The Time Being

by Ricky T Tavy

Right before the start of a new school year, Professor Ozpin meets a being even older and more powerful than himself. The enigmatic Time Walker seems determined to lend the Wizard his assistance, both with knowledge of events yet to come and the promise of a Hero who can turn the tide against the Enemy.

Atlas fell like a meteor into the city of Mantle, nearly tripling the size and depth of the crater that used to be both. It was an ugly way to reunite them, and the hand full of living things remaining didn't stand a chance once the tide rushed in and swallowed them all. Soon the freezing waters will drown them, and when the last iridescent light blinks out under the tides the only trace of either will be the jagged rocks splintering upward, just above the crests of the waves. The death knell of two cities and the last chance Remnant had to save itself.

In the distance, two figures soared above and away from the destruction, holding objects so powerful they could do…this. Though he couldn't see them with his human eyes, he knew they were there. The most dangerous being on Remnant, and a monster of her own creation. The death, the destruction, the decay that will spread from this event like an infection into this planet's future, they didn't care about any of it. To them, this was a victory, and the objects they possessed were worth more than any number of sentient lives.

He sighed before straightening his back. He'd been putting weight on his cane, a habit he had only recently formed, at least from his perspective. He will never get used to this. He won't allow himself to. Though many lives were saved this night, the consequences of this destruction will not end here. It was time to involve himself.

If this planet was going to have a future, then its protectors needed to know what was coming. Turning his back to the maelstrom of destruction he raised a metallic hand, summoning a spiraling blue portal in mid-air. Without looking back, he stepped through, closing the hole in the air behind him just as a deluge of seawater washed over the tundra.

Chapter 1: The End

Ozpin doubted very much that he'd find a better moment to relax than now. He longed for the comfort of his office, to be surrounded by the turning of the oversized gears in his walls, and the soft monotonous ticking of the clock tower he'd built this life under. But going there meant going to his desk, and getting back to the unreasonable amount of paperwork his position as Headmaster requires that he fill out daily. Between the basement, deep beneath Beacon Academy's campus, and that very room from which he could look out over it all, he had just a few minutes to himself. No papers to sign, no injured allies to worry over, just the relative silence of the elevator that he hoped against all odds would remain empty until then. After all, someone had accidentally hit all the buttons, which would make his trip take several minutes longer than it should have.

Oh well.

He sighed before straightening his back. He'd been putting weight on his cane, something that had become necessary with his increasing age. Not that he needed it to stand, but walking with it gave him some peace of mind. It was more like insurance, something he could depend on if things got rough. He could hear the turning of the gears inside, every little tick sending a pulse through the pommel on top. He matched the tapping of his fingers to the rhythmic sound. Soon enough the constant jerking of the elevator faded away from his senses, and the opening and closing of the doors did little more than invite a slight breeze to the tiny room. This was what he needed, a moment to quiet his mind.

Such things are not meant to last, sadly. Life had made that clear to him many times. So as the elevator reached his floor, and Ozpin stepped into his office, he felt refreshed in some small way. If such tiny moments of peace were the best he was going to get, he'd be grateful. The only visible object was his antique desk sitting right in front of the only circular window, which also served as the face of the clock. This entire room was a work of art, one of his best pieces. So naturally, he noticed when something about it wasn't quite right.

Vrrt. Vrrt.

Ah. He'd left his scroll in the office. How clumsy of him.

He hoped it wasn't Glynda. She didn't take kindly to being ignored, and with the school year approaching her patience started to wane when things were done improperly. Getting yelled at by his staff was not on his list of things to-

It was Glynda.

He took a deep breath before picking the scroll off his desk and answering with his most neutral smile. "Hello, Glyn-

"Where have you been?" Her voice was calm but curt. She was really angry. She was looking at him just over the edge of her glasses, as though she were about to melt his face with lasers from her eyes. He missed when scrolls could only receive audio. "I have been trying to contact you for an hour and a half."

Ozpin did his best to remain calm. Her tone implied he'd forgotten something critical. Why else would she be trying so hard to contact him? Perhaps he could play this off until she let slip what was so important? "My apologies. I was taking a walk to stretch my legs and left my scroll on the desk."

