Volume 4, Chapter 10:

It was a calm afternoon in Vacuo, the townspeople going through their usual daily activities while the newcomers from Atlas and Mantle continue to adjust to this new life in a new kingdom.

Outside of the UNIT facility, the TARDIS makes its landing though it feels like a silent, somber feeling. Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor remained in there with a soulless expression. He hasn't spoken nor looked at Sora and Dalek Khan since Weiss fell in the portal.

Sora: Doctor, please. Say something. What are we going to tell Willow and the others? How are they going to react?

No response from the Doctor. Sora wanted to let out her frustration but at the same time, she understood what he was feeling. He watched his friends fall and has been on a nonstop search for them. Now that he had an opening on them, he goes on to lose Weiss...

Dalek Khan: We will come up with an excuse until the Doctor is ready to speak.

Sora: Good idea. That'll give him a bit of space as well. Keep him company, girl.

The TARDIS replied with low noises as the two waited for a reaction or response by the Doctor but there was nothing. It's like mentally, the Doctor wasn't here which saddened them. They leave the TARDIS and closed the doors as they are met with Willow and Winter.

Willow: What happened? Has the breach been secured?

Winter: Were you able to stop the Rani?

Sora: *sighs* The Rani got away before we could stop her. As for the breach, it was a portal to escape Remnant but it would have caused a huge ripple that could have destroyed Remnant. The Doctor was able to adjust it and prevent but...

Winter: But what? Where's the Doctor and Weiss?

Sora: They were able to use that same portal to detect where Ruby and the others are. However, the portal was closing...and two of us had to use our Sonics to keep the portal running a bit longer which meant only one of us can go through.

Winter: *eyes widened* Weiss...

Sora: The Doctor tried to stop her and insisted that he can go through but she refused. The Doctor and I used our Sonics to hold the portal a little longer while Weiss went through before the portal closed completely.

Willow: *sighs softly* Of course she would, especially if it's to bring her friends back. I just hope things will be alright. She might be immortal but she's still my daughter and a mother should always be caring for her children. *Looks over at Winter*

Sora: *smiles softly* So much like my mom. She would say the same thing, only difference was I'm not immortal but growing up every day. Weiss was calm and confident but the Doctor...he's not taking it well...

Winter: He probably would have wanted to do it himself-

Dalek Khan: THE TARDIS!

A loud thud was heard behind the four as they heard the wheezing mechanical noise, turned around, and saw the TARDIS slowly dematerialize into thin air. They could only watch but knew He was still inside and he was going to do something risky.

Sora: DOCTOR! GET BACK HERE! DOCTOR!

Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor only had his eyes on the screen as he travelled through the time vortex with one thing in mind: Finding The Rani.

The TARDIS made loud noises to try and get the Doctor's attention but he ignored them as he only had his eyes and thoughts on the Rani. He wanted to end her. He wanted her to pay for what she did on the bridge and the portal that took away Weiss.

The Doctor: I am truly sorry I'm forcing you to get me there, but I'm done playing around with her.

As the Doctor waited for the arrival, the TARDIS changed her colors of the interior from normal to red as the cloister bells rang which startled the Doctor.

The Doctor: What is this?! What's going on? Are you doing this to stop me?!

A sudden stop shook the entire the TARDIS and sent the Doctor flying onto the control panel and landing roughly before falling unconscious...

He groaned and held his head in pain as he opened his eyes slowly to see he was in an all-white space. He looked around to see absolutely nothing but white space. He tried to pull out his Sonic Screwdriver but it was missing.

The Doctor: Where am I? What is this?

Woman Voice: Your therapy room.

The Doctor turned around and noticed a young woman, about his physical age, messy, curly hair tied up in a ponytail, wearing a buttoned blue shirt, black pleated skirt, and a dark blue hoodie-blazer-trench coat.

The Doctor: I don't understand. Who are you?

