Patriot-112: And here we are! Another new chapter...and it's a bit of a 'built from scratch' piece of work. And the title should reveal what's about to happen.

Anywho, not much to say, except stay safe and hope this Coronavirus pandemic goes away. Now then, let's continue!

Chapter 7:

Rings, Promises, and Pets.

One Week since 'Rampage' Incident

Things had been...quite hectic, since the day that our heroes found out about their future, as well as meeting the new versions of their future selves. Aside from preparing for the eventuality of Salem's little cult possibly still attempting to cause the Fall, both Younger Versions of the two teams had been training rigorously. Along with that, the latter sets making some changes to their wardrobes, thanks to the pictures from Ruby's scroll, though they will not be ready until the Vytal Festival.

While they did that, the Older Teams took turns in looking after Ru, along with Maria Calavera.

With the latter, she was currently with the Older Team JNPR, as she looked sadly upon the young woman, who would become her student with the silver eyes. From what she learned from the girl's sister, her mother, Summer, had silver eyes, but unfortunately never had the chance to train her, due to disappearing and being presumed dead when Ruby was still a toddler.

She sighed as she, from the chair offered to her by the youngsters, bent over and gave Ruby a gentle caress on her head. This of course, caused her to jolt somewhat, but quickly relaxed at the familiar touch. Maria could only smile sadly.

"You can't die like this, Ruby," she said softly to the Rose Reaper, "Your family, and those who love you, need you back... now more than ever."

Her hand was then joined by another and looked up and saw Pyrrha as she sat in her own chair. Upon looking upon the older version of the girl she met weeks ago, Maria could definitely see how the years had been tough on her. The dark shadows under her eyes, paler than usual skin tone, and the solemn facial expression all screamed of the losses she endured.

"You all really care about her." Maria said, not intending it as a question.

Pyrrha nodded. "More than you know," she said as he moved a stray bane of Ruby's hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, "Losing her once in our timeline was heartbreaking enough...but twice?"

Pyrrha shook her head, as Maria's mechanical eyes blinked.

"I'm surprised you're still sane after experiencing all of that...losing Ru, and then your own Ruby," she stated, and Pyrrha chuckled bitterly.

"Oh, there were times where I almost lost it..." she said, "...But, I remembered what Ruby sacrificed her life for...and I wasn't willing to let her death be in vain."

Maria smiled at the champion. It appears there's hope in the Younger Generations yet.

"So...how long have you and the Arc Paladin been married?" she asked suddenly, making Pyrrha perk up before smiling softly, a light blush on her cheeks.

"Seven years now," she said, "Though, considering the environment Remnant was in, we decided it was best that we didn't have children. Hopefully, now in this time, we can start that family. And me and Jaune unanimously agreed that Ruby should be given the honor of being Godmother...after all she did and risked everything for, she deserves it."

Maria looked to Ruby, as the young woman continued to sleep while breathing softly, unaware of what was just bestowed to her.

"Hopefully, she survives long enough to learn of it,"

"She will," both turned at the sound of Jaune's voice as he came over and placed a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder, "Even when the odds were stacked against her, she never gave up. Just as we won't give up on her,"

They were soon joined by Ren and Nora who both gave determined nods at that.

"And when that bitch Cinder comes for her," Nora growled, "We'll be ready, and this time, it will be HER whom we put into the ground,"

Everyone of Team JNPR nodded, with Maria giving one of her own smirks. Unknown to them, Ru's lips quirked into a small smile, before it quickly dropped.

Training Arena

Shotgun blasts ring out, as two blondes go at each other. Said blondes being Yaiyang Xiao Long, and the Older Yang as they traded boxing blows with each other, with Taiyang feeling the rather stronger than usual punch he was familiar with, if the sore arm was any indication. The father of the Sunny Dragon and Rose Reaper could honestly say that he was greatly proud and impressed by how far his eldest daughter had come...

