Volume 4, Chapter 13:
It was dark and it was quiet...too quiet...
The last thing she remembered was being strangled to death by the Doctor of all people before falling unconscious. That realization that she's not dead hit her as The Rani got up gasping for air and looked around. She knew where she was but she wasn't expecting her to be here...She was inside the TARDIS.
The Rani: The TARDIS?...*looks around and smirks* My TARDIS now.
Wasting no time at all, The Rani got up and made her way to the control panel. She had the TARDIS in the palm of her hands and it was a victorious moment for her now. But as she pressed one button, a sudden jolt of electricity hit her and sent her to the ground once again.
The Rani: *grunts* What...the hell?...
The Doctor: You were not kidding. She was gonna let her instincts get the best of her.
The Rani got up and saw the Doctor in front of her to which she got up immediately and tried to pull out her Sonic Dagger but it was nowhere around her.
The Doctor: I have your Sonic Dagger. And this is not your TARDIS, it's mine.
The Rani: You really think I'm stupid to not know how to bypass security and hack my way to use it?
The Doctor: You'd starve to death and drive yourself mad trying to find the light switch. You haven't used a TARDIS for thousands of years yet I've been riding with her daily.
The Rani knew she was in a troubling spot and looked behind her to see the doors. She made a run for it while the Doctor only watched as she opened the doors, running outside...
Only to see she's in space, she's floating in space!
The Rani: AAAAAAAHHHHH! *Hangs on from the edge of the TARDIS* DOCTOR!
The Doctor: *peeks outside and looks up* If you let me finish talking, you wouldn't be in this situation.
The Rani: REAL FUNNY! WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO TURN YOUR GUTS INTO A LOVELY SOUP?!
The Doctor: *sighs* Aggressive. Just look at what's in front of you.
The Rani was going to bicker more until she looked up front and her eyes widened as her mouth fell silent. She stayed in absolute awe at the sight in front of her while the Doctor watched on.
The Rani: Supernova...
In front of their eyes was a large yet beautiful Supernova. The Doctor had seen many beautiful features of the stars and the universe itself. It's always the joy of having others see it and at this moment, he hoped The Rani would remain in this trance.
The Doctor: How about giving me some facts about the Supernova?
The Rani: *remains in awe* Supernova are the ultimate energy for Gallifrey that lasts over a span of 1000 years. We've calculated every 1000 years when a star would burn nearby and it would create the most beautiful night views while at the same time passing over energy for Gallifrey...
The Doctor: And every time it does, we always celebrate it as a special holiday, The Last Hurrah!
The Rani: Absolutely...Only massive stars can make heavy elements like gold, silver, and uranium. When explosive supernovas happen, stars distribute both stored-up and newly-created elements throughout space.
The Rani continued to watch in awe as the Doctor slowly leaped up and grabbed her hand to bring her back down to the TARDIS. It had been such a very long time since The Rani had seen a Supernova, since she seen anything beautiful from the cosmics.
The Rani: This brings back memories of home...the most memorable Last Hurrah was the Supernova that brought snow across Gallifrey. Billions of kids, teenagers, and adults all took it in to enjoy the moment...
The Doctor: This is what happens when you open your eyes for the first time after being shut in the darkness for many years. That's what I want to show, the beauty of this universe, memories, old and new.
The Rani: *looks at him* Why me?
The Doctor: Why you what?
The Rani: Why didn't you give up on me? After all the things I made you go through...
The Doctor: As I said before, we're in a brand-new universe. It's always proper to start from the ground and pick yourself up along the way.
The Rani: And here I thought you were going to turn me in to UNIT.
The Doctor: I lied...I lied to them. I told them you were absorbed by the black hole...gone forever...
The Rani: *fake gasps* Doctor! Oh, you naughty boy. Faking my death just to keep me here.
The Doctor: They won't search your home now that they think you're gone. I can return you back and you can stay there, isolated, away from the world. But of course, you'll have me.
The Rani: If you really think you can easily try to turn me good, I-
The Doctor: I won't. I'll make you do that yourself, see the beauty out there, learn, adapt, be kind. That persona that was Cinder Fall, she never had a chance but you still have it.
