Volume 4, Chapter 21:
Hovering over the kingdom of Vacuo, it was a view that would leave people in awe. That was the case for Ruby, Blake, Yang, and Jaune as they looked over from the windows of the Atlas Airship. The realization is still hitting them that they made it back from the Ever After and made it here as the airship lands right at UNIT. Exiting out, the girls and Jaune looked around in complete shock and even more awe.
Yang: Holy Toledo...
Ruby: This...looks...AWESOME!
Weiss: Welcome to UNIT Headquarters. The biggest organization of Remnant when handling Grimm and Creatures from across the universe.
Blake: *stutters* W-What? I-Is this what your grandfather was in charge of?
Weiss: Yep! Just that Mother made it bigger and advanced. Come on, I'll show you inside.
Sora: Weiss!
Weiss heard that familiar voice and looked over to see Sora running towards her. The two shared a happy reunion hug while the other three watched on in confusion.
Sora: You made it back! I'm so happy to see you in one piece! Well...almost.
Weiss: Yeah...Regeneration has it wonders...except for fixing clothes...
Jaune: Weiss, who is this?
Weiss: Oh, right! Ahem! Ruby, Blake, Yang, Jaune meet Sora Azure, the Summer Maiden.
The three girls and Jaune looked at Sora in a mix of shock and surprise as they finally meet the time travelling historian face to face. They were also not expecting her to be young.
Sora: It's a pleasure to meet you four and welcome back to Remnant.
Ruby: Woooooow! We've dealt with meeting people from the past and of course, strange creatures. But this is a first time we meet someone from the future!
Sora: Ooooooooooh!...*whispers to Weiss* You told them?
Weiss: *chuckles and rubs my arm* Yeah...my bad.
Sora: Ahem! Oh Ruby, there's still more to come for you guys but that would be Spoilers.
Dalek Khan: Team RWBY? Jaune?
They recognized that voice. They all looked over as Dalek Khan made his way out and spotted his friends: Alive and Home.
Ruby: Khan...KHAN!
Ruby jumped up and landed on her Dalek best friend followed by the others hugging him as the Dalek happily embraced it. It struck him terribly when he thought they all died. He was so glad they were back home.
Dalek Khan: Welcome home, Friends.
Blake: Wait, if you're here...Where's the Doctor?
Dalek Khan: The Doctor had to figure out a signal interference that was detected at Atlas.
Weiss: Signal Interference from Atlas? That's impossible.
Willow: We've been keeping a close eye on it. Believe me Weiss, a lot has happened over here as well while you four were stuck somewhere else.
Weiss: *sighs* It's one thing when he travels with companions. It's another when he travels alone.
Sora: Best we can do is wait for his return.
Yang: Good idea. *Crosses my arms* Cause we need to have a talk with him.
Ruby: Both good and bad.
Ren: Well, why not tell us more inside about where you guys were.
Jaune: Believe me Ren, it's a lot...
Everyone made their way inside while Weiss looked at Ruby and Yang. This was getting too concerning with the situation regarding the Doctor and Summer Rose. She only hoped that the Doctor had a good explanation for this.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
The Doctor on the other hand was a bit busy...
Trapped in an electrical cage by the hands of a surviving Arthur Watts and The Rani who he truly thought was planning to change but it all went to waste...
The Doctor: Why did I let you get a chance?...
The Rani: Compassion and kindness, my dear Doctor. For once, something you often do a lot was used against you. *gasps* Plot twist!
Arthur Watts: Apparently, you never heard the saying, Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
The Rani: And I do believe you the hold the record for the large number of enemies!
Arthur Watts: Care to list them, Rani?
The Rani: There's Me! Then there's Arthur Watts, then Salem, the Cybermen, Cinder Fall, The Crown Family, Weeping Angels, Daleks, the late great Cyber Controller, Oh! James Ironwood!
Arthur Watts: Truly quite a handful you got there, Doctor.
The Doctor: You and I both know well Rani that there's one name you left off.
The Rani: Did I really? Sorry. You just have a nonstop list of enemies and it'll keep growing and growing and grow-
The Doctor: The Master.
Silence spread the place once the Doctor mentioned him and seemed to kill the mood of the Rani.
Arthur Watts: The Master you say?
The Doctor: Ring any bells?
Arthur Watts: Yes...I heard he was giving you much trouble in Atlas. And the biggest information is that he is also a time lord like you two. What are the chances three superior figures would be on this scrawny planet.
