Volume 4, Chapter 15:
Weiss: Father?...
Standing in front of Team RWBY was the Chief, the name that Jaune and Pyrrha had for him. And here at this moment, it turns out to be none other than Jacques Schnee himself...
Jacques: Weiss?...W-What are you doing here?!...H-How?!
Weiss: I...I could ask you the same thing!...
Jacques: My daughter! Thank you God!
Jacques moved forward with his arms open as if he wanted to hug her but Weiss instantly moved back in shock, feeling frozen at the sight of her father here in the Ever After. Jacques was a bit taken aback at Weiss's response until he saw her eyes trembling with fear and a horrifying revelation came to his mind.
Jacques: Oh no...Ahem! My apologies. I...thought you were my daughter at first...
Yang: J-Jaune...what is he-
Jaune: *sighs* I should have been more cautious about this. This is Jacques Tyler. He is also from Earth...like Pyrrha...
Jacques: I do apologize for startling you miss, for a moment I thought it was my own daughter.
Weiss could only look at the man that was identical to her own father but at the same time, she could tell he was very different. His appearance and his reaction to her is completely different.
Jacques: Please, come on in before it gets more cold.
Everyone made their way inside, felt themselves comfortable and warmed up by the fireplace as Jacques and Pyrrha brought out bowls for soup for everyone to eat as Weiss continue to inspect the Earth version of her father.
Jacques: Huntresses. *chuckles* I'll be damn. If anything, those are stories from centuries ago.
Yang: You don't have Huntsmen or Huntresses in your world?
Pyrrha: We did, but not in our current era...well the last time we were there.
Blake: If it's okay to ask, how did you two even end up here in the Ever After?
Jacques: Well, for starters, Miss Arkos and I are from the same world but different eras. I was born in 1963.
Pyrrha: And I was born in 2005.
Jacques: I ended up here...trying to lure away enemy from finding people including my family...
This was the turning point for Weiss. Her own father would never do this kind of act, he would have pushed the people towards Grimm or Cybermen just for him to escape. This version of her father was actually sacrificing himself so others can live on...
Jacques: As I continue luring them towards me, I fell deeper into a cave and next thing I know, it all went pitch black. And after what felt like an eternity sleep, I wake up here. No idea of what this world is and no way back...
Blake: I'm...really sorry to hear that...*looks at Weiss* That's why when you saw Weiss, you thought it was your daughter.
Jacques: Well, she is...just from another world. What is your last name, if you don't mind me asking?
Weiss: Schnee, sir. Weiss Schnee.
Jacques: I see.
Yang: What about you, Pyrrha? You found Jaune when you got here but how did you end up here?
Pyrrha: *sighs* History exploration gone wrong hehe. I was exploring a few historical sites...closed off from the public but a girl like me couldn't resist. I stumbled across the same site where Jacques was having the enemy chase after him, exploring the site where the army was able to rescue the survivors and trap in multiple enemies in there to finish the battle. As I got deeper, an earthquale happened to rattle the place and sorta crumbled apart and I fell...next thing I know, I wake up here as well. I was scared yet intrigued by the Ever After but tried to focus on getting myself back home. And in that route, I stumbled upon Jaune...
Yang: Sheesh...
Blake: You said there was some war going on? What happened?
Jacques: Not war, my dear. An invasion.
Pyrrha: One of the country's enemy decided to attack in silence at first and start the invasion-
Jacques: I'm sorry Miss Arkos, an enemy of the country?
Pyrrha: Y-Yeah? That's what history has told us. Documentaries, Books, Education.
Jacques: So they really did keep it a secret.
Weiss: What did?
Jacques: I was there the day the invasion began. It was no enemy of the country...it was something else...
Pyrrha: What?...
Blake: Was it something unusual?
Jacques: *nods* A few of us heard that if the battle were to be won, the government were going to cover it up as an unprovoked attack by one of our enemy's countries. But that isn't true at all because even they were attacked and invaded.
