Vol.2, Ch.3:

Ruby: D-Doctor... *Tears up and hugs him tight*

First time in 300 years he's gotten more than one hug. Earlier from Vine Weiss and right now by Ruby. He felt warmth entering his heart as he returned the hug with a small smile. Both kept hugging each other before separating as Ruby wiped her tears.

Ruby: I...I didn't think I would see you again!

The Doctor: I did say you'll see me around. However, it has been some time since we last saw each other.

Ruby: It has. Not much has changed from you. Same casual look, rarely aged at all, but you let your hair grow out. Doesn't quite suit ya.

The Doctor: I've been busy all around, so I haven't really gotten time to cut it. *sighs* It's really great to see you again Ruby Rose.

Ruby saw the look on the Doctor's face and knew that it had been longer for him since he last seen everyone. She was very happy to see him and it brought so much joy. But she understood he needed it more.

Ruby: How long...since you last saw us...

The Doctor: ...300 years. Travelled alone for 300 years without seeing anyone I knew.

Ruby covered her mouth and eyes widened at this revelation. He hadn't seen them for 300 years and she perhaps thought in terms of normal time, it been 3 years or possibly more.

Ruby: Doctor...w-what about Khan?

The Doctor: He stayed here in Remnant. I told him to keep an eye on the four of you, but I guess he got lost since you all went your separate ways. Weiss was taken back to Atlas with no memory of me, Blake ran, and she knew I was there after I told her Yang needs her...how's Yang?

Ruby: *rubs arm* She hasn't been the same ever since. She was completely isolated and hurt by her arm gone and Blake leaving.

The Doctor: I'm gonna have a field day with Blake, that's for sure. What are you doing out here by the way?

Ruby: I'm travelling with JNR and heading to Haven. We are planning from there to go to Atlas.

The Doctor didn't think she was with them and his thoughts about Pyrrha came into his mind.

The Doctor: How are they doing...without her?

Ruby: *looks down* Jaune has had it more difficult. He blames himself, tries to focus on being stronger, still thinks about that night like all of us.

The Doctor: Believe me Ruby, if I had the power or the chance to do it I could. Weiss would be dead, and I couldn't revert it if I didn't save her. I wish I could reverse it so we can save her from Cinder. But because she's dead...

Ruby: It's now a fixed point in time...

The Doctor: How are you doing, Ruby?

Ruby: I'm hanging on. Still confident and hopeful, just not the same as before everything that happened. And it gets tiring every time...

The Doctor: *sighs* It's not easy Ruby. It'll get tiring more on. I'm a Time Lord and I'm very tired.

Ruby: How do you keep going?

The Doctor: *smiles softly* Hope. This world. *Looks up at the stars* This universe. There are bad and horrible things everywhere we go, but there are also so much good around and beautiful things to welcome. Hate is always foolish Ruby Rose, and love is always wise. Nothing is more beautiful than the future that is expected for everyone to arrive someday.

Ruby: And you did so much on that day. We lost good people, and some will never be the same again. But you did so much to prevent more of that from happening. Everywhere we go, people know about the madman in a blue box and what he showed to the world and to the enemies on that night.

The Doctor: Not me Ruby, We. I led the charge but all of you did your part in rescuing civilians, getting them to safety, and most important, giving them their future knowing that all isn't lost. And it's just starting but as for me, I'm burly making my enemies but I made sure to show them who I am and what I fight for. So that whenever I'm not around, I don't want people to always be depending on me like those comic superheroes that I'll always show up to save the day. I want to leave an important mark here that everyone must follow their hearts and do what is right so that instead of waiting for me to show, they follow what I did and lead on.

Ruby smiles softly at the person that was once a lost boy in the universe was beginning to find himself. She saw him tired and not 100% confident but he was still doing what was right. That's why she trusts him, that's why she believes in him. He has been gone for so long, but she has seen the effects that he left on her long journey with JNR.

