"Stay close, dear."

"But mom..."

Over a thousand people, freshly departing the airship, and even as they scattered every which way, Beacon's grounds only had so much room to spare. From what he'd heard, all of the empty dorms which were decently repaired were being adjusted into makeshift apartments, although not much room was spared in all honesty. They'd been lucky to get even a thousand people settled away, but it was clear the school had reached its limit.

We'll need to expand and relocate. Maybe the smaller countryside has some safe spaces left. Surely it wouldn't be too much of an issue if Vale could expend some hunters to defend those upstart settlements, although Saw doubted they'd do so without a fight.

"Thought I'd find you here." Roman slipped up beside him, leaning over the railing and peering down across the field. Beacon's courtyard still held an almost mystical atmosphere about it, but considering what laid beneath, a portion of that couldn't be coincidence, leaving him to wonder if magical items could infect the space and objects around them with their inherent sense of wonder.

"And I thought you were huddled away hoping nobody outside saw you." Saw leaned back, facing his companion. "Finished tending to the officials?"

"As best we can," following that with a sigh, Roman groaned, irritated. "I'm honestly shocked they haven't called us on our hand, but I guess playing cards for so long has left us with a bit more skill than most."

"I doubt Vale's council genuinely sees many fair games." Shaking his head, Saw bit back his harsher retort in favor of a less crude one. "They're too busy playing house to engage in genuine deal."

"Yeah, but a smart man knows to familiarize himself with all the tricks of the trade. Even the dealer can be played against himself if the players keep counting cards; people are crafty, so the same ol' failsafe's will never remain unbroken for long."

"Then it's just our luck Vale grew lazy." Saw, soothing his throat with a soft breath, then addressed Roman directly. "So, what pulled you out here looking for me? You're not the type to just spring in for a chat without a reason."

"Maybe I should get into that habit, though." Teasing a grin, Roman looked out at the milling people again, who continued to huddle together in their little camps provided and set up by both Atlas and Vale aid. Most of them were little tents and such, but when tarps ran low, a few blankets and pillows were all that got passed out. "I'm starting to sound predictable."

"You are predictable." Saw scrunched his brow; there were far too many people still crammed inside the ship, and due to the small space available from the school, the people were only allowed out in small groups on a tight schedule. At the very least, the ships were massive, so there was some space to move around, but the people were angsty and wanted to breathe some fresh air while feeling genuine earth beneath them.

"Hmm... Maybe that's why Little Red kept stomping me every chance I got back in the day." Sighing, Roman chuckled. "But I'm squarely pinning that series of losses on Cinder and her mistress," with that, Roman's voice sharpened a little along the edge. "Like most of our issues."

There was a stark pause between the two, allowing the air to settle and nerves and stresses brought on by mention of their enemy to fade, before Roman spoke again.

"I'm guessing Ironwood and Ozpin made you the same offer as they did for Neo and I, right?"

"To join them in grabbing the crown?" Roman nodded, and saw confirmed. "Yes, they did."

"And seeing as you're still out here with me, I take it you turned it down as well."

"Yep."

"Would it bother you if I asked why?"

"Not really. Curious?"

"A little, yeah," Roman rose from the railing, whipping out and lighting a cigar before taking a drag. Ironically, Vale had plenty to go around, and one of the first things the crook had done was procure an entire box by sending Neo out to swipe 'em. Although strangely, he had her leave the lien right inside the register, and apparently she'd marked it as a sale in their records too - Roman wanted to buy them, rather than steal them, and to Saw, that said something. "To tell you the truth, despite being considered a part of the crew, I don't really see myself standing beside Little Red and her posse, or Ironwood, Ozzy, and the other miscellaneous weirdos we'll surely end up dragging into things before it's all said and done."

"Feeling lonely?" Saw could relate to a degree, but he knew there was more to it than that.

"Meh, it varies." Roman turned and leaned back against the rail, crossing his arms while taking another puff, spewing the smoke into the gentle breeze passing them by. "For the longest time, it was just Neo and me against the world, and that was good enough for us. The dynamic duo: the Gentleman Thief, and the Silent Mistress - although I doubt many remember her original moniker. Really, there wasn't anyone who didn't know who we were, and we constantly got job offerings from the underworld all the time."

"You miss it?"

"Hah! Hardly." Roman drew up a sultry grin. "Our lives are no different now then they were back then; we're just sporting a different getup." His face settled on a more relaxed smile this time. "It's still Neo and I versus the world, albeit with a few extra hands to catch us when we stumble. We still get to toy with people, but we don't need to run whenever a cop spots us. We still face the thrill of being chased from the ends of the earth and wanted for acts of chaos, but by a different enemy. Honestly... despite the constant headaches from all the loopy insanity, it's been fun."

