their team, their friends, their families...stay away from them, don't get them any more involved into your damn war with that Grimm Queen bitch than you have already have."

Dorée's eye narrowed even further, as the Fall Maiden powers manifested around her eyes.

"Do the exact opposite...and I will not hesitate to flat out castrate you with the same power you tried to burden my mother with," she finished with a cold growl, which served as the que for Pyrrha to walk over and place a hand on her right shoulder.

"Easy, Dorée. Let's just go alright," she said calmly, as Jaune came up to her left.

"Pyrrha's right, let's just keep heading to the cafeteria," the Paladin enforced, wanting to get Dorée as far from Ozpin as possible, before a fight started.

Dorée, though still wanting to rip Ozpin a new one, and not wanting to be in the man's presence any longer than she already was.

With a stiff nod, the three moved around Ozpin, giving him a wide before continuing to their destination, leaving the man alone to think on the young woman's words.

Flashback End

Normally, you would think that a man like Ozpin would feel insulted by the words that the time traveler just said to him. But, unlike other men, Ozpin knew he deserved that one.

He got too many inexperienced students involved in his personal war with Salem, and learning that they would've been all killed in the future truly made him feel that playing defensive all the time was not the right way.

His thoughts were then interrupted as the alarm on his desk sounded. Immediately alarmed, he tapped his desk, before a holoscreen appeared, showing where the alarm was coming from... the vault. But it was who was in the vault that his eyes widen, as he watched as she walked toward the back of the room, before stopping at Amber's pod, looked at the comatosed Current Fall Maiden for a moment before moving on...Canus' words repeating themselves again in his head, and the possibility of why they're down there.

"Oh no...,"

3 hours earlier

"Dorée...listen to me for one. Minute," Canus said, as he looked at the girl as she checked her Aurea Mors, "What you're planning is nothing more than stupid and suicidal! Not only would you have Salem and her whole League of Doom breathing down your neck, but Ozpin will no doubt have James chasing you all over Remnant once you take the Relic!"

"I know," Dorée answered, as she placed the long sword and shield on her back, using her semblance helping to keep it place, "That's the whole idea,"

Canus facepalmed, "Gods Dammit you're making the same mistake as Pyrrha did in the old timeline! If you go through with this Dorée, you ARE going to DIE!"

"So...?" Dorée said nonchalantly as she checked on Chrysós Mílos, before turning to Tékno Xífos, "...At least everyone else is safe, including them,"

Canus just looked at her when she said, "Don't tell me you still-?"

"I do," she said, "Though, I am happy that they accept me, the truth is that I can never erase the memories of the old world, and my actions before I left,"

"That was the Grimm, not you!" Canus argued, "And don't change the subject! I won't let you put yourself into more danger than you already have after what you did at the Festival!"

"...I figured you would say that," she said, causing Canus to blink in confusion before...

FWAP!

"AGH!" the man yelped as he felt a sting on his neck, causing him to stiffen slightly, "What the hell!?"

"I knew there will be a day where you will try to stop me, Canus," Dorée said, "So I acquired a set of tranq darts, filled with the strongest quick acting sedative in Remnant. Just for you,"

Canus growled as he reached up and carefully removed the dart from his neck, before dropping it on the floor.

"You...devious little...," he groaned out, and immediately saw that Dorée was right as his vision began to swim, and seeing double of the said time traveler. He reached out his hand toward Dorée as she stood up, her reserve weapons in her hands as she looked at her Caretaker who looked after her after the tragic incident back in the old future.

"Don't try to fight it, Canus," she said, a slight somber tone in her voice, "It's best to just let it run it's course,"

"Dorée...don't...do this!" Canus said, as the drug was making it difficult to speak full sentences now.

"I won't say I'm sorry for this," the time traveler said, before Canus dropped to his knees, "After all, I still want to pay you back for bringing that two-timer for a Spring Maiden into this,"

Canus fell forward before using his hands to stop himself, as he looked up at the Arkos girl. He then reached his hand out toward her before grabbing her armored shin.

His vision got more blurry, before his body failed him entirely as he finally fully collapsed on the floor of the room that was given to her to stay in, which was not far Team JNPR and RWBY's own dorm rooms.

"You're...making...a...mistake...," was what Canus managed to gasp out before he finally passed out, and his grip on the said limb went slack.

Dorée sighed at that, "You may be right," she said, before moving around the knocked out man, and out the door, "But, it's the only option I have,"

"We haven't been able to find Dorée all day," said Ruby, a look of genuine concern on her face, "Where do you think she went?"

"Probably needed some time to think, Ruby." said Weiss, as she gave a sigh, "Before I came to Beacon, whenever my father would lose his temper...which is a lot, I always look for a quiet place to get away from him and think. Of course, I'm not comparing my father to you Jaune and Pyrrha, in fact, from what me and the others saw, you two get along well with her,"

Both of the mentioned future parents only sighed, "We're not offended Weiss," said Jaune, "However, we know the possible reason why she wanted to be alone,"

"What was it?" Nora asked, and it was Pyrrha who answered.