...Though she still had that temper problem, it appears his eldest daughter has it more on a leash. Still, he still caught how her eyes would turn red whenever she noticed Ozpin, and that was a cause for worry. He planned to talk to her about it when he asked to spar with her, and see how she improved.

The two continued their sparring match before they both ended up in a deadlock.

"Well, I gotta admit you're actually using your head more than-," he proceeded to say, but unknown to him since he was looking in Yang's eyes, he didn't notice the slight smirk on her lips before she suddenly let off, catching Tai off guard, before she then swept the back of his overstretched foot causing him to begin falling backwards...only for his outstretched hand to be caught by his daughter's robotic one. He looked up, blinking in shock and surprise as he saw Yang's older self look at him with a nostalgic smile on her face.

"I learned from the best...including you, Dad," Older Yang stated, before lifting her father back on his feet to balance him. Tai chuckled as the two walked toward the stands, where on the front bleachers, Zwei watched as he panted excitedly before grabbing two fresh towels and padded over toward the two blondes. Tai and Yang accepted the towels before giving the Corgi their own respective pat on the dog's head.

"You've definitely surpassed me...," Tai said as the two sat down and the older Xiao Long pulled a bottled drink from the cooler chest before handing it to Yang and then pulled one out for himself, "...both in strength and determination. And most importantly, you surpassed...her,"

Older Yang's eyes narrowed at that, as memories of her mother entered her mind. How in the first timeline, she actually helped Cinder in almost getting the Relic of Knowledge, only for the Spring Maiden/Bandit Leader attempting to backstab her and take the relic to a different location...of course, she knew how well that went seeing as Cinder saw through it, leading her to kill her right hand Lieutenant, Vernal, and then a vicious duel occurring between them, leading her to be the victor. Then, came the talk between them, and learning how everything she did was mostly out of cowardice. Of course, she learned this info from...them.

She sighed as she took a swig of her drink, before stopping and speaking again. "I can understand why you didn't want to talk about her," she said, "Especially after what I learned what she did in Ru's Timeline.

Tai knew by the look on her face that something, no doubt bad, must've happened. And after watching the message from Ru, he had a VERY good idea.

"I believe talking about your mom is now a more sore point than usual, huh?" he asked, which caused the Older Yang to chuckle bitterly.

"Oh, you bet it is," she clarified before crushing her empty bottle. "And know that once I see her, mother or not, I'm gonna deck her so hard, I hope she gets a hematoma,"

Now Tai was greatly worried, as he grabbed onto his older girl's shoulder.

"Whoa, whoa, hey now...," he said in warning, "...I know Raven deserves a good beating, but please, for my sake and Ruby's, don't become a killer over it. In fact, I think you should take that out on the people who placed your sister in the current situation she's in,"

Older Yang sighed at that, "I can make no promises on that," she said, "But you're right, I should take it out on Cinder and her little Posse, as well as her boss and associates. They made Ruby's life a living hell, and me, along with the others, are going to show them what happens when you hurt one of our own."

Tai smiled at that, seeing that Yang still cared for her family, despite the tragedies that occurred. He then looked at the robotic hand, and could only wince, knowing he possibly failed to prevent the injury that Yang suffered.

Yang caught him looking at her arm, and only sighed as she lifted it up.

"Dad...this wasn't your fault," she said, "This was done by that horned bastard, Adam, and my own foolishness. Don't ever blame yourself for my mistakes."

Tai sighed knowing that he had been caught.

"I know...it's just...I swore to protect both you and Ruby when your sister came back to warn us...and seeing that you had still lost your arm and that Ruby will...," he stopped at that, unable to finish it, "I have to be more prepared."

He then felt Yang's hand on his shoulder now and looked at her, as she gave a smirk.

"Now you're starting to sound like me when I was still searching for answers about Raven," she said, "Not to mention Blake, when she was obsessed in stopping the White Fang. But, I'm not gonna ask you to stop, but I am going to suggest this to you, remember to be there for us. For me, and for Ruby,"

Tai blinked, before he smiled and grabbed his older child in a one armed hug.