"And yet something bothers you." Saw could see it in the way Roman's sass dulled a tad near the end, and he was rewarded for his attentiveness with a response.

"You got me there. For as similar as our lives are now compared to back then, and as wild as it's been, I'm not sure how I feel about our new opponent." Salem: the penultimate threat. "We had dreams of eventually retiring to our own private villa, but knowing she is out there kind of renders that plan moot." Roman slipped out a tired sigh. "I guess I'm just hoping that, whenever the end does come, that neither Neo or I have to watch the other fall. You know, it's funny: despite death being a certainty, I'm more concerned with how Neo will take it, then actually dying myself. Weird... it's like the idea of doom doesn't even faze me."

"You recognise its pointless to fret over eventualities," Saw spoke up, drawing the man's curious gaze. "That's a strength of mind not many ever achieve." Although, Saw was left a little curious. "Where is your partner anyway? I haven't seen her since you came."

Roman smirked playfully, looking over the railing and subtly pointing down.

"See the break table they have set up over there for the soldiers?"

"Yes." From his perch above all the people below blended into a blurry mass, but he was still able to see one of the soldiers stand and frantically whip around, apparently in search of something. And then, just a little ways away, a figure popped into view, before moving around.

"She's playing with the boys; likes swiping things out from under them when they're not looking." Not the worst thing she could be doing; being a nuisance is far better than robbing them blind, at least for the victim. "It's nice to be able to put the mayhem behind us for a little while and just relax; we both know the kids will tell us all about what they saw when they get back. No reason for us to be there in person. So, what about you: what's your reason for keeping a clear nose?"

"I've seen enough." This got a hum from Roman, and an understandable one at that. "They'll be summoning the phantom from the lamp, discussing the girl's questions and concerns, none of which is my business."

"Not even a little curious for what the blue man has to say?"

"No, because I know that whatever it is, it won't change my attitude towards the mission."

"At least you're as focused as ever." He could almost feel Roman rolling his eyes beside him. "Have you ever teased the idea of cooling things down before?"

"I'm a fighter, a warrior." It just wouldn't work out for him, nor did Saw desire the silence. "Even when things cool down, and my inner chaos subsides, I'm always ready for a battle."

"I'm sensing there's more to it than that." Saw gave Roman a look, and the snarky one brushed it off. "Please, don't give me that. I've seen how you handle quiet, and don't think I've noticed how you shy away from most everyone. You can hold your own, but every casual word you utter feels so unnatural coming from you. But if you're not all that willing to build up a silent future, then tell me what it is you're really after. Go on, I don't judge," Roman's grin bent, going from sassy to genuine. "Regardless of how weird or unsure it might be."

What he wanted for his future? That was simple, really.

"All I want is to fight, until there's no more fighting to be done." They were at war, a near permanent war: a war that needed soldiers with both the strength and courage to wage it - in that, nothing had changed since the days of the White Fang. "I need something to battle, to push back and destroy... but I also want it to mean something; I want my fighting to have a clear purpose, and a reward to be earned, even if I myself may never claim it."

Salem was that enemy to push back, and protecting Remnant from her wrath was a clear and definitive good; an effort with meaning for everyone, no matter who they were, be they Human, Faunus, or whatever else may spring up with time. It was an equal battle, where loss guaranteed the extinction of all races; not just the Faunus. Ironic that the greatest threat to the world was, inherently, an equal opportunist. Once upon a time he'd stood with Sienna and Adam, warring against those who'd push the Faunus down, and while each of them fought for their beliefs until the bitter end, he himself was still facing down his foes.

"But... maybe most of all: I want to be welcomed home after my arms give way, having gambled everything and more, and share a drink with the comrades I never could."

.

.

"Greetings anew." Ambrosius seemed relatively relaxed, which was far better than before. "I've been expecting you again, although to tell you the truth, I thought it'd be sooner."

"We needed a moment to recuperate. Now, I do believe we've got an item to craft."

"Fine by me." Ambrosius leaned on his side, still floating above everything, but now with an easygoing mood. "What picture are we painting this century?"

"That, I'll leave in the hands of Miss Rose." Ozpin looked back at her, motioning her forward and stepping back himself as he capped off with, "Go ahead."

Ruby nodded before addressing the spirit, and Ambrosius curled a brow.

"It's probably not all that extravagant, but would you mind clearing away the emerald forest? Flattening it, I mean."

"Oh..." He rolled over onto his stomach, kicking up his legs and responding with a hint of intrigue. "That's a simple - and fairly vague - request. I can do that, but for what reason?"