"Well, while you were out getting fresh air, you neglected a Twelve o'clock meeting. A very patient visitor has been sitting in the lobby, waiting for you to come back."

Oh.

Glynda sighed. "I told him you were running an errand and would be back shortly."

"I see," said Ozpin. "Send him up right away." He collapsed his cane and placed it on top of his desk. "Do I look presentable?"

"From what I can see. Make sure your desk is clear of any private documents I might have sent you."

"Of course. Thank you, Glynda."

Glynda ended the call without another word. Ozpin felt a kindle of guilt heating his conscience. She'd gone out of her way to cover for him simply because he didn't want to talk to anyone. He'd have to make it up to her later.

He decided to meet his guest standing up, rather than sitting at his desk pretending to look busy, as he often did. He wasn't in a lying mood after what just happened, and this person was probably not going to take a hint to leave after waiting so long.

An hour and a half. This must be important. Though for the life of him he couldn't recall arranging such a meeting. And on a Tuesday no less. Watching the elevator dial move slowly towards his floor he tried desperately to remember a name he could greet this person by. He couldn't help but feel this was building up to something very awkward. He must have used up all his good luck on the elevator. Seems like every time he lets his guard down something comes to bite him in the-

Ding

Ozpin straightened up, folded his hands behind his back, and gave his best-practiced smile. Hopefully neutral enough that this person would not feel mocked. When the doors opened, Ozpin took in the image of the man who stepped in, hoping for something to jog his memory. He was a man of moderate height, with black hair that was greying near the temples. He wore a lab coat that looked impeccably clean. A scientist? From Atlas maybe. Or a doctor? The brown vest and black pants he wore suggested he had a very simple sense of style and color, not unusual for older generations. It made the green goggles hanging around his neck stand out that much more. As he stepped forward, a thin bronze-colored cane clicked on the floor from his left hand. He walked like he didn't need it, something Ozpin noticed right away. Strangest of all, the man was smiling. A friendly smile that made his wrinkles look deep. His dark eyes looked experienced but genuine. It made Ozpin feel strangely nostalgic.

"Greetings, Headmaster Ozpin," said the old man. "It's nice to finally meet you." There was a time when he would have felt the words were sincere, but experience had taught him he was probably just very charismatic. Ozpin held out his right hand as to not inconvenience the man, and instantly notice the metallic sheen under the sleeve of his lab coat. A metal prosthetic. And a very intricately designed one at that, bulky enough to look like a gauntlet. His brief glimpse at the man's palm revealed a circular blue light.

"I apologize for making you wait so long," Ozpin replied in his friendliest tone of voice. "I was running an errand and lost track of time."

The old man chuckled. "Yes, well time has a way of sneaking up on us one way or another. You did seem rather tired in the elevator."

Ozpin raised his brow ever so slightly. "Pardon?"

"On your way up to your office, you were standing in the elevator with your eyes closed. I saw you when the doors opened in the lobby." The man grinned at him.

Now he was embarrassed. "Ah, yes. I was doing my best to calm myself after a rather extraneous trip. I didn't mean to come off as rude."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all," the old man waved his hand. "Everyone has days like that. Truthfully, I appreciated the chance to rest myself."

A very charismatic man. Whatever he had come here for Ozpin already felt inclined to give it to him. "Shall we sit down?" Ozpin offered. Pressing the screen of his scroll, a chair emerged from the floor in front of his desk. It wasn't a very accommodating thing. Ozpin had never sat in it himself but it looked rather uncomfortable. He'd have to replace that soon.

"If you don't mind, I'd prefer to stand." The old man shrugged. "I've been resting a rather long time and I get a bit anxious after a while."

Was that a jab? No, he wouldn't need to lie about that. At least he didn't seem to be lying. Well, he wouldn't if he were good at it…

"No need to be cynical Oz, it's just a meeting." Ozpin thought to himself while dismissing the chair. "A meeting about what exactly?"