The Doctor: Have you met him before?
Arthur Watts: Careful, Doctor. Curiosity can kill a cat. You start jumping overboard and there's no coming back from that.
The Doctor: Yet, you refused to answer my question.
Arthur Watts: Hmmmm. I never met him. I have only heard of him.
The Doctor: How exactly? You didn't hear it from me and by the looks of it, she wouldn't dare to talk about him.
Arthur Watts: I have my ways across the techs of this world. And when I get bored, I like to find myself some good drama. Sometimes, Salem...and Cinder needed me to do them the favor.
The Doctor: I know very well when I mentioned him and I certainly don't do it in public places.
The Rani: What in the name of all that is insane are you even going for?
Arthur Watts: He's just wasting our time by bickering his long talks while he tries to figure out an escape from that cage so he can stop us. You do know that she perfected that trap so your little screwdriver tech doesn't work at all.
The Doctor: Well...*looks at the Rani* I thought you knew me well?
The Rani: The hell does that supposed to mean?
The Doctor: You know what technology requires nowadays? Any guesses?
Arthur Watts: Something to shut you up!
The Doctor: Nope! A backup! Almost every technology requires backup nowadays. Apparently for two very clever beings, you seem to underestimate me in a very small factor. *Pulls out my Sonic Sunglasses* I got myself backup.
The Rani: Ohhhhhh you've got to be joking...
Arthur Watts: Pffffft HA! *laughs* A pair of sunglasses? Really, Doctor?
The Doctor placed them on and with a simple click from his sunglasses, the trap began to glitch out which concerned Arthur and the Rani.
Arthur Watts: WHAT'S THIS?
The Rani: A backup way of frying our trap...
Before any of them can react, the room fills up in a bright flash for a few seconds before it all went back to normal with one twist...
The Doctor was free.
The Doctor: Sonic Sunglasses. The perfect backup for anything, really.
The Rani: DOCTOR!
Arthur Watts looked to his right and his eyes widened when he saw their own trap now holding the Rani inside.
The Rani: LET ME OUT! DOCTOR!
The Doctor: You know what's interesting? I didn't move the trap to lock the Rani in. There was the same trap structured below her. I just deactivated mine and ended up activating hers. Plot twist!
The Rani: *eyes widened and looks at Arthur* What?...YOU!...TRAITOR!
Arthur Watts: *smirks* I'm sorry my dear. You are indeed much fun and better over Cinder, but I still have my doubts about you. It was precautionary measures.
The Rani could only glare with flames in her eyes at Arthur Watts before looking back at the Doctor who only looked at her with a cold and disappointed expression.
Arthur Watts: You know, Doctor, if things were to escalate and you were to try something, those traps had a kill switch of an electric shock. Strong enough to burn someone to crisp or enough to kill you and the Rani in seconds.
The Rani: *eyes widened* D-Doctor...you don't need to do this...
The Doctor: I trusted you...I believed in you...and after giving you the chance to try again...to try and be good...this is the thanks I get...
The Rani: N-No...I know...I know I lied to you and got you trapped but-
Arthur Watts: Don't forget what she did to your precious wife and friends! Even as Cinder Fall, She had conscious to try and stop but refused. She let them all fall. And it didn't stop there; She created devices that almost ripped this planet apart AND one that dragged your lover to a lost world in which you have no way of reaching. She did all that and here she is now, doing it again with you...
The Doctor only stared back at the Rani as for once, Arthur Watts gave all the reasons he shouldn't forgive her, to be upset with her, but the Rani only sighed in defeat and looked down.
Arthur Watts: You are a Good Man, Doctor. I see it in you but even Good Men like you have a limit and when someone passes that limit, it's the end. *Brings out a control* Just one signal and I'll do it for you.
The Doctor: *looks at him* And what makes you think I'm going to let you get away.
Arthur Watts: I don't. We'll see what goes from here when it's just you and me. Just tell me and I'll finish her. Remember, sinner, in darkness, we are revealed.
The Rani: DOCTOR!...Please...Don't do this...
The Doctor: I'm not so sure right now...
The Rani: You were right...about everything...I am nothing more than an outcast back on Gallifrey. All I cared about was experimenting the universe and making it my own. I came to this universe as a survivor and a coward...you tried to give me a second chance to start over in a brand new universe and I haven't changed...I made you suffer...made you lose your friends...your wife...I made you look like a fool when you tried to give me a chance...