"We've got a lot of people who don't have homes, and with Beacon owning that stretch of land, it would be easier for us to just build the people's homes ourselves, instead of fighting Vale's council on expanding the city." Just the thought of asking them for anything drummed up a fierce headache in the back of her skull; Ruby didn't even need her dreams to reveal how much of a mess the council could be when doing anything that wasn't at least partially self-serving.

"Okay." Ambrosius crossed his arms. "But why not just ask me to design and implement them myself?"

"Because we'll need you again later," Ruby explained, somehow feeling a little more comfortable as she broke it down, now that there was no apparent bad blood within their current dealing. "And if we have you build the homes, then they'll just vanish the next time we call."

Ambrosius smirked, humming as he closed his eyes, almost making fun of her, but not.

"In that case, you should just ask for the equipment." Ruby didn't understand why, until he added, "If you call me later after what you have in mind now, the forest will just reform within the homes you build. You'd be undoing your work either way, whereas with this suggestion, the only thing you'd lose is the gear I give; the forest will remain clear."

"Um, yeah. O-okay." She hadn't thought about that. "Is... is that the downside of not giving you instructions?"

"No," Ambrosius tossed out, flipping onto his back and letting his head dangle. "Instructions are just my way of making sure nobody complains with what I give them. If all I use is magic to do something, then the only thing to be taken away with the next wish would be the efforts of said magic, as in, whatever was done would be reversed; essentially, it gets undone, even if that in and of itself is technically the recreation of something."

Ruby could hear Yang's whining from behind, moaning aloud, "Okay, now my head's starting to hurt."

"You might as well get used to it while you can." Ambrosius righted himself, posing with hands on his hips in a powerful stance. "Since you already know my rules are more or less suggestions, you better be ready for the responsibility of having things not quite go how you expect them. Remember, those rules were for your benefit... and partially mine, but mostly yours." Crossing his arms, the master craftsman asked, "Now, is that all, or is there more you need from me?"

Ruby swallowed a lump in her throat.

"Would you mind answering a few more of my questions?"

A little sigh escaped his lips, but his face soon brightened up a little more with understanding.

"I brought this on myself. Alright, but I won't promise to tell you everything, and I'm the one who gets to decide when I've had enough; got it?"

"Yes," Ruby said, letting Ambrosius lean back and appear as though he was sitting in a chair. His ethereal glow illuminated the black around them, and the glitter his aura sprinkled atop the water was, to put it bluntly, magical to behold.

"Well, let's get started, although I have a pretty good guess about what some of these are for."

"Can... Can you tell me what my other self did to make you so upset?" This certainly wasn't the easiest question to start with, but it was essential to quelling the stress at the crux of her nerves. Ruby had been wondering what this ancient version of herself had done to get... his reaction from him the last time; Ambrosius seemed similar to Sun with how relaxed he was, so seeing him drop it in favor of blunt vexation meant her previous life's actions had to have been bad.

"Yeah..." Screwing up his face, Ambrosius picked it back up and planted it atop a calm façade; he was still upset, but at least he could control it better - granted, he was prepared for it this time, so there was that. "I can't exactly tell you everything, but I will say this: your previous reincarnation wanted to achieve a 'better outcome' for her lot in life, and was willing to ignore all warnings given and commit to an idea she didn't fully understand. And now, because of it, her wish will never come true; not with how things currently are. It'll take change to alter her mistake; change she herself can never achieve... on her own, anyway."

They were left in silence to process the warning of a sort, and while Ruby was focused on what this "better outcome" was or what warnings her past incarnation had ignored, Ozpin spoke to her.

"Miss Rose, may I present something?"

"Um, yeah, okay." Stepping back, she let the man stand before their source of answers - although partially obscured.

"Ambrosius," Ozpin bowed lightly, "If you'll permit me?"

"By all means." The specter's lips curled upwards, expectantly.

"You referred to this other version of Miss Rose just now as a "reincarnation." As in, not a previous version, but one already brought back at least once prior. Does this mean there were other incarnations of Miss Rose who've had dealings with you and the other relics?"

"Nothing slips past you, does it," shaking his head, Ambrosius wore a cocky grin. "But I guess that's to be expected from the man of nearly a millennium."

"Millennium... Perhaps I am pulling at strings, but that turn of phrase is a bit extreme, is it not?"

"Not at all." Ambrosius spread his arms and shrugged. "I'm being quite literal, even if you lack the ability to remember it all. Thousands of years, over and over again for thousands more, so much so that even I can't possibly retain it all." Resting his chin atop his fist, Ambrosius quipped, "You're lucky. None of you seem aware of just how much this has all gone on; I can only imagine how poor sis is taking it all. Unlike me, Jinn's had to hold on to everything, as is her purpose; I doubt even our pops' know how expansive this mayhem has become… Well… One of them anyway."