Ruby: I'm very proud of you Doctor. I think if the girls were with me as well, they would be happy, especially Weiss.

The Doctor: *looks down slowly* Yes, I suppose you are right.

Ruby: I know you miss her. I do as well. Communications is still an ongoing problem in most parts, so I haven't heard from her since Beacon. I wish the outcome for you was different, she would be safe and happy travelling with you.

The Doctor: Hmm yeah...The Doctor and Weiss...the duo that fell in love but tragically fell. *Shakes head* AH! That reminds me.

Ruby was going to reply back on his thoughts of Weiss but the sudden change from him stopped her as he heads back quickly into the TARDIS and comes back out with a small red giftbox.

The Doctor: Here! A small gift and a piece of me to stay with you.

Ruby: *takes it and eyes shine* C-Can I?

The Doctor: *chuckles* Of course you can.

Ruby wasted little time in opening the giftbox but opened it gently not to ruin the decoration style he worked on. She opened the giftbox and her eyes widened at what was inside: A Sonic Screwdriver. Her own Sonic Screwdriver. Completely different from the Doctor's as hers is a black screwdriver that included extendible claw like feature, red crystalline emitter, and silver plating.

The Doctor: Took a while to build and had to make sure it suited your colors. Fun thing about this one is that it has a psychic interface, so any function you think of when using it, the screwdriver will follow.

Ruby: *hugs him tight* THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU, DOCTOR! *Gasps happily* I actually have my own Sonic Screwdriver!

The Doctor:*chuckles and hugs her back* A gift from the hearts.

Jaune: Ruby? Where you go?

This caught the attention of the huntress and time lord as they break the hug. Ruby's expression changed from happy to bittersweet because she wanted him to tag along or to stay a little longer, but she had to return with the others before they got worried.

The Doctor: I should take my leave now. Got a few more errands to run before heading back out there across the galaxies.

Ruby: PLEASE!...Please come back to see us. You are not alone Doctor! You have a family here that will always love you and will always welcome you back with open arms like me.

This touched his hearts because she understood that even before crashing into Remnant, he was all alone with Dalek Khan. He lost his family in the Time War, and she wanted to make sure he had one here as well. It brought him a warm smile for the first time in a while.

The Doctor: *smiles* I will. Take care Ruby Rose and thank you. *Enters the TARDIS*

Ruby felt the sadness slowly crawl up to her heart but the happiness and warmth of seeing her friend kept those sad feelings away as she watches the TARDIS disappear into thin air and she walks back to Jaune holding her Sonic Screwdriver tight. She now knows that her best friend Dalek Khan stayed here so she also hoped she would find him soon. This conversation was needed for her, as if when things were heading south, he showed up. Seeing how he's still going with his head up despite everything made her realize as well that if she focuses on her priority and doing what is right, nothing can stop her.

Jaune: There you are! Are you alright? I didn't see you asleep with the other so I got worried.

Ruby: Yeah...*smiles* Just needed to go for a walk and clear my head. *Looks up at the sky and mumbles* Thank you Doctor.

Back in Atlas after the unpleasant conversation she had with her father, Weiss finished up on a few errands as she headed to her mother's secret library room for dinner. It felt weird because she still remembered the dark memories of her mother always being isolated and drinking. But when she asked Klein about her, he told her that she did isolate herself from their father, but she wasn't a nonstop drinker and that she always preferred to do her things to stay away from Jacques. Approaching the wall of books, she picked out a slim book which led to her opening the room as she saw her mother reading a few articles on her laptop.

Weiss: *breathes and walks inside* H-Hello mother.

Willow: Oh! Weiss, dear. Sorry. I got too focused on something I didn't hear you walk in.

Weiss: N-No! It's fine, I just hope I wasn't interrupting.

Willow: Not at all. Let's have some dinner shall we.

Weiss nodded, which brought a small smile to her face knowing her mother was here for you and wanted nothing else but to spend time with her.

Weiss: Will Whitely be joining us?