Blake: By what?
Jacques: *clenches fist* An army...known as the Cybermen...
The sheer horror in the eyes of Team RWBY and Jaune at this heavy drop by Jacques of what was attacking them on Earth yet Pyrrha remained confused by all of this.
Pyrrha: That...can't be. History books, teachers, museums, all those places say-
Jacques: They didn't want the rest of the world to know. One of the soldiers told me that when the war was over, the governments around the world would claim it was an inside attack by a rebellious group but in reality, it was men...former men now robots...
Weiss: Seeing that the future still remains after you fell in the Ever After...do you have any idea how the downfall perhaps began? I don't want you to relive those horrifying moments when the Cybermen attacked.
Jacques: *thinks* Faintly but I can remember one specific part enough. These Cybermen had a base that was creating them and transporting them to different parts of the world. Someone was able to find the base and destroy it. Some raggedy man apparently that appeared in a mysterious blue box. If I'm right, I think the name I heard for him was...The Doctor.
Even more truth bombs dropped like a nuke on the girls and Jaune at all of this. The Cybermen were close to taking over Earth until the Doctor showed up and stopped them. But the girls and Jaune questioned How? Weiss had a different question in mind, Which Doctor was it? Their Doctor or the Original.
Weiss: Doctor...
Jacques: Yes! It was stated that he was an old man, not too old like me, he found a way to outsmart those Cybermen and destroyed the base.
Weiss: *stands up* I know who he is!
Jacques: You do?!
Yang: Yeah! He's our friend and the protector of Remnant like us.
Weiss: No, Yang! It's not our Doctor! It's the Original, the one we met when we stopped the Void. *breathes* I'll deconstruct everything before it gets more confusing. The Doctor is part of an advanced civilization known as the Time Lords. They're from a planet known as Gallifrey which other Time Lords existed and that's where he's from. It also happened to be where our Doctor is from and just like you and Pyrrha falling here, our Doctor happened to cross universes and land in our world, Remnant.
Jacques: I see. There are two Doctors then, one in my universe and one in yours.
Weiss: *nods* So, we actually happen to meet the Original Doctor, the one that saved your world from the Cybermen.
Jacques: Remarkable...
Pyrrha: So...everything we've been told throughout history has been...a lie?
Jaune: Perhaps for your own good and the safety of the human race. Especially if the last time you were back home, things were peaceful.
Jacques: *looks over to Blake* Young lady, why are you hiding your ears?
Blake: O-Oh! I uh...well...back in our world, there's people like me that have animal traits around them. We're usually called Faunus.
Jacques: That's absurd. There's no need for people like you to hide incredible traits that makes you...You! Everyone has a gift, everyone isn't perfect but we shall NEVER view others as inferiors.
The girls especially Weiss and Blake were left in shocked by the sudden reaction by Jacques. In Remnant, Weiss knew her father would hate on them, insult them, and say very cruel, harsh things but this version of her father...was so much different. He was respectable, wants others to be true to themselves, and is kind. This was definitely getting weird for Weiss.
Blake: T-Thank you sir...
Yang: I assume you also have Faunus problems on your world, sir?
Jacques: Actually, on Earth we don't have Faunus. We don't have people with animal traits. But unfortunately, we still have people who mock and insult others for very poor reasons. It's sad because the world was meant for us to live together in peace and unity yet...we are nowhere near.
Yang: Tsk. Know the feeling.
Jacques: I do want to ask you four, what exactly are you doing down here as well?
Blake: We...had a bad situation occur in our home world that had us land here. Now, we're just trying to get back to the tree and go home.
Jaune: But I told them that the tree was not the way back.
Pyrrha: Jaune-
Jaune: That the tree only feeds on the lives that die here. But don't worry, I've been mapping out this place and I'm close to finding the actual spot to return to Remnant eventually. That reminds me!