"When did you get so wise?," he said, only to recieve an elbow to the ribs from a laughing Elder Yang.

As this was going on, Yang the Younger watched on, out of sight, as she listened to her father and older self talk. She took in what her 'Big sis' had said to him, and though she still wanted to find her mother, she knew she had to be more cautious. Not to mention, she needs to find a way to counter that bullhead bastard that took her arm.

And also, protect Ruby from that murderous cunt in the red dress.

She grabbed said limb as it began to ache with phantom pains, causing it to shake.

"I'll make sure she lives," she swore, more to herself, "I won't let that bitch take her away...that's a promise."

Meanwhile,

With Blake

The young Cat Faunus in hiding took a deep breath as she waited for the people she was waiting for. She hadn't seen them for over a year, ever since they both left the White Fang and left it with Sienna Khan, her godmother. Now, she was about to see them again and to say she was nervous was an understatement.

She didn't know how they'll react when they see her. She didn't actually give them enough time to show their reactions after she called them, after the...'Rampage Incident'. She just said that she was in Beacon and wanted to see them in person, before she rudely hung up, much to her frustration and self-chastisement at her thrice-damned fears. Blake could only hope that they'll forgive her for that.

Her hidden ears then picked up the sound of engines as the Bullhead that Professor Ozpin loaned to pick up the ones she called, with Professor Port being the one who went with it to pick them up, was beginning to arrive. She sighed as she stood up as the VTOL aircraft began it's landing on the platform.

"Well, here goes nothing," she said to herself as she proceeded toward the docks.

On the said transport, the side door opened as the boastful professor himself jumped out from the transport.

"I can assure you Mr and Mrs Belladonna, your daughter is truly one of my best students!" The man said, "Truly talented in both brains and skills as a true huntress can be!"

As he was saying this, a tall muscular man, wearing a blue trench coat with white pants and black boots, with black hair and a beard stepped off the transport, before helping a woman wearing a black and white kimono style dress, with two cat ears on her head down from the airship.

"Well, it's better than when she was with that troubled boy," grumbled Ghira Belladonna, remembering one of the reasons that Blake chose to stay with the White Fang, "I knew I should've had Adam thrown out after that convoy incident...but alas, Sienna thought otherwise."

"Dear, it's not your fault," Khali said comfortingly, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Adam already had full support of the White Fang due to his fearless reputation."

"Yes, he was fearless...but he was also ruthless. Too ruthless, if you ask me," Ghira said with a sad shake, "A pitiful shame though...he had such potential to do great things for our people. But...unfortunately, his tragic past with SDC had fueled his rage until it corrupted him...something I wished Sienna would've seen. But unfortunately...now I can only hope she realizes it before it's too late."

"I'm afraid it's already too late, Dad,"

Both parents perked up at the sound of the familiar voice and looked ahead. Their eyes widened as they saw their daughter walking toward them, as she removed the black bow on her head, revealing her cat ears. The young woman gave a small nervous smile as she rubbed her left arm.

"Blake...," Ghira said, as he looked at his daughter up and down, his wife as well, as tears of relief and happiness glistened in her eyes.

"Hey Mom...hey Dad," she meekly greeted, "It's...it's nice to see yo-,"

Before she could finish, and faster than she realized, she was enveloped into a loving embrace, courtesy of her parents, as Khali now openly wept in happiness.

"My little baby girl," the older female cat faunus spoke, "When your father and I received your call, at first I couldn't believe it, but here you are!"

Blake then felt a large, but gentle hand on her head and looked up at her father, as he gave her a proud smile.

"And attending Beacon Academy...you don't know how much this makes me proud of you, Blake," he said, which caused Blake to return the smile.

"Thanks Dad," she said, before she frowned sadly and looked away, making Ghira blink and Khali notice the change in her daughter's body language, which ignited concern from both parents.