"Ozpin," she said, and everyone gave an understanding 'Oh' at that.

"Well, that explains a lot," Ren said, "I can imagine she was not happy to see him,"

"You have NO idea," Jaune said, remembering the incident well, "She even threatened him to castrate him if she spotted him anywhere near any of us,"

Everyone winced at that, even Ruby surprisingly...hey, she may be innocent but she's not THAT ignorant!

"Ye-Ouch... and I'm not even a guy," Yang commented, "I bet Ozpin felt a little embarrassed,"

"Truth be told, he actually took it well," Pyrrha said, remembering the somber but collected look on the Headmaster's face, "Of course, Miss Goodwitch was furious and tried to teach her a lesson...didn't end well, though,"

All of them looked at the lovebirds, who still blush at said nickname, at that, fearing the apocalypse.

"Oh crap, what did she do?" Nora asked, and even she knew better than to cross Goodwitch.

"You guys heard what happened in the combat training arena?" Jaune asked, and everyone gaped in horror.

"Wait...THAT'S what happened!?" Weiss said in shock.

"Aw man! I can't believe we missed that!" Yang griped, "We were out on mission clearing any remnant Grimm still in the area after that whole fiasco two weeks ago!"

"To able to cause that amount of damage...," Ren said, complete awe, and a little fear in his tone.

"Whoa..." was the only thing that Ruby said, as they arrived at their dorms, "I knew she was strong, but to be able to go against Goodwitch like that! Makes me glad she's not a bad guy,"

Everyone nodded at that, as Jaune opened the door to Team JNPR's dorm room and he and his team walked in, only for the two to stop in mid-step, having spotted two familiar objects on their respective beds.

"Wait, are these...?" Jaune began as he and Pyrrha picked up the objects, which they recognize as Chrysós Mílos and Tékno Xífos, the former was on Pyrrha's bed, and the latter on Jaune's. Ren and Nora, also spotting the familiar weapons, looked at them curiously.

"These are Dorée's weapons...," Pyrrha clarified, as she held CM in her hand, "...but why are they-?,"

Her question was cut off, before hearing they heard the door slam open, revealing Canus who stumbled in but managed to keep himself up. He shook his head to get rid of the dizziness before looking up at the gathered team, in which the look on his face made them feel a sense of dread.

"...W-We got a problem,"

Before anyone could ask, the PA system sounded, and Ozpin's voice was heard, with panic laced in it.

"Attention! Professor Goodwitch, Team JNPR, and Team RWBY please report to the Tower immediately!"

Vault of the Relic of Choice

Dorée walked out of the elevator and entered the great hall section of the Relic Vault, thankful to her mother's memories she had from when she visited the Vault.

You'd think that Ozpin would've had a different password to put into the Elevator's security system instead of his favorite brand of coffee of all things. She rolled her eyes at that as she walked forward, and it was not long before she spotted the machinery and life pod, containing her predecessor, Amber, within.

She stopped at the pod, and looked at the current comatosed Fall Maiden, before raising her gauntleted hand and placing it on the glass, wincing at the scars on Amber's face where Cinder used that damn Parasitic Grimm to steal half of her powers.

Her face was neutral, but inside she burning with rage, since this was a result of Ozpin's arrogance, laziness, and docility. The man could've found a more experienced huntress who would bond with the previous one, but instead, she was an inexperienced child. Or he could've had an experienced huntsman or huntress act as her bodyguard, but he didn't do that either, citing the excuse to keep as less people as possible from knowing about the Maidens, the Relics, and the true origins of Humanity and Faunus kind in the dark.

Well, apparently Salem didn't give two shits whatsoever, and now look what happened.

Dorée sighed, knowing she could've prevented Amber's situation, but her desire for revenge made her focus on crippling Cinder's ability to spy and gather 'allies' for Salem, however, that only served to have Cinder immediately replace them, further revealing that the ashen haired flaming bitch was well prepared. Hence why she decided to derail Cinder's directly at the Vytal Festival and confront her herself.

She looked at Amber's face, before she decided to speak.

"Sorry I was not there to prevent this from happening to you," she said softly, "But know this, even if you can't hear me, I intend to amend my mistakes, and bring down the bitch who did this for good. You have my word on that,"

With that said, she then proceeded to walk around the pod, and bypass the machinery toward the back of the hall.

It didn't take her long to find what she was looking for. That being the door, to the second part of the Vault.

Only one good thing came from acquiring the curse that is the Fall Maiden Powers, and that was having the memories of the previous Maidens before her, including the woman who took everything from her. She can still remember when Cinder, in her usual pompous self, after torturing Oscar Pine, AKA Ozpin's new body, for how to get into the vault, strolled back into the place that made her into the abomination that she had become, which her mother was forced to inhabit.