Jaune left the room momentarily while Team RWBY looked at each other with concern and disagreements about this but Weiss looked over and saw both Jacques and Pyrrha disappointed which gave her the feeling that this has been ongoing for a while. Jaune comes back with a large chest in his hands and places it in front of Ruby.
Jaune: Hey, there's...something I've been holding onto for you. It was the first thing I saw. When I was falling. *Opens the chest*
The chest opened as Ruby looked inside and gasped at what was in front of her after so long: Crescent Rose!
Yet...why did it feel so different looking at it...
Jaune: Years later, when I finally found it, I knew I'd caught back up to the t- Ruby?
Ruby: Huh? O-Oh, thank you Jaune...this meant a lot...thank you...
Jaune: Don't mention it.
Yang: Woo-Hoo!
Jacques: I think it's time we all rest for the night and prepare for a new day tomorrow. This day was very much more than anticipated.
Jaune: You're right, Jacques. Time to head off for the night.
Ruby: Jaune...What did happen to Lewis?
Jaune: *sighs and looks at Ruby* I think...Alyx traded him to the tree, in order to leave. And then she wrote him out of the story. Good night, everyone.
The others watched as Jaune headed to his room and was out for the night while Ruby looked down at Crescent Rose with a gloomy expression before closing the chest once again.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
It was a silent night, the stars were shining beautifully, crickets being heard from afar, that's what made it beautiful. Weiss sat outside the house watching the stars as she took a deep sigh and looked down at her engagement ring as a painful expression came from her thinking about him.
The pain was growing each time she thought of him, how he was when he had to let her go to land here...and to know about his possible death soon to happen...She already wished she could just get out of this world and go back to him. Now she was understanding how he must've felt during those 300 years of being by himself after the Fall of Beacon...
Jacques: Shouldn't you be in bed, miss?
Weiss gasped as she looked back and her eyes widened to see the man that has her father's look. That voice and question gave her chills as it reminded her of the harsh times with him but this version of Jacques, he was looking at her with concern.
Weiss: Y-Yeah! Sorry! Just...having trouble sleeping. You?
Jacques: Nah, I usually stay up an hour more after everyone sleeps just to patrol the place. Mind if I join you?
Weiss: N-No! Not at all! *Scoots over*
Jacques: *sits down and looks around* Amazing isn't it? No matter where you are, you'll find the most beautiful sight of the stars.
Weiss: I'll say. I've seen them up and close...the universe is so big and so beautiful...
Jacques: Up and close you say?
Weiss: Ah...yeah...hehe. My friends and I...we travel with the Doctor. We've seen many things in all of space and time.
Jacques: So his police box is a time machine?
Weiss: YeeeP! Crazy right?
Jacques: You're asking me if that's crazy when we're in another world? *chuckles*
Weiss: *embarrassed but giggles* D'OH! Silly me.
Jacques: I am sorry for startling you earlier as well, you really reminded me of my little girl.
Weiss: No, No, it's okay! I'm...glad it brought back memories. I wish I could say the same when I saw you...reminded me a lot of my father...
Jacques: *looks at her* Oh no...Let me guess, I was your father in your world but I was a very different man.
Weiss: *nods slowly* Yeah...that...*breathes* He never cared for me or my siblings. Never cared for my mom, instead he made us all worse, weak, *closes eyes* Just thinking about it brings back bad memories already...
Jacques: I am...terribly sorry. If I had the choice to change this face, I would have. *Chuckles softly*
Weiss: N-No! Please don't say that! I know you're much different and better man than my own father. All he cared about was fortune, fame, and power.
Jacques: You know, none of that stuff ever interested me. Instead, I saw it as what leads to the downfall of peace and unity like how I wished our world and our people were.
Weiss: You...weren't part of a rich family?
Jacques: *scoffs* Good God no. And I'm glad. Back in my world, I was raised by my hardworking mother and caring father. We lived out in this amazing field in the mountains and we would grow lots of food and vegetables. Once they were ready and there was A lot, we would sell them to the nearest town. I was a very happy young boy living the life and growing up with two wonderful parents.