"Not a problem at all," Ozpin replied. Retrieving his own cane from his desk and extending it, he went around to the other side, dismissing his own chair as well. "I must apologize once again for my rudeness, but could you remind me of your name and what I can help you with?" He half expected the man to show some sign of displeasure at being forgotten about, assuming they had set the meeting up in advance. Or maybe this is just an appointment? He should have asked Glynda.

The old man, however, showed no sign of being offended. "Most people refer to me as Time-Walker. As for what you can help me with, that is going to take some effort to explain, I hope you'll bear with me?"

"Time Walker?" Ozpin thought. It was not the strangest name Ozpin had heard but it seemed a little…coincidental? Suspicious? Deliberate? And "Referred to as" implied it might not have been his name at all. Perhaps the man was just eccentric. "Should I refer to you as Mr. Walker?" Ozpin replied, hoping that if he were wrong it could be taken as a joke.

"That will do just fine." The man nodded, not missing a beat. "This may take some time to explain." He reached into his coat pocket. Ozpin almost remembered to bring up his guard before he pulled out a brown paper bag. "Gumball?" He asked holding out the bag to Ozpin, whose eyebrows turned up incredulously.

"No…thank you."

Walker shrugged before putting the bag back in his pocket.

The smile on his face had faded into a neutral expression. The time for pleasantries was over. "Headmaster. What I am about to ask you may seem strange, but please, answer me seriously."

Ozpin nodded slowly.

"Are you aware of just how much the world has come to depend on the City of Atlas?"

Ah. An Atlassian. He hoped this wasn't some sort of sales pitch. "I am." He answered honestly. "Most of the world's most innovative technological advancements come from Atlas."

"As well as its dust supplies."

"Of course." Ozpin hoped with all his heart that this wasn't a sales pitch. "Though most of the intricacies of the economics of dust manufacturing and shipping are left to the members of the Vale council."

"That is not what I mean." Walker shook his head. "I am referring to how important Atlas has become to the stability of Remnant in the past few decades." The gesture he made with his hand caused the palm in the center to glow brighter, producing a small blue hologram of graphs. "Not just in terms of raw materials like dust, but in crops, medicine, weaponry, and anti-grimm contingencies. Do you know why that is?"

Fighting the urge to sigh, Ozpin responded. "Of course, the city's location prevents it from being held back by the constant threat of the grimm. It can prosper independently of most of the world's suffering. "For better and for worse."

"Because it is floating," Walker added.

"That and the climate being unsuitable for beings without the ability to regulate their body temperature," Ozpin added. This was all taught in school, including this very one. He had said he would indulge the man's questions though, but even so.

"Do you know why the city of Atlas is floating?" Mr. Walker asked.

Though there was not a hint of malice in the man's voice, Ozpin could not help but clench his cane. "It's theorized, and quite heavily agreed upon that a combination of gravity dust and the loose foundation of the earth caused it to rise due to dust mining," Ozpin answered, in an almost rehearsed tone. That was also taught in school. Though somewhat believable, it was a flimsy theory at best.

"But that's not true, is it?"

The temperature in the room was falling rapidly, and Ozpin's heart started to race. He couldn't know. Unless she told him. But why approach him like this? Unless this was a trick. A trap? Ozpin activated his aura. Though unseen, it gave him all the protection he'd need if this turned bad.

"Your silence speaks volumes." Walker smiled, but his eyes did not wrinkle as they had before. "Headmaster," Walker's graph flickered, and the image changed somewhat. Now the numbers were rapidly dwindling on some sides while rising on others. "Do have any idea what would happen to the world if Atlas fell?"

This time, Ozpin could not help but glare ever so slightly. "What exactly are you trying to imply Mr. Walker?" Beneath the table, he adjusted his legs so that if he had to, he could quickly enter a fighting stance. This man, whoever he was, had suddenly become very dangerous.

"That the world as you know it is on a slippery slope, and a single misstep will spell the end of humanity," Walker said as he closed his metal hand. The look he gave Ozpin was not as harsh as it was resolute. Ozpin recognized it as the look of someone ready to take action. "I've come to discuss with you the ramifications of your decision to raise Atlas into the air."