"Blake?" Khali asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'm...I'm sorry," she said, making the two blink, "You were...you were right. And I called you both cowards for it. And Adam...he's..."

She would've continued had her mother pulled her back in the hug.

"Shh...," Khali hushed, "Blake, it's alright. You were young, passionate, and you didn't know that things would escalate the way they did."

"Your mother is right, Blake," Ghira added, "And what Adam Taurus has done, that's all on him, not you. We love you, Little Kitten. And nothing would change that,"

Blake looked at her parents, both of them forgiving her at how she acted when they left the White Fang all those years ago. It reminded her of Future Ruby's message to her, and how her parents confirmed her words to be true. Tears began to glisten in her eyes, before she grabbed both of them into a hug, with the two parents all too happy to return.

Overlooking from a hidden vantage point, Blake the Elder watched as her past self interacted with her parents, as a smile formed on her face, while shedding tears of her own. Among the losses that hit her the most in the future, her parents' deaths were the greatest.

But now, she has a chance to prevent that.

'I love you, too...Mom, Dad,'

With Weiss

The Heiress of the SDC was by herself in the library as she thought of the events that transpired in the past couple of weeks. Especially learning of the future of her partner, and her father's mad pursuit of attaining power, just for the sake of himself and himself alone...

...she wasn't surprised by that at all. In fact, she knew he would try something stupid in order to gain control of Atlas and make things more hellish for everyone. Not just Atlas, but the city of Mantle, along with all of Solitas as well. She sighed exasperatedly, wondering where it all went wrong.

Oh yeah, it went wrong the day her ill grandfather was manipulated into giving her false Schnee of a father control of SDC, and then said bastard father married her mother, while stealing the family name in the process. Yup, that was it. End of story. The end.

The youngest Schnee daughter breathed out a sigh as she calmed herself down from her mental rant. Thinking about it was not going to help matters, but thinking on how to prevent what he did, that's what she's going to do. The question though, is how.

"I was the exact same way when I found out what that bastard of a father of ours did," she actually jumped at the voice, before turning around and saw her older self standing behind her, giving her an amused grin.

"Don't do that!" She hissed, remembering she was still in a library, "It's rude to sneak up on people!"

The Older Weiss just gave a chuckle at that.

"When you endured a war and an apocalypse as I did, you pick up a few things." she said, before the smile faded, "And lose many other things,"

Weiss blinked at that, before remembering that she came from an alternate time where everyone else had died. Two people in particular came to mind.

"Mom and Winter...h-how did...," she hesitated, losing the will to finish the question. But, she didn't need to, as the Older Weiss sighed in sadness.

"Winter died when she was protecting Friya, the Winter Maiden who was nearing the end of her time, because of old age," she said sadly, before her face hardened and clenched her fist, "That bitch Cinder killed her, right when I arrived to help...she was smiling sadistically, actually having the nerve to show that she enjoyed it,"

Weiss' eyes began to glisten at the thought of her sister dying that way. Especially to one who was so cruel. What her older self said next would make her grief worse.

"As for mother...she was killed by one of Salem's Winged Beringel," Elder Weiss said, while tears glistened in her eyes, as she bowed her head, "She never had a chance,"

Despite Willow's drinking, Weiss couldn't help but feel remorse for her mother's future demise. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she turned to her older self who gave her a smile.

"Hopefully, we can save this timeline, so you don't have to see it for yourselves," she said, before frowning as she turned away, "And not making the same foolish mistakes when who or whom not to trust."

Weiss blinked at that, before she could ask, Weiss just waved her hand.

"I'll tell you later," she said, before she then smirked, "For now...how about I teach you how to properly summon,"

Two Days Later

Red eyes glowed, as a dark mechanical figure stalked through the forest after receiving the call from it's creator. It had been in standby mode for months, with orders not to move from the bunker it and the creator had hidden in ever they arrived, and to only come when she said so. And now, after so long, it was finally returning to it's master's side, as it followed the tracking beacon in the creator's scroll...