Weiss: Wow. That's...really great to hear. I could tell by the crops nearby and the amazing soup you made.
Jacques: I'll lend you on a secret, Soup taste near perfect when all ingredients are home grown. Just a tip.
Weiss: *giggles* Noted. So...what else happened?
Jacques: Well, as I grew up, I continued helping my parents, finished school, and started to work every week selling my parents fruits and vegetables at a farm market. Work would be twice a week but the amount we would get was enough to cover bills, food, and home. One day, I was approached by this beautiful woman...long, beautiful white hair, eyes that shined like diamonds, and a smile that would take down anyone. Her name was Willow.
Weiss: *mumbles* Mom...
Jacques: And I had the pleasure to make myself a fool and mess up my first impression. Messed up the fruits and vegetables I was trying to offer her, then I tried to look all gentleman like...not realizing I had placed my hand on my mom's honey jar.
Weiss: PFFFT! *Tries to not laugh* Sorry! Sorry! That's awful.
Jacques: I thought it was but she had that smile that was enough for me to know I won her over...well I thought to myself that...
Weiss: Hey, Farmboys can do anything to attract a woman.
Jacques: I'd say it was luck at the right time. She occasionally came every time the farm market would open and we got the chance to chat more, hang out, learn about each other, and grow closer until
Weiss: You made the first move!
Jacques: She did actually. Caught me off by surprise and kissed me with honey still on my lips. We were eating some delicious honeycombs and she decided to kiss me while I was a mess.
Weiss let out a laugh at Jacques's story of how he met Willow. This was something she unfortunately never got to have in her world with her father but hearing this story made it feel like she was actually Earth Jacques's child listening to funny backstories. It made her laugh ad smile, something that was never done with her father.
Weiss: Hey! At least you won her.
Jacques: I did. Turns out that Willow came from a big family that raised horses. A Horse girl meeting a Farmboy is a match made in heaven...or the countryside at least.
Weiss: *giggles more* Seems like it was a good life.
Jacques: It was. Never was it about money or fame, those are temporary or unimportant things in life. Living life to its fullest, enjoying your time, falling in love, making memories, that right there is what matters most.
This felt so weird yet extraordinary for Weiss to watch a different version of her father. In such little time, she felt like she finally got what she was missing.
Jacques: Years later, Willow and I have tied the knot and we went on to have three amazing children: Two boys and One girl. William our oldest son, Whitley our middle child, and Weiss our youngest and only daughter.
Weiss: Wow, that's really amazing to hear. Now I can see why you thought I was your daughter at first sight...
Jacques: Years of not seeing them...it pains me because I never got to see them again, didn't get to see my children grow up nor grow old together with Willow...Seeing you had me believe for a moment that I was reunited with my daughter...
Weiss: I'm...really sorry about that, Jacques...
Jacques: Oh no my dear, it's not your fault at all. It never was. I just wish...I could have seen them once again...
Weiss: *gets an idea* The Doctor! There could still be a way for you to reunite with them.
Jacques: You think so?
Weiss: Like I mentioned, his police box can travel across all of time and space. If possible, he could return you back home once we leave this place...
Jacques: I guess it is possible. That...would be such a wonderful moment...
Weiss smiled softly at seeing a very hopeful Jacques to finally see his family once again after who knows how long it has been. For her, this was enough to get what was missing from her life which was bonding time with her father...even though...he isn't her actual father but a different universe version. This was getting too confusing for Weiss...
Jacques: I imagine this must've been different for you. Shame that the person I am in your universe is an arrogant, greedy jackass. The most important thing in life is the people around you. Things can last for a while but family...that last forever.
Weiss smiled at the words given by Jacques and she couldn't agree more. In the beginning, it was the things that mattered to her; Now, it's about her friends and family. And right now, the impossible happened but she was happy that she got to talk to her father in a way and it was a needed talk. She looked back down on her engagement ring as she played with it, thinking about her Doctor.