Willow: Unfortunately not. He always likes to spend it with Jacques, and they don't know this room exists. Only you, me, and Klein.

Weiss: I see. Father wants me to perform at this charity event he's hosting here in a few weeks.

Willow: You really think your father is doing it to actually help out?

Weiss: *sighs* No...

Willow: If it wasn't for his manipulative charm, I would have kicked him out a long time ago.

Weiss: Is that why you isolate yourself?

Willow: When your grandfather was in his final weeks, he landed me power to takeover Schnee Dust Company should your father get out of hand. He warned me about Jacques as the years went on and my father was getting old. Once your father was becoming the man he is today, I tried to remove him from power and take over, but you know what he did? He played the victim in public eyes. Made me look like I turned against my own family.

Weiss already despised her father but hearing this from her mother fueled up her hatred for him. She did not know any of this nor remember and now understood why her mother never did anything to stop him. Because she already did it once and he made everyone see her as the bad guy.

Weiss: H-How cruel...and evil!

Willow: It was and from there I isolated myself and lived in this secret room your grandfather left for me. So many things happened before any of you were born and my parents and I were learning faster as time passed on. There is so much more out there than we expected. After that happened, my focus would be on taking care of my children and growing up. Sadly, that wasn't the case either as Whitely attached himself more to your father and Winter focused on getting out of here sooner. You, however, never wanted to be alone and always tried to come to me or Klein. I'm glad I was able to accomplish in taking care one of my kids.

All these things were beginning to hurt Weiss's head once again and she winces a bit. Why is it that she couldn't remember any of this and just remember her mother's past life. Willow watched and sighed knowing the cause of this headache Weiss had ever since returning from Beacon. 2 weeks after Beacon fell, Willow received an anonymous letter, and it wasn't til she opened it that it was from the Doctor himself. She has it hidden in one of her drawers but still remembers it clearly.

"Dear Willow Schnee,

I can still see the small hero that saved her family and all of Mantle after all these years. I know our last meeting wasn't on good terms nor condition, that's why I'm sending you this letter to explain everything, mostly on Weiss. After I last saw you and your family after defeating Dr. Pavel, history changed for Weiss. Before you met me, you didn't have the best relationship with your children, you remained isolated, depressed, and alone in your adult life and you were described as a heavy drinker. After the events of Dr. Pavel, I know you changed your way and became someone very different than Weiss remembers. She was very happy seeing text conversations that she's never seen on her scroll and always getting to talk with you, it made her very happy. Weeks later, there was an unfortunate event that occurred. No one knows about it nor remembers it because it was erased from the timeline itself. A deadly alien species known as the Weeping Angels came to Remnant and invaded Beacon. A few survived but everyone were killed by them. Weiss's friends as well and Dalek Khan, if you remember him, died as well. Weiss did the impossible and absorbed the time vortex from the heart of the TARDIS and used it to erase the Angels and revert everything back before any of it ever happened. She saved all of Vale and possibly all of Remnant yet no one except for Team RBY, Dalek Khan, You, and Me know about it. Unfortunately, when that happened, there was one more Weeping Angel around and grabbed her as it began to drain the time vortex and her life. I was able to destroy it and return the time vortex to the TARDIS, but the damage was already done as Weiss was being erased from existence. I was able to save her on time, giving her one of my regeneration energies so she will be unable to ever get wounded or die. But because of what happened, especially having the time vortex which could burn the human brain, I had to erase her memories of me and all the adventures we did. She won't remember anything that involved me or the TARDIS. There are going to be a lot of things covering me in what I did after Beacon fell so I ask that you please make sure she doesn't see any of that. Weiss became the most important woman to you, her friends, me, and all of Remnant and she won't remember it. All I ask is to take care of her and keep being the good mother you are. I do not know if we will ever meet again Willow but do remember that you a very special as well. Never be cruel and never be cowardly. Take care, Litle Willow.