...And it had brought it here, to Beacon.

'Signal Location: Confirmed - Beacon Academy'

'Current status of Mistress Ruby Rose - Unknown'

'Mission: Locate Mistress and ascertain current condition'

'Parameters: All Friendly Combatants, including the designated: Team RWBY, Team JNPR, and Team CFVY, and Non-Combatants are to be left unharmed'

'All non-friendly combatants...neutralize with extreme prejudice.'

'Commence mission.'

Ozpin sighed as he went through all the information he learned after watching the message that the Future Ruby Rose made specifically for him, including his future reincarnation, a farm boy named Oscar Pine from Anima. According to Ru, they met the boy when the young man came back with a very drunk, but very happy, Qrow. One thing that intrigued him, ws that he was able to resist him, and told Team RWBY about Jinn, and they found out his true origins...and the fact that Salem couldn't be killed.

Needless to say, the reactions were what he expected and it caused him to groan in frustration. Of course, Ruby, being the hopeful optimist, kept going despite the dilemma, stating that even though she couldn't be killed, she could still be defeated. Of course, future reality said otherwise.

His thoughts were then interrupted, when the alarm sounded, warning him and the school of an intruder. He stood as he activated the holo-screens for the cameras around the school, and began the search for the uninvited visitor.

And he quickly found them...or it, as it swiftly and quickly darted across the school grounds, narrowly missing students, including the recently recovered Team CRDL, who wisely jumped out of the way.

The figure was quadrupedal in nature as it ran forward, like a certain canine predator, while it's body was covered in black, and silver matte metal, which glinted in the sunlight. It's face was terrifying, appearing angular, jaws filled with razor teeth, with two long sharp pointed ears, with the look finished off with a pair of red glowing eyes.

Acting immediately, he grabbed his scroll and speed dialed Glynda's number.

"Glynda! Gather the others!"

Ruby sighed as she walked down a path toward Beacon Tower, wanting to visit her future self and the elder selves of Team JNPR, along with Maria. It had been days since she pressed that button to recall her future dog, and so far, no sign or word of a metallic canine anywhere...

"HEY LOOK OUT!"

"WHAT IS THAT THING!?"

"RUN AWAY!"

Ruby perked up at the sounds of screams, accompanied by the sounds of servos, and what sounded like blades grating on stone were heard, before a black figure stopped right in front of her, and turned it's red gaze toward her. She froze as she saw the creature before her, a little intimidated, especially the fact that it was robotic. But as she looked at the canine features, including the slowly wagging tail, it suddenly clicked.

"D...Drei?" she managed to gasp out...which the said robot dog heard as it's tail wagged even faster, before it suddenly crouched down. Ruby's eyes squinted, before they widened in horror at seeing the familiar pose.

"Wait...Drei...No. No! NonononoNONONONONONONO!" Ruby tried to get the robot to stand down, but it was too late, before Drei proceeded to bolt towards her.

Ruby screamed in fright as she waved her hands frantically in front of herself in order to get Drei to stop.

"WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA! DREI STOP! DON'T-!"

A black blur, and a groan of pain later, signified that Drei had tackled the poor rosette to the ground, as the machine began to lick Ruby with a metallic tongue while happily wagging it's tail.

This was the scene that the younger teams WBY and JNPR, along with the older latter arrived to see, which caused the Yangs of the two to start laughing hysterically at the comical sight of Ruby laying on the ground, (with anime swirls for eyes) and being love attacked by a robot dog.

Patriot-112: And finally done! Man, with work, the Coronavirus, and my mother going home projects nut, and other works being done, along with a annoying writer's block...man. I hope you all enjoyed this. It may be shorter than the other updates, but hey this is mostly an inbetween before we catch up where we left off. And I bet many are happy I added a little more dialogue, especially the talk with Yang and Tai, Blake and her parents, and Weiss and her older self.

This may not be the last chapter before we arrive at our target destination. But...it's gonna fun all the same.

Until then my friends, ciao!