The Doctor only clenched his fist as Arthur Watts was close to activating the electric shock which put the Rani in more pressure and dropped to her knees, shocking the young Time Lord.
The Rani: P-Please...*tears fall* I'll be good, I promise. I'll turn...I'll turn good. Please. Teach me, teach me how to be good. Teach me how to start over.
The Doctor: Without hope. Without witness. Without reward.
The Rani: I am...No...I want to be your friend...
The Doctor: Makes no difference. That's what I gave you and this is how you took it.
The Rani: I know it doesn't. I know I'm going to die. I can no longer regenerate and if this is truly my final moment, I have to say it, the truth. Without hope. Without witness. Without reward. I am your friend.
The Doctor looked at her with a sad expression before closing his eyes and turning around which Arthur Watts took as a sign to finishing her. He pressed the button as jolts of electricity finishes off The Rani before collapsing to the ground.
The Rani was gone...because of the Doctor's pain...
With no actual sight of The Master, he truly felt like he was once again the last of the Time Lords...
Arthur Watts: *chuckles and kicks her body* A unfortunate end but Gooood riddance! *Sighs in relief* Now then. Back to what matters most and that's us.
The Doctor heard a weapon charging up and turned around to see Arthur Watts with a gun aiming right at him. The Doctor did not move nor reacted while still maintaining that cold expression.
Arthur Watts: Are you really sad over the death of an enemy? A killer? Please Doctor, open yourself to reality. Not everyone can be good even when you try to give them a chance.
The Doctor: I know very well that you will never change.
Arthur Watts: *smirks and bows* It's who I am.
The Doctor: Oh, I know that very well. It's that bad when The Rani and Salem have better chances of changing than you.
Arthur Watts: *cackles* YOU?! Offering Salem a chance to change? You have truly lost your mind.
The Doctor: You're one to talk. And maybe you didn't know but I reached my hand out to her and I gave her my word. She almost took it before the darkness fully consumed what was left of the past Salem.
Arthur Watts: Then I guess she was still weak at some part after all...not anymore. Yet again, her darkness is her strength and her weakness. Thank you, Doctor. You actually helped me find a way to defeat Salem and take over Remnant.
The Doctor: *scoffs* Like always, you claim you'll be superior yet you always fall short.
Arthur Watts: No, that's what you think but the reality is Doctor...I am always one step ahead of everyone...even you.
The Doctor: Is that so? You caught my attention very well when we first fought in Atlas, then what you did to the Cybermen and Cyber Beast in Vacuo, now the signal interference followed by a very terrible puppet show.
Arthur Watts: All according to- Signal interference?
The Doctor: Isn't that how you caught my attention to come here?
Arthur Watts: N-NO! I told The Rani to reach out to you in a way you least expected!
KA-POW!
A hard kick to head was felt for Arthur Watts as he collapsed to the ground immediately while the Doctor watched the kicker fixing herself and taking a deep breath of relief.
The Rani was still alive!
The Rani: Your wish is my command, Arthur.
The Doctor: Well done. Consider me impressed.
The Rani: Excuse me, you're the rookie and I'm the expert. This isn't my first time. I will say, sleeping on a hard, cold floor is not comfortable one bit!
The Doctor: You alright though? I had to make sure to adjust the electric shock to its lowest so it wouldn't harm you severely.
The Rani: My Doctor made me go through much worse scenarios than this. This was nothing. What's next then?
The Doctor: It gets tricky from here on out. We need to find where he is doing his Cybermen creations and bring him in.
The Rani: Your little twerps will be shocked to see Arthur Watts alive in this state.
The Doctor: *looks at her concerned* You know as well as I do that-
The Rani: Let's not jump to conclusion. The similarities are obvious but there's many psychopaths like him!
The Doctor: But no psychopath could survive being charred entirely. No ordinary human! *Looks down at Arthur Watts* Why do you think I asked those questions?
The Rani: He dodged the most important question as well...It's him, Doctor...Arthur Watts is-
Electricity began to spark around the two time lords which resulted in both of them pulling out their Sonic devices until an electric whiplash sent the two flying. They both immediately got up as some sort of electrical force surrounded the unconscious body of Arthur Watts.
The Rani: Cybermen?
The Doctor: No...Something else. I've seen this before.