Woman: Do you not know me? Just because I look like this? *Fancy poses*

The Doctor: I am in no mood to chat with you. I'm in the middle of something very important.

Woman: Important or personal? You were very explosive and you needed to cool yourself down.

The Doctor: How do you even know that?

The strange woman sighed before approaching the Doctor and whistled her mouth but instead of an ordinary whistle, it was the noise of the TARDIS when it would descend and arrive.

The Doctor: *eyes widened in shock* You're not...

TARDIS: Time and Relative Dimension in Space. *salutes* Reporting for duty!

The Doctor: No...No you are not. You're a bitey, mad lady. The TARDIS is wibbly wobbly stuff in a big blue box.

TARDIS: Yes, that's me. A Type 40 TARDIS. A museum piece turned emergency escape pod when the Time War began.

The Doctor: And on that last day we met...

TARDIS: I wanted to live and escape just as you. Fate brought us together. We escaped and now we travel across time and space in a different universe that we were very unfamiliar with.

The Doctor: And now, you've turned yourself human to stop me from getting to the Rani.

TARDIS: I get what you are feeling. I'm a sentient being too and I know that pain of losing our friends. But your emotions are getting the worst of you to come out.

The Doctor: No, I am not! I know when my emotions get too high and this is not it! It's about enough is enough! I gave her a chance but the moment she declined it; she has created herself a much bigger problem with me! She's the reason my family is somewhere else that we can't access through and now she's the same reason Weiss fell to the portal!

TARDIS: But that Weiss's choice, wasn't it? I thought you said you trusted her.

The Doctor: You have been with me ever since arriving to this universe. Don't you think you've seen what we went through, the difficult moments I had to go through!

TARDIS: And you think I just stay there and watch you be at our lowest?

The Doctor: You did. But you still let me go where I wanted to go.

TARDIS: No, I always took you where you needed to go. I've been taking good care of you from doing stupid things a madman like you would do.

The Doctor: You are not my sister.

TARDIS: And you are my little brother. That's how I've always seen us. You would act so reckless in the beginning and sometimes you still do to this day. And whenever Dalek Khan or Team RWBY aren't around, well, someone has to put you in your place.

The Doctor: You know, I find it funny that we never got to talk before and I thought it was impossible. I've done so many things and went through so much but you never chose to do this yet when I need to do something right, you decided to do the impossible and make this.

TARDIS: Something right or something personal. And I have been there for you in those difficult times.

The Doctor: Is that so? Name them? Name a time you were the one leading and not me.

TARDIS: *sighs* You really are a hot head. *Crosses arms* Let's start when I made Weiss look into my heart and became one with the time vortex. She pleaded to do anything just to save you and Team RBY, even threatened me. I knew the risk but I can tell her heart and spirit were strong to hold it. You wanted to explore more of Remnant's history and guess where I took you, Vacuo.

The Doctor: The Crown Family...

TARDIS: Exactly. It was me because I saw it and I knew only one person could stop this horror and make a change, that was you. And the biggest one of all, who do you think contacted The Doctor, The Original you might say.

The Doctor: *eyes widened* YOU?!

TARDIS: With you gone and Team RWBY unable to stop the Void on their own, I sent out an emergency alert near the crack of the universe, hoping he would come and he did. And you know what happened from there. Not only did I do my job to help but I also saved you so you're welcome.

The Doctor had no words as he thought about what the TARDIS listed down and he had to admit that she was indeed right. Those important key moments happened because of her whenever he couldn't get it done.

TARDIS: Do you ever wonder why I chose you on the last day of the Time War?

The Doctor: I chose you. You were the only TARDIS remaining and we needed to escape.

TARDIS: Of course I was. But I also wanted to see the universe, so I stole a Time Lord and I ran away. And you were the only one mad enough. If I didn't choose you, I would have left you and Dalek Khan stranded on Remnant, never to see me again.

The Doctor: So what changed your mind? What made you decide "to hell with this"?

