"…So, you are saying that Salem and her agents destroyed Beacon, caused the fall of Haven, then destroyed Atlas and got their hands on two Relics?"
"Yes."
"But you won't tell me what happened after Atlas?"
"For the last time, no. Ozpin. That is a part of my life that I don't want to discuss since it has no relevance to your war."
The neutral look in Ozpin's eyes did not fade, but he finally relented after confirming my story for the fifth time in the past hour.
Honestly, I can't blame him. What I said could be considered the rambling of a madman by the common people, for Ozpin and his group? It would be the attempts at deceiving them and helping Salem.
Fortunately, Ironwood had hard evidence in the form of surveillance footage from the crater where I was found, along with the DNA reports and future Huntsman ID, along with my future Scroll, which had various articles from several news outlets from the future.
It was only thanks to the evidence Ironwood provided from me the moment I decided to expose my secret that Ozpin did not throw me into the Vault under Beacon along with Raven.
"…Fine. Let's say I believe you. Why have you decided to reveal yourself to me after a whole year of keeping me in the dark?"
I caught Ironwood wincing from my side. I really appreciate the fact that he kept his word and did not say anything about me to Ozpin.
"Because things have changed from what I remember, and that does not bode well for the future that I know."
"What kind of change?"
"Summer Rose was not supposed to be the Summer Maiden in my timeline."
"That does seem like a big change, but will there be any consequences for that change? Is the identity of the Summer Maiden relevant to any major events in the future?"
…You know what? He's got a point.
"…You don't seem to be all that phased about the Future changing?"
For just a moment, a haunted look appears in his eyes.
"Believe me, Mr. Arc, once you have lived as long as I have and made as many mistakes as I have, you stop being surprised by the absurdities of this world."
"…You used the Crown, didn't you?"
A tiny, humorless smirk made it onto his face. It was all the answer I needed.
While Ozpin was very reluctant to tell us about what the relics could really do, Oscar was willing to do anything to help us, even if it meant going against Ozpin and telling us what the Relics could do.
Of course, Ozpin never allowed Oscar to tell us the truth by exerting control over his body as much as he could, but Oscar did manage to tell us what the Relic of Choice was through a fairy tale he asked us to read.
The Indecisive King.
From the way most of the fairy tales that we come across turn out to be true, we did not take long to realize what the Crown, the Relic of Choice, was capable of.
It allowed the wielder to see the future, but just like the limitations placed on the Relics of Creation and Knowledge, there was also a restriction on the Crown.
It showed multiple variations of the future, but it would not show just which choice would lead to the future that the wearer desires. At least, that is what Ruby and I interpreted from the various versions of the story.
It would explain Ozpin's indifference to the future changing.
"When did you use it?"
"Three years ago."
"Was the future that you saw the reason you made Summer Rose into the Summer Maiden instead of the intended successor in Vacuo?"
"I will neither confirm nor deny that."
"Tch. I really hate it when you try to be all mysterious."
This changes things. If Ozpin's use of the Crown is the reason for this massive change in history, who knows what else he changes with his actions? Is the future I know even reliable anymore?
No, I cannot jeopardize the lives of my loved ones based on assumptions. From this moment on, I need to plan for the future, assuming that my future knowledge is now useless.
But this means I cannot proceed with my original plan of searching for Cinder and her followers before they join Salem and kill them. For all I know, they might not even join Salem this time around.
I really hate it. The fact that I have to switch from aggressive planning to a defensive strategy. Damned Ozpin, always causing complications with his actions.
"Why did you use it? Ozpin?"
"…I do not know."
That was not the answer I was expecting.
"What?"
"One night, three years ago. I received a vision in my sleep. I don't know who it was, I only know that it was a young woman. She said that Salem's victory would be inevitable if I didn't take action immediately. When I woke up, I was unsure if that dream was born from my own worry or if it was the action of a Semblance from an agent of Salem, but I could not ignore the warning either, since I could not risk the world's future on assumptions. That is why I used the Crown to see the future to verify my visions. As you can see, the future that I saw was not ideal, so I decided to make a few minor changes."
Just what is going on here? A vision from a young woman? Is the damned Tree again?
No, wait. I can't jump to conclusions. For now, I'll put this mysterious woman aside. I have bigger issues to work on.
"Fine. What else did you change?"
"Now, that would be telling."
"I swear, Ozpin-"
"Please. I am not trying to be 'mysterious' as you put it. But despite the evidence provided, I cannot trust you that blindly. The only reason I even told you about my reasoning for using the Crown and the Summer Maiden is that you already knew about the Summer Maiden thanks to a certain someone breaking the secrecy and involving you in the rescue mission. And you already guessed that I used the Crown, so there was no point in hiding that fact from you. But I will not tell you anything else, at least for now. When you have gained enough of my trust, I will tell you."