The Rani: *thinks* And if I refuse?
The Doctor: *shrugs* Not my problem.
The Rani: You really are something else aren't you, Doctor?
The Doctor: One of a kind.
The Rani: Hmm...*thinks* One condition?
The Doctor: And what is that?
The Rani: Why are you refusing to regenerate?
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
It felt like an ordinary walk through the small market shops, just instead of humans and Faunus, it was beings of the Ever After and most of the things didn't look too appetizing for Ruby but she continued to find the Teapot Lady while her friends were out finding the other ingredients.
Ruby: Teapot Lady...Teapot Lady...Uh...
CLANG! CLANG!
The sudden clanging noises of metal startled Ruby as she turned around and noticed she was no longer at the market shops but darkness all around except for one particular spot. That same spot is where the clanging noise is being made as Ruby approached it and noticed a tall, metallic, feminine-looking blacksmith. Ruby stayed cautious until she noticed the weapons hanging around and spotted Penny's sword, grabbing it without hesitation as a reflection of her best friend and lover appeared momentarily.
Ruby: Penny...
The Blacksmith: Does that one interest you?
Ruby: I...I thought this was lost forever. How'd you have it?
The Blacksmith: Nothing. No one is ever truly lost. And what of you? *Looks at Ruby* Are you lost?
Ruby: No, no. I'm just...My friends went somewhere else.
The Blacksmith: You're doing this all alone?
Ruby didn't have an answer at the moment as she was distracted by what looked like butterfly wings on the tongs that the Blacksmith was holding. At the same time, Little woke up from her nap and noticed the surroundings.
Little: Ruby...I don't think we're supposed to be here.
The Blacksmith: Are you her guide, little one?
Little: Yes. Ruby is my friend and I want to help her get home. Even though I don't know where that is or how to get there.
The Blacksmith: Hmm...You seem to be carrying a rather large burden with you.
Ruby: I'm fine. I can handle it.
The Blacksmith: If you change your mind, you may choose any one of these you like and set your burden down. *Points to the weapons*
Ruby: I already have a weapon. I did...
The Blacksmith: And yet, here you are, searching for something else that you do not even know.
Ruby placed Penny's weapon down as she looked at the other weapons but there was a peculiar one that caught her eye, one she couldn't believe at all...
The weapon that belonged to her mother, Summer Rose...
As Ruby approached it, a reflection of her mother appeared momentarily before everything faded to white...
Curious Cat: *echoes* Ruby? Ruby?
Ruby opened her eyes and noticed she was back at the market shops, she looked down to see the Curious Cat with a basket of the ingredients and Blake and Yang while Weiss just arrived with one of the ingredients.
Curious Cat: Ruby? Who are you talking to? Did you retrieve the nose hairs?
Ruby: Uh...no, not- not just yet, but-
Weiss: Ruby, what's wrong?...
Ruby: I...Uh...I'm sorry.
Blake: *looks over* Is that the Teapot Lady?
A few booths down was the shop of the Teapot Lady as the gang walked down and greeted the Teapot Lady, quickly spotting the final ingredient for the parfait.
Teapot Lady: Welcome to Things n' Things! How can I help you?
Curious Cat: Looking for nose hairs. No, not the ogre ones.
Suddenly, fireworks began to appear in the air getting everyone's attention until Weiss and Blake spotted people running towards the other way and screaming. Yang noticed the fireworks which spelled out "DANGER".
Hawker: Jabberwalker! It's the Jabberwalker!
The Teapot Lady screams and quickly takes away the items but Ruby grabs on to the jar which led to a bit of pulling back and forth between the Teapot Lady and Ruby.
Ruby: Wait, please! We need those leprechaun's nose hairs!
Teapot Lady: No time!
Ruby: Here! I'll give you this! *Shows my brooch* I-It carries a mother's promise!
Teapot Lady: *gasps and takes the brooch* Take it! RUN!
Curious Cat: This...is exceedingly bad...
Blake: Wait. What's a Jabberwalker?