TARDIS: *smiles and flicks his head* You, silly. You were quite a different and interesting Time Lord. Young, Brand New, Smart, Clever, Idiotic, and most important, Kind.

The Doctor: *sighs and rubs my face* Well, what do you see now?

TARDIS: That same Madman with a Blue Police Box. More experienced, Matured, a bit less bright than before but that's how it's going to be but you'll always be on top as long as you don't lose yourself. And in the many years, adventures to come, we'll always be together.

The Doctor: The TARDIS and The Doctor. Sounds like we'll be stuck with each other and annoying one another.

TARDIS: *giggles then hugs him* I'll take you to her...but promise to not lose yourself and remember the Doctor you are of.

It felt weird at first, being hugged by the TARDIS in human form but the Doctor slowly returned the hug. She's always been by his side since the beginning, before meeting Team RWBY, before Remnant, and for that, he was thankful.

The Doctor: *pulls away* It's a shame. We won't be able to do this again. Our first and last time.

TARDIS: Hmmm. Never say Never dork.

She flicked him on the forehead once again, this time with a jolt of electricity that causes the Doctor to gasp and grunt in pain. He looked around and noticed he was back inside the TARDIS, he stood up and immediately looked at the control console as if she was looking back at him.

The Doctor: Thank you girl, I promise to complete your promise.

The TARDIS rang a few noises from different buttons that sounded like a comforting response before she lands at the next destination. The Doctor checked the map on the screen and took a deep breath as he made his way to the doors.

The Doctor: I'll be back. *Looks back at her* And I'll be okay.

And with that, the Doctor closed the doors to his TARDIS and looked around as he was no longer in Vacuo. By the looks of the current area he was in, he licked his finger and lifted it in the air.

The Doctor: Hmm, Uncharted Island, No Human Population nor Grimm, Menagerie isn't far from here either. I think I'll call this island...*thinks* Barcelona!

Now the Doctor returned to focus and made his walk towards the deep woods of Barcelona to find the Rani and end this before she causes more damage for her own experimental pleasures.

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Everything was pitch black yet the calm noise of the sea was heard. It was soothing and relaxing despite not seeing anything in the dark until a small light came to view and it got bigger every moment she walked towards it. Gone was the darkness and she was somehow at a beach. It wasn't the same beach where she woke up in the Ever After though...

She looked around, it looked like Remnant, it felt like Remnant, was it all just a dream? Was the Ever After just one bad dream she was having?

Ruby: *looks around* Yang!...Weiss!...Blake!...

It was too peaceful and quiet for her that it was beginning to make her feel uncomfortable but she saw a figure waving at her. They were pretty far to get a good view but it did look like they were waving at Ruby.

Ruby: Hello?...

Ruby slowly began to walk towards the blurry figure who was still waving at her. As the view began to clear out better, Ruby could tell it was a girl as well that was waving at her. She also seemed to shouting something but still couldn't hear her properly. Ruby made a run for it but still felt like she wasn't moving at all.

She stopped the moment she heard the voice calling out to her...

Penny: Ruby! *Waves and smiles* Ruby!

Ruby: *eyes widened with tears* P-Penny...

Penny: There you are! I've been waiting for you, silly.

Tears fell even more from her eyes as Ruby could finally feel herself running and ran right to Penny. She opened her arms, ready to give her the greatest and biggest hug in the universe.

Ruby: PENNY!

But the moment she went for the hug, everything disappeared and everything went pitch black once again.

Yang: RUBY WAKE UP?!

Ruby gasped immediately and sat up, looking around and to her worst fears, she was still in the Ever After. She slowly stood up and noticed her team still small while Little was waving a leaf at her.

Yang: Are you okay?

Blake: You fainted on us for about 20 minutes.

Ruby: I...*thinks and looks down* I'll be okay...

Ruby went on to pick up her friends and placed them around her hood but they were all still worried about her regarding what was the fate of Penny in the end. They heard a purring nearby and knew it was the cat approaching them once again but truth be told, they were not in the mood for it.