Just as the last word left Walker's lips Ozpin stepped back from the desk and spun his cane into a defensive stance. Though he felt his heartbeat hammering in his chest, he did not go on the offensive. Yet. Though the man before him knew far too much and was likely one of her agents, he would not panic. "Who are you?" he asked, as calmly as his breath would allow. He flexed his muscles to feel for the scroll in his pocket. Would he be able to call Glynda if he had to?

Walker, for all of Ozpin's caution, remained where he stood, both his hands now resting on his cane. "I already told you. I'm the Time Walker. Though his face remained serious, he grinned just a bit. "How do you think I know?"

"You could easily be a spy," Ozpin shot back, not even entertaining the man's question. "Some kind of saboteur."

"I'm here to stop you from falling," Walker replied cryptically. "You, your school, the CCT tower, Atlas," the man raised his gauntleted hand again, this time with the glowing palm facing Ozpin. "And all of Remnant along with you." Before Ozpin could act, a bright flash of blue light burst out of the man's palm and flooded the room.

Instinctively, he activated his semblance to shield himself, surrounding his body on all sides. The light had blinded him, but he had faith his shield could hold out against whatever that attack was. What he did not expect was the absolute cacophony that bashed his eardrums a moment later. When Ozpin opened his eyes, the world was on fire. Somehow, he was standing atop a building in Vale, just close enough to the edge that he could see the streets below.

There were grimm everywhere.

Packs of beowolves and creeps pursued crowds of people, screaming so loud the sound pierced through the chorus of roars that shook him on all sides. In the sky, griffons and nevermores slammed into bullheads and dived down to pluck bundles of humans from one set of hungry mouths to another. Buildings were set aflame as balls of fire and missiles crashed into them, while fallen beasts and machines sent them tumbling down like card houses.

Down below he could see a small group of people managed to dodge the carnage and turn into an alley, followed swiftly by a troop of military droids. To his utter shock, the droids pointed their weapons at the fleeing civilians and gunned them down!

Before Ozpin could even process this, a trio of armed men, wearing grimm masks ran past the androids and gestured for them to follow behind them. The drones complied.

He stepped away from the ledge in horror. "What the hell?" He gasped, barely able to get the words out. A massive shadow hung over his shoulder, casting a demonic silhouette against the building across from him. Thinking quickly, Ozpin turned to attack the creature, a massive griffon. The beast was rearing its head back, swallowing something, and ignoring him completely. Ozpin didn't have to see it to know it was a person. A grimm wouldn't eat anything else. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he lunged at the beast with his cane pointed forward, ready to pierce its neck. The griffon did not even bother to look at him.

Just as well, since his cane went right through it, sending him tumbling forward and barely able to catch himself as he landed. He quickly turned to face the creature again, but just as he did it lunged from its perch and dove straight through the adjacent building, crumbling the walls like wafers and sending glass raining down to the street below. He could swear he heard a scream just as the beast burst through the window, but it could have just as easily come from anywhere.

"That won't do you any good as you are now," said a familiar voice from just behind him. Again, Ozpin quickly turned, this time pointing the barrel of his cane directly at his target. It was Walker, standing just as he was before he found himself here.

"Where are we? What's happening?" Though he did not shout, Ozpin's voice promised action if he was not answered quickly.

"This is her next move," he replied without a hint of fear. "This is the fall of Beacon. The beginning of the end."

Before Ozpin could question him, a thunderous roar shook the earth and air, completely absorbing all other sounds. The wind, which was now starting to whip around him furiously, scattered dust and debris like a tidal wave of sand. The roar came again, sounding as though it were right on top of him. Before he could look over his shoulder a great black shadow passed over him, cast by a grimm he had not seen in nearly a century.

A wyvern!

Flying at a speed incomparable for anything its size, it circled overhead dripping black oil onto the chaos below. With another great flap of its wings, more of the oil scattered about like rain, and he stared with teeth clenched as it rocketed straight towards Beacon Academy, atop the cliffs to the north. Eyes widening with horror, he realized exactly where he was. The residential district.