I highly doubt that, Ozpin. I know how you operate. You would rather take your secrets to the grave with you than share them with even your closest confidants. Not like I can really blame him since we saw what happened with Lionheart and the future Ironwood, but that does not mean I feel any better while hearing his hypocritical words about trust.
"Fine. We are done for today."
"About that, I have a proposal for you, Mr. Arc ."
…I have a bad feeling about this.
"What is it?"
"How about you join Beacon as a Professor?"
"Why?"
"So that I can observe and see if I can trust you."
"..You are being surprisingly open about your intentions."
"I don't see any point in keeping my objective a secret from you since you already seem to know my way of doing things very well."
That wasn't as bad as I was expecting.
"Thanks, but I will have to refuse for now. My younger version will be ready to attend Beacon in a decade or so. I will take you up on the offer at that time."
"..Very well."
Without any other word, I directly left Ozpin's office with Ironwood.
Despite the many decades I spent trying to think positively about this man in the Ever After, I still cannot feel comfortable talking with Ozpin. I simply cannot bring myself to trust him fully as we once did in Beacon.
Glancing at the neutral face of Ironwood, I decided to say what I had been waiting for.
"..You've been too quiet for some time now, James. Got something to say?"
"…I am just thinking about what you said. Do we really lose Atlas? And the relics? Just like that? Despite all our efforts?"
"…Let's talk as we walk"
And so we talked.
Taking advantage of the fact that Beacon was empty during this time of the year, we walked through an isolated path as I spoke and he listened.
I revealed to him our plans. All our efforts, and how it all went down the drain, thanks in no small part to his future self and the idiocy of Team RWBY, and to a lesser extent, my team.
As expected, James was disgusted with the actions of his future self, an action that I could not blame him for.
Unlike the stalwart, if bull-headed, General of Atlas who cared about his people above his own life, the future Ironwood was a broken man who turned into a tyrant after being pushed into a corner. Of course, I can't really put all the blame on him since we broke his trust as well, just like Ozpin did, but that does not change the fact that he was one of the main reasons why Atlas fell, and we lost.
Thankfully, I can try to prevent that outcome from happening with enough effort. Primarily through showing him trust and earning his trust in return.
I will need that trust if my new plan is to succeed.
As we slowly approached the Vault after our long walk and talk, we saw Qrow standing outside the room with an uncomfortable expression, much to our confusion.
"Qrow? What are you-"
James's words were cut short when a muffled explosion sounded from inside the room, followed by shouting from multiple voices.
Both of our instincts took over as Huntsmen as I immediately drew my sword while Ironwoon took out his guns, Due Process. But both of us were stopped from taking action by Qrow, who stopped us.
"Calm down, there is no need to worry. Well, maybe a little. But that's beside the point. Summer is not in danger. Look for yourselves."
With even more confusion, I cautiously opened the door while Ironwood kept his guns trained past me in preparation for an ambush. Our training as Huntsmen makes us work together seamlessly due to the fact that it was Ironwood's Specialists who trained teams RWBY and JNR on Atlas back in my time.
We were completely unprepared, however, for the sight that greeted us inside.
It was the sight of Summer Rose, sitting on the bed with her husband's head in her stomach. The occasional tremble and heaves we could see indicated that he was sobbing uncontrollably. But what really surprised us was that Summer Rose's flaming eyes were glaring at a burnt and bruised form that was kneeling on the floor right in front of the Summer Maiden.
Raven Branwen looked like someone had decided to throw her into a burning building and promptly collapsed said building on top of her.
Looking at her wrists, I felt my breath hitch.
"Qrow! Why did you release the Suppressors?"
"Chill, Big guy. She is not going anywhere, even without those Suppressors. Because we have the biggest Suppressor in existence right in front of her."
At his words, Summer Rose stopped using her Maiden powers and turned to look at us with curiosity.
For a single second, I saw Ruby replace her mother, and I felt my heart shatter into pieces, but I held back my feelings from showing on my face.
Calm down. Things will be different this time around. I will make sure of it.
"What is happening here?"
Qrow gave the furious Ironwood a lazy grin. But unlike the sad and broken thing that I remember from my memories, this one was truly filled with humor.
Another happy change. One I appreciate instead of fear.
"Well, Summer woke up some time ago and was busy trying to calm Tai down when Raven, as always, jabbed at her 'weak' husband. Of course, being as unstable as she is right after waking up, the pipsqueak blew up."