The force surrounding the charred mad scientist followed by a maniacal cackle. It sounded very familiar which led to the Doctor figuring out who it was.
The Doctor: Kilg%re.
Kilg%re: *cackles* Hello, Doctor! Don't mind me, I'm just taking my partner back to MY world.
The Doctor: Put him down! You don't know who you are dealing with!
The Rani: He's only using you to get what he needs!
Kilg%re: Then if you want to stop us! COME AND FIND US!
Kilg%re laughed even more as a bright flash causes him and Arthur Watts to disappear. The empty room was now only with the Doctor and the Rani.
The Rani: Care to explain that?
The Doctor: Kilg%re. A mad villain who trapped my friends in this simulation world with a group of superheroes named the Justice League.
The Rani: *sighs* Of course there would be a world with superheroes!
The Doctor: I'm not finished. That's where I made first contact with him...The Master. Weiss found a four-beat code and when I sped up the code, it sounded like our heartbeat.
The Rani: Your little friends will believe Kilg%re is working with the worst of the worst with Arthur Watts and The Master...
The Doctor: That was the belief...*looks back* We are in a much bigger situation than we expected...*looks at her* Thank you by the way.
The Rani: Ooooooooh! We're not doing this! We had a plan and it's settled.
The Doctor: Acting or not, you admitted you want to change.
The Rani: O-Oh! Y-Yes, that. No one said it's easy, you are making me suffer with this changing good but I still have my trust in you.
The Doctor smiled softly at the Rani as the two make their way out of this abandoned facility with the Rani sighing in relief that this young and naive time lord didn't capture what she was actually referring to...
The Rani: Assumption.
The Doctor: Deduction.
The Rani: Hope.
The Doctor: Faith.
The Rani: *scoffs* Idiot.
The Doctor: *smiles* Always.
Being a friend to the Doctor.
But that was a conversation for a next time (Never) as both their minds were only concerned with Arthur Watts and what was going to happen. All this time he was right in front of them and when they had the chance to stop him, he escaped...
As Arthur Watts said, One. Step. Ahead.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Back at UNIT HQ inside one of the office rooms, Team RWBY and Jaune just went on to finish their entire story of the Ever After. Everyone in the room were speechless and shocked by all that was told by the five: A different variant of both Pyrrha and Jacques which felt like a punch to the guts for Ren, Nora, Willow, and the Schnee siblings, Neopolitan, and The Master...
Winter: That...is a lot to take in...
Yang: There's more...we just thought we start off with that.
Nora: You're telling us that there's another universe where both Pyrrha and Weiss's cruel father exists?
Weiss: Yep. Their world however...isn't like ours. There's no Semblance, no Aura, no Salem, no Grimm, no such thing as Huntsmen or Huntresses.
Qrow: Sounds pretty peaceful to me.
Weiss: And while they looked like my father and Pyrrha, they were also very different. The Jacques from the other world isn't cold or ruthless or greedy. He was nothing like my actual father, he was very kind, very wise, and helpful.
Whitley: A world where our father is actually a good man? Now I've seen everything.
Weiss: It's true! Even I was in disbelief when I first saw him. I told him everything our father was here and he was disgusted and disappointed to hear all of that.
Sora: Parallel Universe are very common. In perhaps thousands of parallel universes that exist, there's a good 40% chance most of us exist. Time Lords like the Doctor however, aren't too fond of parallel universe for cautionary reasons.
Dalek Khan: The Daleks have also precautionary restrictions when it comes to parallel universe. When it would come to conquest and power, Daleks will go through all of the universe but when they enter a different universe like I did, we become aware of the risks we will be a part of.
Ruby: Like a simple thing as like the universe is breathable for you.
Blake: Or it's infected with a virus you can't cure yourself.
Dalek Khan: Correct.
Nora: Okay this is all starting to mess up my head. I just want to know how was the Pyrrha you met.
Jaune: Truth be told...*rubs my head* She was a lot like our Pyrrha. Kind, Smart, Quirky, Silly, Brave. I guess the only difference from ours was she wasn't a huntress nor a big attention to people. I offered a chance to her to come with us but...she refused.
Ren: *sighs* You already knew from the start that it was a risk. But like Nora or I, we would have done the same because...we miss her even to this day.
Jaune: Heh...funny enough...when we left, she told me our Pyrrha would have done the same and to let her go...Seems like it was the closure I needed...