Curious Cat: First things first. What are you? What did you need to talk to the King about? And what is your favorite dessert?

Ruby: *sighs in frustration* What, again? We're humans, and-

Curious Cat: Ugh, I must say, you're not nearly as interesting as the others I've met. What about...*spots a butterfly* Hold that thought. *Chases it*

Weiss: What's the deal with this cat?

Blake: That's not just any cat. When Alyx was lost, she met the Curious Cat, who loved to ask questions.

Yang: And the Curious Cat helped Alyx find the tree.

Weiss: Wait, so the cat is our ticket out of here?

Yang: Rubes, don't let that cat get away!

Little: Cat! What cat?!

Ruby ran and followed the cat for the most important thing was not to lose sight of it. It falls onto a bush of leaves trying to get the butterfly as Ruby approached it with a sigh of relief.

Ruby: Um...Excuse me?

Curious Cat: *pops out* You're excused!

Ruby: Uh...Hello, uh, cat. Curious Cat? Which one do you go by?

Curious Cat: Oh! I don't go by. That belongs to the days and the years. But if you are asking what I am, I am indeed a cat, most curious with a hint of madness.

Ruby: Of course. Look, my friends and I really need to get to that giant tree, and so far, nothing we tried has gotten us any further.

Weiss: It looks to me like we're even farther!

Yang: Yeah, I think that's because we're six inches tall.

Weiss: It could be both.

Curious Cat: The tree...Tree, tree, tree, tree...*gasps* Of course. That is most definitely impossible. You do not go to the tree, the tree goes to you. Unless, of course, you're me, you see.

Yang: Not even a little bit.

Curious Cat: Well, that's your problem. It's a matter of perspective, I'm afraid.

Ruby: But, uh, couldn't you take us then? You'd been there before.

Curious Cat: So why would I ever want to go back? Yes, I'm glad we understand one another. No sense in seeing a sight seen.

Blake: Please. You helped Alyx when she was-

Curious Cat: Alyx? ''Alyx'' Alyx? How do you know her? Are you friends of hers? Lifelong nemeses? Wait. Don't tell me. Okay. No, tell me.

Ruby: Oh, well, we don't know her personally. Just uh...

Weiss: She wrote a book about her entire adventure in the Ever After.

Curious Cat: A book? Is it well-liked?

Blake: It's kind of a childhood favorite of everyone's, where we're from.

Curious Cat: Yes. Oh, please. I simply must know more. What did she write about? How was I portrayed?

Ruby: Whoa, wait up! We're getting out of subject. Didn't you have questions for us? We'll be happy to answer them.

Curious Cat: I sense a "but" approaching.

Ruby: No, no! Uh, I mean… we do still need to go to the tree, but that'll take ages, right? Plenty of time to tell you all the stuff from our world. *Chuckles nervously* Look! *Pulls out her Scroll* Ever seen a Scroll before? Oooooh!

Curious Cat: Luminous rectangle! *Grabs the scroll* Ooh! What does this button do? *Snaps a picture* Hmm. Why is it painting tiny flat versions of me? Is that what I look like when smiling? I've so many more questions, how exciting!

Weiss: Hook, line, and sinker.

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 30 MINUTES LATER / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Curious Cat: So the old man and the boy share a body now? Ooh, that's got some uncomfortable implications. Who thought that was a helpful way to reincarnate? The same people who put a city in the sky? Ooh, speaking of Atlas, did that Ciel girl from the Vytal Festival ever come back in a notable way? Hoo hoo! There's just so many characters to keep track of! Wait, what was my original question?

Yang: *exhausted* Blake… It's your turn.

Blake: *exhausted* You asked about the origins of Remnant.

Curious Cat: That's right! Ooh, those two Brothers! Talk about a god complex, am I right? Sounds just like Time Lords alright! *sighs* All in all, a rather entertaining summary, though I felt some of the character voices were a bit uninspired. *Looks at Weiss* Looking at you, Wise Huntress.