Your raggedy friend,

The Doctor

She understood it very well even though it hurt her knowing what happened after encountering the Doctor. Weiss did not wake up until 2 weeks after Beacon fell, which was when the letter arrived. Her and Klein did their best to remove anything involving the Doctor. To this day, a year later now, Weiss knows everything that happened except for the Doctor. She knew the headaches were like cracks entering her mind trying to get her to remember. There was one other thing in Willow's mind that had her questioning. The Doctor mentioned it had been a while since he last saw her and her family with the crisis of Dr. Pavel. Why didn't he mention the events in happened at the Vytal Festival in Haven with the Slitheen or the organization.

Weiss: Mom...can I confess something to you?

Willow: *looks at her* Of course sweetie. What is in your mind?

Weiss: Ever since the week of the Vytal Festival, I have been having constant headaches and sometimes I hear voices and see flashes in my mind. It hasn't stopped even after you took me to the medic and even natural medicines as well.

Willow: Yes, I do know about the headaches which are concerning. However, these voices and flashes are new to me.

Weiss: They happen every time I think of Beacon, when I go stargazing with Klein, reading books, even mentioning Doctor. *Grunts and holds my head*

Willow: Easy sweetie. *Gives her more water*

Weiss: I feel like it's trying to tell me something or show me something I don't know of. Sometimes mom, I feel like I had something wonderful and lovely, and now it feels like it's all gone. And now I wonder in bed every night, what have I lost?

If Willow could tell her the truth, that she lost perhaps the most important thing to her heart. To her smile. All she could do to reply to her daughter was give her a hug.

Willow: One day you'll find out dear. I truly hope one day.

Weiss: Thanks...Mom. *Smiles and hugs her back*

The Mother and Daughter continued to spend some time together over dinner and bond more, which meant a lot for Weiss. Back in the Land of Darkness, Salem returned her focus on helping Cinder with her new Grimm arm after losing her original arm in Beacon...and her eye.

Salem: Do you feel it? Don't fight it, girl. It can sense your trepidation. You must make it dread you.

Cinder continued to try and control as Emerald and Mercury watched from the entrance until they were surprised by a sudden click noise and noticed the same squid like creature from yesterday appear once again and head to Salem as she welcomes it once again. It first showed her at the permanent damage left by the Doctor in one of her Grimm creation areas which meant less Grimm could be created but she chose to ignore it for now. Then she hears the clicks from the creatures and looks at Cinder.

Salem: Cinder, I am going to ask you this one more time, and I expect a clear answer. Did you kill Ozpin?

Cinder was still not able to speak properly and summoned Emerald to speak for her, but Salem had enough as she slammed her hands on the table startling everyone in the room.

Salem: NO! I want to hear you say it.

Cinder: *gulps and tries to speak* Yes...

Salem stared at her to see if she was 100% or unsure but chose to believe her. She brought the squid Grimm close to her as Cinder watched.

Salem: Gather them to search at Beacon. The Relic is there. As for you Cinder, we shall continue our training for later. I have some things of my own to handle.

Cinder nodded and quickly walked out of the room as Emerald and Mercury from behind. Soon, after the creature left, Salem was left alone and turned around to look at a chess set and pieces in place on the table.

Salem: What are you planning?

Cinder entered her room and tried to regain focus and work on controlling more of the maiden powers. She looked at herself in the mirror and began her concentration. It worked as her hand was lit on fire, which brought a smirk to her face but was interrupted by sinister laughter. One that sounded like herself.

Turn around idiot.

Cinder turned to look at the mirror and wondered if she was imagining things because what she saw was herself but in normal shape. No Grimm eye or arm as her replacement. She felt very uncomfortable and freaked out by the sudden illusion.

This world is still new to me and yet you've adapted so fast but still keep me CAGED in here. You only exist as a decoy while I am the real you.

Cinder only tsk at this illusion knowing this is ridiculous. But something came to her mind, and she wanted to put it to the test. She placed her hand on her chest looking at the illusion in the mirror.