As for the vault that Ozpin designed for the Relic of choice, he basically made three defense measures, separated in three chambers after the one she was currently in, to make sure it would be not be made TOO easy for anyone who somehow managed to steal the Fall Maiden's power. Basically, the three challenges were based on ancient tasks, long before the Kingdoms even were even founded, and focused on the Human psyche.

The first, being a test of bravery. In essence, face your enemy.

The second, a test of conviction. Meaning, face yourself.

Third, a test of confidence. Translation, face your worst fear.

While she felt sure of herself that she could pass the first test, with no problem, while struggling a bit with the second, it was the third she knew will be the most difficult. She had a LOT of fears, and almost ALL of them were ranked up there as her worst. So, in essence, it could be anything...fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, fear of failure, or even fear of losing her newly acquired family.

But, she knew that whatever fear she would have to face, she would cross that bridge when she got there.

She shook her as she arrived at the wall, before looking left and right, before closing her eyes in thought as she accessed Cinder memories during her time as the Fall Maiden.

"Hmm, now, if I remember correctly...," she said, as walked to the right, placing her hand on the wall, gliding it across the old stone, "...the door to the first task should be...right...,"

She then suddenly stopped before her eyes snapped open and the orange flames of the Fall Maiden light up around her eyes.

The wall then suddenly glowed as lines glowed around the area where her hand rested, until they formed the outline of a door. And in the center of the door, was the symbol of the Kingdom of Vale, with a red maple leaf behind it.

Dorée allowed herself a small smirk.

"Found you," she said, and the door began to open as old locks, that hadn't been unlocked in centuries, did so with strained groans, and gears clunked as the stone doors opened forward, slowly before finally stopping. Dorée then took a breath, before releasing a sigh.

"Alright, time to get this over with," with that said she began to walk through the doors...

Before the sound of the elevator doors made her perk up, and snapped her head back toward where she came in.

"Hurry! She's no doubt found the door, already!"

The familiar voice of Canus caused Dorée's eyes to widen in shock, before they narrowed.

'Dammit! I thought I had more time!' she thought, before she turned back to the door. Needed no other incentive she bolted inside, before stopping to turn around.

Raising her hands her hands glowed the familiar black, as she willed the gears to go the opposite way and close up, with her in it.

The said parts groaned in protest, before they relented and began doing exactly that. Of course, that also caught the attention of the apparent pursuit that came to stop her.

"Dorée stop!" she opened her eyes, as it was none other than Pyrrha who called out to her, with Jaune, their teammates, along with Canus, Ozpin, and Glynda, who were running in her direction.

"I have to do this!" she shouted to them, "It's the only way to keep you safe!"

"No there's has to be another way!" Ren shouted hoping to put sense into her.

Just as the doors were about to close, with enough space to see out, she began to notice that the gears were beginning to slow down, and she realized that Pyrrha was using her own polarity to reverse it.

Seeing she had to act fast, she then focused on ripping the gears out of the wall, as she gave a hard tug with her polarity glowing arms. And with a loud snap, the gears came out of the wall and landed on either side of her.

"Dorée, this is nuts! Just stop!" Jaune called out to her pleadingly, but Dorée only shook her head.

"I can't," she said, while breathing slightly in exertion, "This has to work,"

"Not if it puts your life in danger!" Pyrrha screamed out, half of her face seen through the crack, as her visible emerald sheds a tear.

"I have no life," she said, as tears of her own started to form,"I never had one. It was taken from me before I could even see or talk,"

"But you have a new life, now! With us!" she heard Ruby's voice shouting, and she could actually imagine the pleading look on the young girl's face.

"And how long will that be till I lose it, Miss Rose?" she questioned, "No. The only way to make sure none of you are harmed, is by removing the thing that caused Beacon to become a target in the first place,"

"That's insane!" she heard Weiss shout, "That'll just make you the target!"

Dorée gave a sad smile at that, "Exactly," she said, stunning everyone, "I wish I could enjoy the last two weeks we had together...I admit, it was...healing in a way. But, I don't belong here, my existence is no longer valid, and thus everything from the original timeline has to be erased...including myself."

"NO!" Pyrrha screamed as she pounded on the door, "You're still here! You haven't disappeared! That means you do exist! Please, don't go!"

Dorée didn't say anything at first, only turning her back away from the door, and toward the path that would lead her to her final go. She then said one word as the tears finally broke through.

"I'm sorry," with that said, she proceeded to run, leaving a screaming Pyrrha calling her name, and for her to come back. Only for it to fall on deaf ears

Patriot-112: And another chapter done! I have to say, this short story has come a good long way...well, not as good as others but still good overall.

If any of you are Mortal Kombat fans, you would recognize what the Three Black Tower challenges.

Also, if any of you wish to do a reaction story to this, be sure to ask me for permission, and if you're too busy, I completely understand.

Until then, Auf Wiedersehen!