Curious Cat: It's a truly terrible creature. If the Jabberwalker eats one of us, we do not ascend.
Yang: Quick! How do we make the parfait thing?
Curious Cat: Toss everything in here. But be careful, eat too much and we'll have to shrink you back again. And that's a completely different potion.
Jabberwalker: FOUND. GRAB. MAIM. KILL.
The parfait was created which looked like any ordinary parfait as Weiss, Blake, and Yang began to dig in as they were slowly growing back but the Jabblewalker lunged towards them, spilling the parfait, and a bit landing on the Jabblewalker which caused it to grow bigger.
Weiss: NO!
Jabberwalker: PREY. EAT. DEVOUR.
The Jabblewalker lunged again but was struck down by the Hawker and the Curious Cat. The girls ran back to the parfait and continued to eat it.
Curious Cat: Run!
Ruby: What is he doing here?!
Curious Cat: I gave him something new to do for the moment. Now go! Your friends need to get big again, or we're all Jabberwalker dinner!
Suddenly, a galloping noise was heard approaching as they turned around to see a giant jackalope with two people on its back as it jumped into action, aiding the Hawker and Curious Cat in fighting the Jabblewalker.
Blake: It's the Rusted Knight!
Yang: But there's two of them?!
Curious Cat: Ruby! Follow me!
Ruby followed the Curious Cat while the two Rusted Knights and the Hawker continued to fight off the Jabblewalker until a glyph appeared from the ground, freezing the creature's legs before a large wave of gold energy blasted it, sending the Jabblewalker flying. The three turned around to see Weiss in her Time Angel appearance alongside Blake and Yang who were all now back to their normal sizes.
Yang: I said...I wasn't done with you yet!
It was now 7 against 1 as the heroes surrounded the Jabblewalker in a circle while the creature tried to figure out whether to attack or retreat. It jumped up only to be hit by a force field by Weiss then grabbed by Blake's Gambol Shroud to which Yang lunges towards the creature and smashes it to pieces. The pieces had that of bright pink color which brought concerns amongst the girls.
Blake: Neo?!...
Weiss: INCOMING!
They all turned around to Weiss's shouting and saw more Jabblewalkers crawling up and lunging towards the heroes. Weiss got in front and released another wave of energy which sends the Jabblewalker clones flying back.
Rusted Knight #1: What?! There's only supposed to be one!
Rusted Knight #2: Not anymore! We gotta go!
Jabberwalkers: Detecting...Searching...FOUND!
Rusted Knight #2: Run! This way!
Weiss stood behind as she had enough of the same outcome of destruction and grabbed the clones before smashing them into nothing. But more continued to crawl towards the ground which meant no matter how many times she can wipe them out they'll keep on coming.
Blake: WEISS! LET'S GO!
Weiss: I am DONE of leaving places in ashes!
Ignoring the calls of her friends, Weiss pulled out Myrtenaster and flew towards the Jabblewalkers clones fighting each of them and killing as much as she could with both power, skill, and glyphs.
Rusted Knight #2: What is she doing?!
Weiss continued to fight them off until one appeared from behind as she turned around and was struck gravely, crashing on the ground with large gash on her abdomen...
Team RBY: WEISS?!
Weiss got up like it was nothing as her regeneration cells healed the wound quickly and positioned herself to fight again as more Jabblewalkers charged at her until the Hawker flew towards them, releasing a gust of strong wind.
Hawker: GO MISS! NOW!
Weiss didn't pay attention until multiple hands reached her and turned around to see her friends trying to hold her back. A dying scream was heard as the Hawker fell to the sheer ripping of the Jabblewalkers.
Weiss: GO! I'll catch-
Blake: IT'S TOO LATE?!
Yang: YOU CAN SURVIVE ALL THIS BUT WE CAN'T!
Weiss was beyond pissed but knew that her friends were right. She created one last huge energy and blasted it towards the Jabblewalkers before Weiss joined her friends and the Rusted Knights to the escape. Weiss could only watch what was left of this place with a mix of sadness and rage.