"I don't understand," he muttered. "How is this happening?" In his daze, he had lowered his weapon, and Walker had circled around to stand in front of him.

"It hasn't happened," he said. "Not yet."

Another flash of blue light obscured Ozpin's vision before he suddenly found himself in a familiar dark room, standing next to a very familiar machine. He almost reeled back in horror when he saw what was left of it. Though her image was distorted by the shattered glass, he saw the arrow pierced through the center. Exactly where her heart would be. Amber was dead.

A sudden clash of metal and a flash of green and red light came from behind him, and on instinct, he turned to meet her supposed killer. What he saw next was perhaps more surreal than anything he'd seen yet. He saw himself! Flying about the room, cane drawn, and magic pouring from his body he saw a perfect copy of himself fighting a woman in red. Her eyes shone with the power of a Maiden. Ozpin followed the battle with eyes unblinking, the constant flashing in the dark room made the two warriors easy to track but ever harder to make out. He saw himself deliver a series of blows that would shatter the aura of even the most seasoned huntsman. He saw the woman create a stream of fire so strong that even looking at it he could tell it could bore through steel. The barrier his other self formed pushed through the pillar as he levitated towards the woman. As he prepared to strike her though, she did something he did not expect. She opened her guard, sending the other Ozpin rocketing into her, and both of them crashed into the wall. This, apparently, was exactly what the woman wanted. In the tumble, Ozpin had dropped his cane. Whether she had knocked it from his grasp, or he had simply overextended himself, it didn't matter. Before he could right himself, they were both swallowed up in a pillar of fire. The ceiling above glowed red with heat, before poring down like a waterfall.

Ozpin cringed, practically reeling back with disgust. To watch his own death, and he was sure he was dead, was both a new and all too familiar experience. When the woman emerged from the slag, gasping but very much alive, she raised her hands and brought forth even more fire melting a hole into the floor that sank like a gaping wound and buried Ozpin with it. He continued to watch, both hands grasping his cane, as she flew up through the hole in the ceiling, leaving him alone in his newly formed tomb.

"Do you see now?"

Though he stiffened, Ozpin did not turn to look at Walker, who had appeared only a few feet behind him. Or maybe he was there the whole time.

"This is what will happen should things remain as they are."

In another flash he was outside again, this time met with a barrage of gunfire. Looking around he saw a platoon of Atlassian androids converging on the Familiar visage of General Ironwood, looking worse for wear as his uniform hung off a single shoulder in tatters, exposing his almost completely cybernetic right half. His breath caught in his throat, for a brief moment, he assumed they were at his command. That was until they opened fire on him. With a white revolver in hand, he knocked down row after row of his own droids, walking through the chaos a single sturdy step at a time. As he made his way toward Ozpin, he fought the urge to call out to him. Instead, he only reached out a single hand as the General strode past, his fingers passing through as though he were a phantom.

As he passed, he saw debris and broken robot parts being flung in a stream of purple energy, shredding through the oncoming army. A few meters away was Glynda, riding crop in hand, cape billowing behind her, and a telekinetic whirlwind guarding her on all sides. His eyes wandered up to see the faint descending form of a griffon, diving through the fog practically unseen. It was diving directly at his position!

"No, James!" He cried, despite its futility, the words slipped out. He whipped around to see Ironwood put up his guard against an entirely different figure.

"Qrow! This isn't my doing!"

Qrow Branwen, his former student. One of the best fighters he knew, was charging straight at James, scythe drawn. The now aged man, his own red cape set against his grey jacket looked like every bit the huntsman, with a glare that said he was ready to cut down anything in his path. There was no way…

Qrow leaped over James at the last moment, bringing down his scythe over the head of the griffon and slicing it nearly in two. One of the halves came hurling towards Ozpin and passed right through him as he put his guard up. He sighed as his heart hammered in his chest.

"I know you didn't do this," Qrow said, turning back to face the General. With Glynda making her way toward them, Ozpin felt relief. For a moment, he had assumed the worst. Having seen his own death, he had feared he'd be watching his allies die this very same night. As the trio discussed their next move Ozpin's eyes wandered about the battlefield, weary of any other unseen threats. Not that he'd be able to do anything about it in his present state. The seed of dread had been planted, and now he was fighting the knot that was forming in his stomach. He took a deep breath.