"HEY!"
Qrow laughed at Summer's outrage at being called a pipsqueak. Although it was a somewhat accurate nickname, given Summer's height.
But right now, I have a pressing issue to tackle, so I can't share in Qrow's humor right now.
But I promise myself that I am going to find a good bar and drown myself in alcohol the first chance I get. I really need something to drown my worries in right now, and I can't use my usual blend of Mead that I had back in the Ever After, since those ingredients don't exist on Remnant.
"Just why was Branwen even let into this room?"
Qrow immediately lost his humor and stared at me with the look I had grown to be familiar with during our travels.
"..And who are you to ask that question?"
"Qrow, this is Juniper Arc. He is one of my Specialists. He was the one who rescued Summer and captured Raven. He was also the one who healed Summer."
That hostile look immediately faded and was replaced with one of gratitude and slight suspicion.
"I see. Thank you, truly. You have no idea just how much Summer means to us."
"…I can imagine. Mr. Branwen."
"None of that. Call me Qrow."
I nodded and headed into the room with Qrow and Ironwood.
Only to have my way forward obstructed by the Rose herself.
"Thank you for saving me. But why did you let Raven knock me out like that during the fight?"
I really had to hold myself back from breaking down and sobbing as I stared at Summer's pout. She really was too much like her daughter.
I really need a drink. Right now!
"You were going to continue fighting the monster despite having a fatal injury in the form of half of your midsection being torn away by the Grimm. So I let her take you away from the area."
Of course, the truth was that I did not even realize that it was Raven and Summer who were fighting the Grimm. It was only when I came back to the Bullhead that I realized the identities of my rescue targets.
"But still! I could have helped-"
She stopped speaking when Qrow held her shoulder with an unsettling smile which made her shiver in fright.
"…We will talk later about proper Huntsman behavior when they are injured. But for now, I think you should head home with Tai."
"But what about Raven?"
"She will need to answer for her crimes-"
"No!"
"Mrs. Rose, you have no-"
"General! Please! She is not really a bad person-"
"She is the leader of a Bandit tribe that has taken hundreds of lives and destroyed many settlements."
Surprisingly, the one who spoke was none other than me.
I cannot allow Raven Branwen to escape from here. Who knows what she would do once she got out? The chances are extremely high that she would once again kill the Spring Maiden, like in my time, and assist Salem again.
That is a risk I simply do not allow to exist, even if it means burning the bridges with Ozpin and Ruby's family. In this way, Ruby's family would at least be alive to hate me instead of whatever would happen in this new future.
No, for the sake of Ruby's newfound normal childhood. A childhood where she would not have to experience the loss of her mother. I will stop the coward called Raven Branwen from ever escaping from this place.
"..Whoa, those are some scary eyes you got there. Arc. Did she kill someone you cared about?"
Qrow's words brought me out of my inner thoughts, allowing me to see that everyone was staring at me with caution.
Ironwood had a neutral look and still stood by my side. But the real change happened with the others in the room.
Summer Rose was in an unarmed combat stance while Qrow was reaching for Harbinger on his back. Taiyang was also in a combat stance, although a bit shaky since he was currently emotionally compromised.
Raven, on the other hand, looked resigned.
Looking down at my hands, I got the answer to the reason why they suddenly became hostile.
I had unknowingly drawn my sword, in its claymore configuration, and was clenching the handle tightly.
With a deep breath, I calmed my emotional state and put back the sword, causing the others to slowly relax, but still be on guard.
"…I am sorry. It would seem I am not emotionally stable at the moment."
"Yeah, can say the same for all of us right now."
I simply nodded and stepped back, causing Summer to finally release her stance completely.
"Mr. Arc. Please. I do not know what Rae did to you or if she really caused harm to any of your loved ones. But she is my wife. I cannot let you lock her away or kill her. Just give us a chance to make things right."
…..It is really unfair. Making me look at a face that was almost the same as that of my best friend as she begged me to spare her lover. Those silver eyes that shone with desperation were so similar to how Ruby asked me to leave her team behind on the train all those years ago.
Why? Why must the world punish me to such an extent? What did I ever do wrong to deserve everything that happened to me? Why must it always be me who has to make the hard choices and live with the consequences? WHY?
"….Do whatever you want."
I left the room under the relieved gaze of Summer Rose and one filled with respect from Ironwood.
But right now, I don't care about any of that.
I need a really strong drink. Hopefully, I can find a decent bar or tavern in Vale that serves strong alcohol geared towards Huntsmen.