Weiss: I hope you're okay, Doctor...
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Playing with his engagement ring as well like if there was a small connection between the two and no matter how far they are separated, the Doctor thought about Weiss as he looked on the life scans of Team RWBY and Jaune to still see them okay which was important for now.
The Doctor: I do hope you're doing alright, Weiss.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
The Doctor: Come in!
The doors to the TARDIS opened as the Doctor didn't look at who entered but had a feeling of who it could have been. Sora walked in alongside Dalek Khan who came to check on the Doctor.
Sora: How...are you holding up?...
The Doctor: I'll be alright...eventually...
Dalek Khan: Tsunami warnings have been deactivated and everything is looking normal across Remnant.
The Doctor: It was close, risky, but we got it done. Well...I did since I went on my own.
Sora: A black hole inside of Remnant, as if Grimm weren't enough chaos for this world.
The Doctor: Yeaaah that because Khan and I crashed here while escaping Daleks.
Sora: Mmmmm, not quite.
The Doctor: *looks at her* What do you mean? What do you know?
Sora: Well, that would be spoilers wouldn't it?
The Doctor: No because you aren't the only one to tell me something I don't know about the crack of the universe that led us crashing here. The Sylphs have told me back then that the crack was opened here to my original universe which meant that something happens here in the near future and you know about it!
Sora: Huh? Guess I underestimated you.
The Doctor: Your parents never did. Hmm, are you lacking behind Sora? *chuckles*
Sora: Oh shut up. I'll have you know that my parents raised me to be an Adventurer, not a fighter like them. Look, I cannot tell you anything too specific or slight revealing about what happens in the future. Just know this Doctor, you were meant to crash to this universe.
The Doctor: Our arrival...a fixed point in time...that's...pretty heavy to take in.
Dalek Khan: It was destined to happen and we did not know a single thing.
Sora: You two will learn more and experience it as you grow older.
The Doctor: OI! I'm only 500 years old!
Sora: Still an old man to me.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Another set of knock on the door caught the attention of the three as the doors opened to reveal Oscar peeking from outside. And right behind him was none other than Emerald, Ren, and Nora.
Oscar: Is...this a bad time? Willow is asking for you, Doctor.
The Doctor: Well then, Off I Go then. Khan, you and TARDIS keep an eye on the life scans of Team RWBY and Jaune. If you detect something or anythng goes off, alert me.
Dalek Khan: Understood!
The Doctor made his leave and walked back to UNIT HQ to see what Willow needed him for. He however already had a bad feeling about what was going on.
It did not help at all once he entered one of the main rooms that also happen to have Qrow, Winter, and Raven. It was looking to be a repeat of the first meeting at Shade Academy.
Willow: I do apologize Doctor but this is urgent.
The Doctor: When is it not? Fortunately by now, most of us are used to it.
Willow: We have detected Cybermen activity near Vacuo.
The Doctor: Hmm. *thinks* Cybermen activity here yet Salem is still currently in Vale trying to find the Relic.
Winter: Any possible ideas as to what it could be?
The Doctor: Many possibilities and not good ones either. For starters, it could be another underground factory, they're trying to advance the search for the last Relic here, or they are trying to plan an ambush. Whatever they are doing, it's not good at all and there isn't much time to fully discuss it out.
Shalka: Doctor, have you considered the idea of it being a trap?
The Doctor: *thinks* You might be on to something, Shalka.
Emerald: Why would it be a trap for him? Are they really that stupid to think trapping the Doctor would be a success?
The Doctor: The trap isn't for me specifically.
Shalka: The Relic of Choice is inside the Doctor's TARDIS. If they know that the Relic isn't in Vale, they know the Doctor took it which means they now want to trap him to access the TARDIS and retrieve the Relic.
Nora: Ohhhh, that's just very bad...
The Doctor: I'll give you my respect for that, Shalka. Years of long battles and your species know very well how ambush and traps can be set.