Weiss: Again, it's Weiss. Just Weiss.

Curious Cat: *chuckles* Apologies. To your credit, you lot certainly know more about the beginnings of Remnant than Alyx did, and that girl could barely see past her own nose.

Ruby: Oh, what do you mean?

Curious Cat: Don't you know? Just hilariously concerned with trivial things.

Blake: Yeah, but she learned her lesson in the end, right?

Curious Cat: *pauses* I'd certainly say so.

Weiss: Change of topic since you are soooo into questions, do you know anything about a certain being on this world that's been terrorizing and causing mayhem?

Curious Cat: Not that I know of. This world looks the same to me.

Blake: But the Red Prince and his soldiers were reacting in a horrifying way when they mentioned his name?

Curious Cat: And what is the name that is summoned upon, terrorizing these poor souls.

Ruby: *gulps and breathes* The Master...

Curious Cat: *stops and looks at them* The Master?

Weiss: He's a Time Lord. A very insane and dangerous one as well.

Curious Cat: *chuckles* Well my dear...I've got some news for you lot. I. Am. The Master.

The girls' hearts stopped and their bodies froze in that very moment hearing those chilling four words. They've always heard it when the Doctor and it brought them smiles but this...this terrified them...

Until...

Curious Cat: Of curiosity. Guilty as charged.

All that fear was plunged away and instead, anger fueled up in each of them by this joke of the Curious Cat. If only they could show them that The Master isn't something to laugh about.

Curious Cat: Unfortunately, I have not seen nor heard of such thing about The Master.

Yang: Y-You...YOU?!-

Blake: You never heard of him? But, didn't you see or at least heard how the castle reacted?

Curious Cat: My dear cat friend, we are all masters at something like me. I am the Master of Curiosity.

Weiss: The Drums! They also mentioned the Drums-

Curious Cat: However, you did mention something called Time Lord? What is that to be precise? A book? A clock keeper? A superior species? Or just a fancy name for your old man in young boy's body?

Ruby: Well, Time Lords are like...

Weiss: They are advanced species of aliens. Watchers of Time itself.

Curious Cat: How delightful! And what about this Doctor and Rani you have mentioned before?

Ruby: Another long story but this one's very hopeful and good...except for The Rani...

Curious Cat: Oh, I already know that.

Team RWBY continue their walk through the Ever After with the Curious Cat, unaware of the malicious intent hiding within. Their focus was important and clear at the moment to find Jaune and find a way back home. Only one problem...

They weren't the only one that fell...

In a dark land that is still part of the Ever After where dark, thunderous clouds surround the skies, the Jabblewalker runs and looks for any food to devour.

Jabberwalker: Go...Run...Fix...

BOOM!

A loud boom echoes through the dark area which gets the attention of the Jabblewalker as it looks up and notices a pink-colored light crashing down to the dark area. The Jabblewalker climbs on a cliff and notices a figure standing up then changes her look to Ruby Rose then changes once again to Cinder Fall as who she saw the very last time.

It was Neopolitan who made her arrival to the Ever After...

Jabberwalker: Find...

The Jabblewalker crawled down and preyed on Neo which she noticed and got back up in defensive stance, not knowing what she's facing or if it could be killed. But just as she positioned herself to fight it, pink glows right next to her and an exact clone copy of herself appears. And another Neo clone appeared...

And another...

Another one...

Jabberwalker: Stop...It...

Soon, there was an army of Neopolitan clones while the real one watched in amazement then understood that this world is something different and could be used for her own plans, her revenge on Ruby Rose, Cinder Fall, anyone who dared looked down on her.

Neo smirks at the Jabblewalker as it begins to cower back and she snaps her fingers as the army of herself march towards the Jabblewalker with their weapons. And this was just the beginning of what awaits for Neopolitan...

Jabberwalker: Cease! No! NO! NOOOOOO!