"Why isn't it working! Why can we never win?!"

"Sis already gave you the answer."

"No! There must be a way! The crown!"

"Sorry, but changing your inevitable failure will also reinstate the initial rule. Are you sure you can win this time, when you've failed all other attempts so far?"

"D-dammit... I... Then I'll just keep trying. Some day... Some day we'll win. We have to."

"Miss Rose. Miss Rose, are you okay?" Ozpin knelt beside her, and Ruby noticed she had collapsed in the water. When she'd dropped, she didn't know, but that wasn't important now.

"Let me guess," Ambrosius spoke, hunching forward and looking almost sorry for her. "You're hearing and seeing things you don't recall, right? Moments and events involving you that cannot be pinpointed."

"You were there," Ruby admitted, her voice soft, and her heart-rate speeding up carefully as stress began to break through the barrier of her self-control. "Just like before."

"Another incarnation then."

"No... no, it wasn't like that. This... this wasn't a past me, or someone else I didn't know. It was 'me' me, Ruby Rose: the one whose sister is Yang, and whose mom is Summer."

"But you don't recognise what you saw, do you?" Ambrosius questioned, and she shook her head, only to see him cross his arms and nod. "Then it's like I said: a past incarnation of you."

"But that's impossible." Ruby stood, making her point and exposing, "There's only one 'me,' and the only way I can think of that would make it work is if we could go back through time. But Jinn already said we couldn't."

"And she's right," Ambrosius added on. "Time only moves forward in Remnant, regardless of which angle you take. For the sake of example, imagine this vault here as its own separate realm. Even if it were possible to go back in time in this place, you wouldn't be able to enter Remnant again until time lined up in both planes, as is part of Remnant's nature: it is quite literally not capable of handling time reversal. It is a fundamental rule of this world. It's impossible to go back in one reality, only to try popping out in Remnant's past; you'd just plop back out where you left off."

"Then how?!" Ruby eeped, covering her mouth; she hadn't meant to shout. Luckily, Ambrosius appeared to understand what she was going through.

"I wish I could say, but for the sake of your plan, I can't. Look, don't worry about it. You'll 'get it' eventually, that's a guarantee. And if I need to, I'll make the suggestion myself when the time comes…" The phantom's face crunched into a displeased scowl then, and his last part came out a whisper. "Not like we have a choice."

"M-my plan..." Could he at least tell her what that meant? Seems he was a mind-reader - or she was predictable in her current bemused state - because Ambrosius laid it out.

"Your previous incarnations. They all had one goal in mind, and they wouldn't settle for less, regardless of how taxing it all became. Honestly, I don't know whether that's a sign of unbreakable spirit, or a spirit so broken it doesn't even remember how to give up. Personally, I look at it as the former, if for nothing else than the fact that you somehow managed to mother a mere concept into reality."

"I... I don't understand." Fatigue slapped her across the face, again and again, and Ambrosius was unfortunately done providing miracles.

"Sorry, I can't help you anymore than I have. Have a little faith in yourself; you'll eventually come to know just how powerful that stubborn will of yours is. Heck, even I wouldn't be capable of going through what you are, so at least pucker up a bit more; you've forged a power so strong that even I, the Spirit Of Creation, cannot surpass. Besides, just because you can't go back in time doesn't mean you can't return to situations."

Ambrosius offered her a smile before vanishing into smoke, returning to his home in the staff, and leaving Ruby stuck between the existential dread of knowing both too much, and too little. Other 'hers,' a plan of some kind, and yet nobody could walk against the current of time. Pair that with his last statement and you had a scenario that, in Yang's own words, made her head hurt.

"Come now," Ozpin helped snap her from her scattered thoughts. "Let's take some time to rest for now. Wading in the vault here will do little in helping decipher Ambrosius's contribution."

Author's note

…

Alright, they've got all but the sword now. At the same time, Roman and Saw get one more interaction; just the two of them and a sea of refugees.

Now, this is where I place my warning: we're very, very close to the ending now, so things will get a bit… quick. Whether you like or even tolerate what's to come will depend on you, but we're a stones toss from the finale, and even I am unsure of how effective it may be; depends on what you, the readers, wanted out of this story.

Hopefully the end will leave you at least a little satisfied, because I'd sure as hell be pissed too if I spent years reading the equivalent of a series, only for its ending to be shit. Personally, I believe I've got it down, but you never know - this thing has been cooking for years, and I hate that it took so long, but it is what it is.

Here's to hoping.

Until next time.