Willow: Okay, so then what will be the plan? If the Cybermen want your TARDIS, you can't go and face them.
The Doctor: I've got a few ideas in mind. If the Cybermen think they can outsmart me, big mistake.
Raven: You do realize that you're the sole reason they're coming here right?
All eyes landed on the Branwen sister which Qrow facepalmed at his sister's outburst towards the Doctor. He knew it was a big mistake as the Doctor no longer had Weiss to hold him back. Only a smirk appeared on the Doctor's face which gave the others very bad chills.
The Doctor: Is that so? Go on.
Raven: If they do know that you have the Relic and now they're trying to lure you in, congratulations you killed everyone here. Didn't happen to think that through didn't ya?
Qrow: Raven...
The Doctor: How you were given the power of the Spring Maiden truly surprises me. Oh wait, you weren't given the power. YOU stole it.
Sora: Doctor-
The Doctor: The Spring Maiden herself, Raven Branwen. Or as the kids like to call you nowadays, Runaway Branwen.
Raven: *stands up* EXCUSE ME?!
Oscar: Uh oh...
The Doctor: Sounds about right. I want people to call you Runaway Branwen. I want children laughing outside your door, because they've found the house of Raven "Runaway" Branwen because that's all you do! You get the Maiden powers, Runaway. You create a cult of your own, Runaway. You tried to retrieve the Relic of Knowledge but instead Yang got it, Runaway.
Raven: I had a reason for all-
The Doctor: TO HELL WITH THAT?! YOU ONLY HAD ONE VERY SPECIFIC REASON AND THAT IS THE ONLY TRUTH TO IT AND THAT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE SCARED!
Silence filled the room that you could hear a pin drop. Pissing off the Doctor is on everyone's Not to Do list and unfortunately, they are seeing it happen and it was dreadful and terrifying. There was no helping Raven out of this now.
Raven: Yes, I was scared. Yes, I-
The Doctor: No. No, you will not guilt your way out of this talk until I am finished. Yang Xiao Long is born, she's amazing, strong, talented, quirky, Puntastic, and most importantly, special. Yang is born, Runaway. And you know what pisses me off the most? She told you straight to your face to change and be better. That she believed you can be a great mother one day and you know what you did? You broke her promise as you broke her heart and spirit so many times AND I AM NOT OKAY WITH THAT?!
Raven: W-What do you mean-
The Doctor: Vytal Festival at Haven Academy in Mistral. The day we confronted the Slitheen. Barbara Dunkelman. Ring any bell?
Raven: *eyes widened* N-No...it couldn't be...
The Doctor: That was Yang! IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN YANG! SHE SAID TO YOU BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED YOU CAN CHANGE AND BE BETTER BUT YOU ENDED UP BEING THE SAME COWARD THAT ONLY KILLS AND HURT PEOPLE JUST TO SURVIVE! You broke your daughter way beyond that you will not be forgiven. It's to the point where she calls Summer Rose her mother and she only calls you by your first name.
Raven had no words and her eyes were that filled with guilt, defeat, regret, and broken. The Doctor's words were like poison that made way to her heart and she could look down in shame. But he wasn't done just yet.
The Doctor: She lost her arm, her spirit was broken for a short time, she struggled with trauma, she just went through her most difficult battle yet with Ruby and the others in Atlas, and they fell...We thought they died but No. They are still alive and lost somewhere out there. Where were you, Runaway Branwen?
No response from Raven which upset the Doctor even more.
The Doctor: WHERE WERE YOU, RUNAWAY BRANWEN?
Willow: Doctor, that's enough! Please...
Sora: She's right! Team RWBY wouldn't want this from you, not to mention we already have trouble right now with the Cybermen.
The Doctor: *sighs deeply* Right. Right. *Looks at Raven then at the map* I already have a plan but first, I'm going to need a team.
Winter: What kind of team?
Nora: How big of a team?
The Doctor: Perhaps the best team in Vacuo right now and I am looking at them...