The ride was very silent as all that could be heard was the breeze of the air, Weiss's wings flapping, and the jackalope's galloping until they all entered a lotus flower. They got off as one of the Rusted Knights closed the entrance while the other Rusted Knight placed its sword away and went on to pet his jackalope.
Blake: I can't believe it. The Rusted Knight, in person!
Weiss: But it should only be one...so why are there two?
Rusted Knight #1: *pets my jackalope* You did good, Juniper.
The Rusted Knight removed his helmet, blonde hair now longer and tied into a ponytail, white streaks, a full beard as the old knight turned around to face Team RWBY which left them in complete shocked at the sight of the Rusted Knight...
Yang: N-No way...
Jaune: *smiles* Team RWBY... You finally made it.
The Rusted Knight was none other than their friend, Jaune Arc...
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
The Rani: I see now...
The Rani got her one request from the Doctor, to hear why he is refusing to regenerate, why he is slowly killing himself like this and now she knows why as the Doctor sat on the staircase not making any eye contact.
The Rani: You are killing yourself as we speak. Did it ever occur to you that this is a much worse fate for you and your precious friends?
The Doctor: Regenerate or Death, they will still know I am gone...I am not the Doctor you were former friends with. I am a young Time Lord that isn't ready to let go, that isn't ready to watch my friends shattered because of my death! I didn't want any of this to happen but it was my choice and now I have to live with it.
The Rani: *sighs* You remind me of myself and the old man when we were young...
The Doctor: *looks up* You...also refused to regenerate?...
The Rani: You be surprised how many Time Lords are scared to regenerate for the very first time. Some are still scared to once they hit their final few regenerations.
The Doctor: Like you?
The Rani: *scoffs* Let's not change the conversation.
The Doctor: *stands up* You are...
The Rani: *sighs and looks away* It's one thing when you regenerate for the first time compared to when you can no longer regenerate...You can change and keep going, running in your TARDIS, but when you know you're in your last straw...that's where limitations began to appear on your life...
The Doctor: And yet, these last few situations it certainly looked like you didn't care at all.
The Rani: It's...still a slow process to take in...but YOU *looks at him* You still have a lot for years to come and yet you are refusing it. Like it or not Doctor, you will have to come with that decision to either regenerate or die. Personally, becoming a Time Lord just to die and not change is pointless reason for all those years in the Academy. *sighs* Ultimately, the choice will be yours Doctor and by the looks of this article you've captured; You don't have much time left.
He's heard the others reach out to him about refusing to change and how his future incarnations end up being. Here with the Rani, it's different which is a surprise coming from her. She tells him that it's his ultimate choice. The big difference here is quite simple which is they are both Time Lords so the Rani has already had her fair share of regeneration.
The Rani: So, where will you be taking me now? You lied to UNIT about me being gone so now what?
The Doctor: You'll be back home. We'll take it slowly...but if there is a chance that we can work together as well...that would mean a lot to me.
The Rani: Are you really sure? You just think that just because you got me to see the Supernova and we had this little chat that things will go your way? Young and Naive.
The Doctor: I would have said no, matter of fact I probably wouldn't have done any of this but there's one specific thing that changed all that.
The Rani: And what exactly would that be? Hmm?
The Doctor: We're the only Time Lords left...The Master's whereabouts are unknown at the moment but you and I are the only remaining Time Lords. Once we find each other, it's hard to let go...that's why I continue to give you a chance and eventually, that feeling will get to you.
The Doctor pulls up the lever as the TARDIS makes her landing back to the island Barcelona. He brings out The Rani's Sonic Dagger and hands it to her which she hesitates for a moment thinking it could be a trap or something. But the expression on the Doctor's face was a calm one and there was no sight of trickery in his eyes.
The Doctor: You now have a place to stay. Good enough resources. And nothing else but peace and quiet for a brilliant scientist.
The Rani: And how will I know that you'll be coming?
The Doctor: You'll figure it out.
The Rani only looked at him and made her leave from the TARDIS as the Doctor watched on. She opened the doors to see her new home with no suspicious signs around which surprised her a bit that he was telling the truth. As the Doctor was ready to make his leave, he heard The Rani say something which surprised him but a small smile appeared on his face.