Oscar: You were haunted with grief, regret, and guilt because of what happened to her. Meeting a different Pyrrha in the Ever After was perhaps the universe's way of finally getting to spend the time with her that you wish you had and to give her the proper goodbye you couldn't give.
Jaune: Yeah...you're most likely right...
Willow: I hate to be that person but I need to know...The Master.
A lump grew in each of Team RWBY's and Jaune's throat as the memories of him as the Curious Cat and possessing Neo came back to their minds. They felt chills as they could still hear his maniacal laugh.
Blake: Everything...that the Doctor told us about him...was very true.
Weiss: Dangerous, manipulative, cruel, brilliantly intelligent, and ruthless. He was there with us the whole time and we didn't realize until it was too late and things escalated.
Jaune: He's...hurt a lot of lives in the Ever After including Alyx...Me...Ruby...and even Neopolitan. The Master possessed her and used her own semblance to change her look into his.
Winter: H-How did you even stop him?...
Ruby: Together. It was difficult at first because...*rubs my arm* We weren't together and they were having a hard time trying to stop him.
Weiss: He almost crossed the portal back here until we were able to hold him off. A small price to pay though.
Willow: He found out about your regeneration, didn't he?
Weiss: *nods* And he did not stop until he was going to get it. It almost happened but we were able to stop him in the end.
Nora: And now...is he dead?...
Yang: *sighs in relief* Yeah...he's dead now.
Oscar: That's quite a relief. Another weight taken off the Doctor's shoulder but...I guess for him it isn't as celebratory like us.
Blake: What do you mean by that?
Ren: A lot has happened here as well when you four fell then Weiss disappeared afterwards.
Dalek Khan: If my theory is correct, Weiss explained to you about the fate of Cinder Fall.
Yang: *nods* Yeah...turns out she is a Time Lord known as The Rani.
Winter: Well...she's also dead.
The girls' eyes and Jaune's widened at the sudden drop of information. It wasn't that long ago Weiss saw Cinder revert to The Rani. It wasn't even a week for Team RBY and Jaune to know about her and now she's dead?
Dalek Khan: She attempted another portal like the one Weiss fell through but it became more dangerous. A black hole was forming and it caused severe damage near Menagerie-
Blake: WHAT?! THAT'S MY HOME! ARE-
Willow: Yes, Blake. Heavy damage across the island but there were no reports of casualties and your parents are okay. When the Doctor was able to shut it off, the black hole closed with the Rani inside...finishing her as well.
Jaune: Which means the Doctor once again...is the last of his kind...
The room fell silent as the confirmation of The Master's and The Rani's demises was good news for them but the realization hit of the Doctor once again being alone. The only one not phased was Sora who only looked around the room before quietly leaving.
Sora made her way outside of UNIT HQ and looked up at the beautiful stars. There wasn't a single day she missed being back home in her present time. But times have changed, lives have come and gone, and she knew well where she needed to be: Here.
She was alone with no one in sight, removed her hoodie and fixed herself up a bit, and pulled out her Sonic Screwdriver. She activated it to see an image of herself with her parents and the rest of her big family which brought a smile to her. Her thoughts were immediately interrupted when she heard the noise of the TARDIS landing near her. She placed her hoodie back on and waited for the Doctor's arrival to tell him the big news.
The Doctor: *walks out* Sora! Just the person I needed to chat with!
Sora: Same here, Doctor! I've got some news to share!
The Doctor: *eyes widened* Team RWBY? Jaune? Have you made contact with them?
Sora: Well actually-
The Doctor: What is it? Did you get something from any of them at all?
Sora: *looks over and giggles* Why don't you ask her?
The Doctor was confused for a few seconds until a pair of heels were clicking their way towards them. His hearts beating fast as the Doctor turned around and saw the one important piece to his heart in front of him: Weiss.
Weiss had an emotional smile on her face while the Doctor remained frozen with an expression of shock and joy. Tears fell from Weiss as she made the first move, running towards the Doctor in which he was finally able to move himself and ran towards her as well...
Until the two came together for a long-awaited hug with the Doctor spinning her for a bit and holding her close. Weiss closed her eyes and buried her face on the Doctor's chest while tears continue to fall. The Doctor could only have a large smile on his face and hold his Ice Queen close before the two placed their heads together.
As if the world froze momentarily while the two finally came together once again.