"Why?" Though he meant it to be a question, it came out as more of a grunt. He hadn't even parted his teeth. As if on cue, the voice of Walker pierced the fog.

"Are they not your friends?" He said, stepping into view in the corner of his vision. "Believe me, you needed to see this. It will become clearer with time."

Just as Ozpin turned to look at him, another flash of blue washed over him. He was standing in what used to be his office, now with windows shattered, gears strewed about, and a massive storm cloud overhead. The figure of the Wyvern circling the building. And on either side of him, two young women. One was a student of his, most likely as she did look familiar, on her knees and clutching an arrow embedded into her chest. The other was the woman from the basement, glass heels clicking against the floor, bow in hand, a cruel smile on her face.

Ozpin felt anger rising in him like embers buried in ash. For so long he'd dulled himself to strong emotions, but the sheer sadism radiating from this woman made his arms twitch, ready for a fight. Knowing that she could beat him made him all the more indignant. And here she was murdering yet another child. She placed her hands on the girl's head.

"Do you believe in destiny?" The girl asked, for what reason Ozpin had no idea.

The woman's face turned rather neutral at that, her smile gone, but her eyes still hardened. "Yes." Then she turned her to ash, her body falling apart like burning charcoal. It was instant, but it seemed to drag out for eternity as he watched. He only barely heard the scream of despair from behind him, before a torrent of white light exploded through the room. The woman turned her head to scream in surprise, and the wyvern roared.

Ozpin closed his eyes to shield them, and when he opened them, the noise had suddenly stopped. He was back in his office. The way it was, before. The way it's supposed to be. Still gripping his cane like it was the only solid thing in the world, he looked around rapidly at his eerily normal office. The clock behind him ran normally, the gears turning rhythmically, the daylight pouring in.

"Now do you understand?"

Ozpin let out a long sigh as he looked ahead, locking eyes with Walker, who seemed not to have moved at all from the moment he raised his hand. He grit his teeth.

"No, I don't understand!" He growled. "What was all that!?"

The man gave him a quizzical look, not at all put off by his tone. "Ozpin…" He seemed almost amused at the question.

Ozpin took several deep breaths, finally placing his cane against the ground and putting some of his weight on it. Rather than closing his eyes, he fixed them on a gear in the wall and counted its turns. He felt the sweat on his back and forehead cooling under the air conditioner. The tension in his body began to fade, though it refused to leave entirely. When he felt his heart rate start to slow he spoke again. "That was…a vision of some sort, right?" He hoped that was the case. He'd had visions before. Though not as lucid, he had seen the future many times.

"Yes and no," Walker replied casually. "It depends on your point of view, but that most assuredly was your future. Not mere images but moments in time that I brought you to."

Ozpin counted the turning of the gears again before answering. "You mean," He took a deep breath. "Time travel?" Just the words seemed silly coming out of his mouth. He believed in a lot of things, but there was just as much he rejected outright. Time travel wasn't just a dream, it was a desperate folly. The embers that woman had woken up inside him were being fed by the man's words, and a deep frown set on his face. "Why should I believe you?"

At his question, the other man laughed. "What proof could I possibly give you that I haven't already?"

Clenching the head of his cane, Ozpin looked him in the eyes. "When I was…When I saw those visions," he sighed. "I could hear and see what was happening, but I couldn't touch anything." The experience certainly felt like the visions he'd received from the Relic of Choice, if not more vivid. And it certainly wouldn't be the first time someone had used illusions to try and trick him.

"Ah, I see." Walker nodded. "You believe I created some sort of illusion?" As he asked, he took a step towards the desk. "Tell me," He smiled. "How could I have known about the basement?"

Ozpin's eyes widened but he did not move. Walker began to pace, carrying his cane rather than walking with it. "Someone could have told you."

"About Amber's condition?" Added Walker. "The aura transfer machine? Yes, I suppose that could have been betrayed by someone. But tell me Ozpin, how many know the secret of Long Memory?"