The Rani: One Chance. I'll give you one chance to help me change.
And with that, the Doctor made his leave with the TARDIS as the Rani could only looked on then looked up at the night skies, viewing all the beautiful stars and releasing a deep sigh. Both got themselves a conversation that helped them realize about their lives. One that is just starting it and one that is reaching her end.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Jaune: I thought...I'd never see you again...
Team RWBY only remained in a stunned position at seeing their close friend and a brother-like figure to them, now old, matured, and being the Rusted Knight in this world. He tried to approach them but didn't have the strength to do so but the girls did as they got closer to him.
Jaune: It...It's really you, right? When I saw you in the market...
Ruby: Jaune. It's us...
A smile with tears appeared on Jaune's face as the four girls gave him a comforting group hug in which he returns the hug as well while the other Rusted Knight watched on.
Jaune: *sighs* I, uh...Guess we've all got a lot of catching to do…
Ruby: How did you find us?
Blake: How are you the Rusted Knight?
Yang: And when did you get so...
Weiss: Old...
They all looked at him with concern as to how he's gotten old which sparked the horrifying idea that Jaune was here for a very long time before they did, despite Jaune being the last to fall...
Jaune: I was hoping you could perhaps figure that part out Weiss, since you're good with time itself. The last thing I remember was seeing you and the Doctor facing off against Cinder as I fell. I was still falling in what looked like space itself until everything went bright then I woke up here...I didn't know where I was nor any sign of you four being around so I decided to risk it all and go on my own. It wasn't a great one especially being drained so I needed to rest and laid down on a tree. This wasn't any ordinary tree because it had these watches on them, hanging like fruits.
Weiss: *gasps* Jaune...
Jaune: Curiosity got the best of me and I decided to grab one, wanting to see what exactly it was...The watch began to turn counter-clockwise and everything around me was changing at a rapid speed. It was night and day, back and forth, in a matter of seconds with some things around the area appearing and disappearing...Out of sheer panic, I destroyed it...but the damage was already done to me...
Weiss: You were the last to fall yet you reversed time for yourself and...you were instead the first one here...and for a very long time...
Jaune: *nods slowly* I was alone. I didn't know what was going to happen or what to do...so I waited...I waited for when eventually you four would come...and now...
Yang: We're here Jaune...
Blake: Weiss, is there anyway your powers could help Jaune get back to his normal age?
Weiss: *shakes my head* As I mentioned before, I only have a small portion of the Time Vortex in me. Had I had the entire thing then most likely I could have...but I can't...
Jaune: That's okay. You four are here now and eventually, I got to start a small life here in the Ever After especially as the Rusted Knight. *Looks at Team RBY* You three haven't changed a bit since I last saw you but...*looks at Weiss* Look at you, Weiss.
Weiss: Well, truth be told...I didn't fall like them...I miraculously landed here by a portal that was created in Remnant.
Jaune: So you were the last one then...which means you've known more about what has happened recently back home...
Rusted Knight #2: AHEM! As lovely and important this reunion is and catching up, we need to head out before a storm starts to pick up or any more Jabblewalkers appear.
Blake: In the story, there was only one Rusted Knight...how come there's two now?
Jaune: Like the Doctor and his TARDIS, small changes can something bring big ripples in life. Though...you might not be prepared for what's to come. *looks at the Rusted Knight* These are my friends that I told you and Chief about.
The second Rusted Knight looked at them as each of Team RWBY awkwardly waved. She only sighed as she approached them and removed her helmet. Team RWBY's hearts dropped completely as the reveal of the second Rusted Knight, gasps coming from each of them, their eyes widened like saucers...
It was impossible yet...their eyes were not lying...
An elder woman about the same age as Jaune or little less with long red hair tied up in a ponytail and green eyes...
Jaune: I should have told you four at first to be ready...
Rusted Knight #2: It's very nice to meet you, Team RWBY. My name is Pyrrha. Pyrrha Arkos.