Yes, it is Cinder. We do have two hearts inside because I am a timelord. Think about it, not even Salem could possibly stop us if you release me! You saw what the Doctor did, but he is doing it for good. Imagine us, chaos, destruction, and creation of a new Remnant under our image.

Cinder: *croaks* G-Get out of my head...

You truly are an idiot! Trying to take over and make this body yours. I was locked away for so long and from the moment the Doctor showed up, I reawaken. You want the truth Cinder Fall? I created you; I made up your history, your name, everything you ever knew in your life. Why is it that you can never remember your parents or where you came from? Because it was all a lie.

Cinder looked at the mirror with a sudden realization that it was true. She never thought of her past life before becoming an adult. She never remembered being a child or having a family or even remembering where she grew up. All she could remember was always being in the streets.

That's right. You are so lucky to make it this far but now's time to bring this to an end. You have the Maiden's power and as a timelord, I know so many things that these primitives don't have, not even Salem. So, open the watch.

Cinder looks at her bag and picks up the fob watch from inside. She was feeling tempted by the voice of whoever was pretending to be her. She held it tight and placed it back on her bag which upset the illusion of herself.

IDIOT! You truly are weak and make me feel so shameful. You are not going to win this! You will DIE! And you will ultimately regret not releasing me.

Using her maiden power to light her hand on fire, she looks at the mirror with disgust and anger. This is who she is now, and she wasn't going to let some voice tell her what to do. The illusion looked at her angry and disappointed.

RELEASE ME!

Cinder: NO! *Destroys the mirror and falls on the ground*

The sudden noises from her room were heard outside which caught the attention of Emerald and Mercury as they rushed into her room and saw her on the ground holding her chest. They tried to help her out as she remained in some sort of frozen state. They tried calling out to her but all she could hear for the first time in her life was the heartbeat of two hearts. That is what she heard in the main room a few days back. She was scared yet tempted. Now she wanted to know before becoming Cinder Fall, who was she?

Grimms continued to sniff and inspect the fallen ruins of Beacon as they followed Salem's orders to find the relics. Some of them approached Glenn Mountain not knowing they were being watched by cameras placed in trees. The man watching them from his own lab was an elderly man with gray disheveled hair, robotic right arm, and a robotic left eye. His name was Dr. Merlot.

Dr. Merlot: That's right my precious creatures. Come to Daddy.

He continued watching through the cameras until the motion detector detected something else that wasn't Grimm, which frustrated him. Huntsman, Huntress, or Soldiers, they never stopped and made it much difficult to capture Grimm ever since the Doctor vaporized all of them during the Fall of Beacon. However, he felt something off as he noticed the silver liquid in one of his jars moving around rapidly like it was sensing something.

Dr. Merlot: You are feeling feisty. What do you feel?

Just as he was going to open the jar, he heard Grimms roar at something and watched the cameras to see what was fighting against them. His eyes widened at a sight he had never seen before. A few Grimm beasts charged at its target but were being ripped apart by some sort of soldier machine that looked all rusty. One arm fully being robotic and the other looks like a human arm. Half of his face showed a pale human face while the rest was robotic-like. Dr. Merlot watched in amazement as he noticed the machine's weapon did not work but used his sheer strength to rip apart Grimm. He had never seen something like this in all of Remnant, he watched this machine rip out the last Grimm head off clean before turning around to look directly at the camera.

Dr. Merlot: What are you?

The machine suddenly vanished in a bright flash, and the camera feed was cut. Dr. Merlot looked at the silver liquid acting more aggressively in the jar and understood that the machine was nearby. Grabbing his weapon, Dr. Merlot targeted his weapon at the door of his lab and waited for the machine to show up. That bright flash hits again but right behind the scientist. Before fully turning around, he felt the metallic hand grab him by the throat and slam him to the wall as he got a clear view now of the machine.

Dr. Merlot: *gags* W-What are you?! *Struggles to breath*

Cyberman: I. Am. Ashad! I. Am. A Cyberman!