His grip tightened. He hadn't told anyone in this lifetime or the last about it. And his enemies couldn't know, unless… "And what is the secret of Long Memory?" He asked, calling the man's bluff.

"That you've been storing energy in it for several lifetimes now, with the sole purpose of wiping out any great foe that may unleash on the people of Remnant. Be it Grimm or otherwise."

Swallowing hard, Ozpin responded. "The Relic of Knowledge could have told you that."

"If I knew her name, which even your allies do not." Walker held his friendly grin, his eyes twinkling with what was unsaid. He knew Jinn's name, which means he could use her, but he would have no way of learning her name. Even Leonardo didn't know. And he had kept it that way for millennia to ensure no one could betray that information. If a single name left his inner circle, it was over. He must be lying. It had to be a bluff. There was a 50% chance of him guessing Jinn's gender and he got it right. Saying it now would only give him what he wanted. He would not be fooled.

"An educated guess then." He said, rather than asked. He would not remain on the back foot. "If that's all you have to say for yourself…"

"In your first life, after being given your assignment to unite the world by the god of Light, you hijacked the body of the man who inhabited it," Walker said, the smile leaving his face.

Ozpin said nothing, but the room felt much colder.

"That man's name was Flavio." As he said this he went back to his pacing. "A name you have never told anyone. In that life, you had four daughters, all of whom could use magic."

Ozpin felt like the room was turning he leaned harder on his cane as vertigo set in. Though he could not feel it, his face contorted into one of shock.

"Do you remember their names?" Walker asked. "Azora, Coraline…"

"S-Seraphina…" Ozpin stuttered. "Vi…ridia." He gulped. "Viridia."

"Hm." Walker nodded. "And when you were Rameses?"

Ozpin tried to count the turning of the gears, but his hearing became muffled. Putting a hand to his head he gulped and flexed his jaw. "Philis." He paused. "And Landis." When he looked back up at Walker, he saw that the man's smile, though faint, had returned.

"You were blessed to have them. It's good that you remember."

"I remember all of them, in some way." His voice was hoars, but he kept his focus. "I can't remember all of their faces. But I remember their names."

"And your last child?"

"…Hendrick."

"After which you swore not to have any more children, lest they be targeted by your enemies." Walker nodded. "Now why do you think I know all that? Because of Jinn?"

Ozpin shook his head before lowering himself into his chair, not even caring that his guard was down. "Let's say I do believe you," he sighed. "Why now?" He glared up at Walker. "If you're really a time traveler, why appear now?" He pointed at the ground as if it somehow made his point clearer. "All the times in the past when things went wrong," he rubbed his temple with his free hand. "If you're really a time traveler, couldn't you prevent any of this from happening? Couldn't you…."

"Warn Ozma of the consequences of his actions?" Walker shrugged. "Stop the gods from destroying the first world so that Remnant as you know it does not even exist? Aside from the temporal chaos that would create, there is one reason, in particular, I decided to appear to you now. I even said as much earlier."

Ozpin searched his manic memory for anything the man had said that would give him a reason. "Is it, something to do with Atlas?" Walker nodded. "But the future you showed me was of Vale."

"I told you, Vale is her next move."

Ozpin gazed up to see a calm but serious look on the man's face.

"It starts with Vale, it ends in Vacuo. But Atlas is the keystone that holds it all together. I told you if anything happens to Atlas it affects the rest of Remnant."

"…the robots." Ozpin sat up straight. "General Ironwood was being attacked by his own robots. They were firing on civilians. Is there a traitor in his army?"

"You are close," He sighed. "Though as always things are never quite that simple. The communication tower was hijacked by that woman you saw, and the last thing the world saw before global communication shut down was the city of Vale being overrun with grimm, the Atlassian army firing on civilians, and fighting alongside the White Fang."

Ozpin's body was a tempest of hot blood and a cold gut feeling. "Damnation."

Walker continued. "With no way to contact those outsides of the city, besides manual delivery, the remaining cities drew into themselves. The White Fang's presence in all of the chaos only soured human-faunus relations on a worldwide scale, leading to the reinstitution of archaic laws. . Atlas was distrusted by the vast majority of the population, and with so few willing to keep trade open with them, General Ironwood saw fit to close the border to protect his own city. Having fought his own army, his paranoia gave way to desperation, and his methods turned his own city against him. The next Winter maiden opens the vault, the Staff of Creation is used," He looks Ozpin directly in the eye. "Atlas falls."

Ozpin's breath caught in his throat.

"Years of technological development, advancements in medicine, weapons and vehicles, dust mines and refineries, all lost under 115 million tons of rock and metal, and 5 trillion gallons of saltwater."

"All those people…" Ozpin muttered.

Walker frowned, in what looked more like frustration than anger. "Yes, that is where things get complicated. The Relic was used to relocate the populations of Atlas and Mantel."

Ozpin almost looked relieved, but the look in Walker's eye kept his hope at bay.

"They were distributed in the desert of Vacuo, due to an oversight by their would-be saviors, and were immediately set upon by grimm."

"Gods!" Ozpin balked. "How is that even possible?"

"In time Ozpin." Walker waved his cybernetic hand. "Needless to say, the refugee crisis was made all the more troublesome due to Atlas and Vacuo's troubled history. Over a million people, from one desert to another, are forced to enter a completely different way of life. The vast majority didn't last long. By that point, there was nothing to be done. The world had been, er, that is to say, will be crippled. It's a slow death from that point forward."

"But there must be something we can do?" Ozpin stood up. "That can't be how it all ends."

Walker nodded. "Naturally, I wouldn't have told you otherwise." Reaching into a pouch on his belt, Walker pulled out what looked like an ordinary scroll. "Consider this your Book of Prophecy, a master key into the events of the future. I warn you, there is some disturbing information on this scroll. Please keep that in mind before showing it to anyone." Walker fixed him with a glare. "And you will need to show them."

Ozpin looked unsure of the man's implication, but his expression softened quickly.

"I plan on speaking with your allies at some point in your future. For now, only contact those whose futures you have seen."

"Right. I'll be sure to. But where will you be going, Mr. Walker?" Ozpin asked, curious as to why the man wouldn't stay to explain himself.

At this, Walker gave a short chuckle. "I have my own friends to call. They could be of help to you if you give them the chance." Walker finally rested his cane against the ground again, likely fixing himself to make his exit. "Please keep this in mind. Now that humanity has stood tall, she won't hesitate to kick your knees from under you. This is the last fall. This won't just break you Ozpin, it will break everyone."

His words pierced Ozpin's soul like a hot needle, a feeling he was starting to feel would stick with him for some time.

"I have faith in you, my friend. You have worked long and hard. Your victory will come." With that, Walker turned and, with a gesture of his metal arm, summoned a spiraling blue portal. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm running out of time." He waved and stepped through the portal, it closing behind him almost instantly.

Ozpin stood over his desk, leaning on his cane and staring at the spot the man had vanished for what seemed hours. The weight of the day's events slowly weighed down on him until he sank back into his chair, and leaned back to look at the ceiling. With a huff, he collapsed his cane and set it on his desk. Right in the center was the scroll Walker had left him. His "Book of Prophesy." While he wasn't one for religion, having created a few himself, if the man's words were true there could be no other name for it. He picked it up and held it in the palm of his hand. "Information from the future. What a frightening thought." He muttered.

Closing his eyes, the memory of Amber trapped in her machine entered his mind. He frowned as he recalled seeing his own body buried under molten steel. Under this very building. This office will be the execution ground for a young girl, and the nest of an ancient grimm. He shuddered.

He replaced the scroll and pulled his own out of his pocket. Two o'clock. "Gods." He muttered. He could almost laugh. He swiped through his contacts before calling Glynda. He fought the urge to smile when her face appeared on the screen.

"Finished already?" She asked eyebrow raised.

"Yes, Mr. Walker saw himself out." He said in his most even tone of voice. "Glynda, I need to get in contact with James and Qrow as soon as possible. There is something we need to discuss."