The idea isn't unique, I know. There's probably, like, a dozen time travel fanfics already. But my Writers Block wants me to write this, so I'm going to write it.

Alternate Universe Spin Off from A Boy's Take. Maybe loyal to canon, maybe loyal to original fanfic, maybe loyal to itself. Either way, enjoy.

My eyes lingered on a picture in my journal. A special picture.

A picture of my family, from a better time. Better than today, at least.

Me, in the middle, with a content smile on my face, arms around my sister and my best friend. I was convinced nothing could go wrong.

My sister, her short golden hair forever shining brightly. Her prosthetic metal hand making bunny ears behind my head, with an equally-shining smile of a champion.

Her partner stood next to her, with her ribbon-bandana flowing in the wind. Her cat-like ears were out in the open for all to see, and nobody really minded it. Her calm smile in this photo was the first smile she'd given in a long time.

The other one beside me had a goofy grin of his own. His blonde beard really put more emphasis on his blue eyes for some reason. He wore his family armor with pride.

Next to him, my partner. Even with the eyepatch, it never really diminished her elegance and beauty. Her regal clothing was as white as her long flowing hair. I remembered a time when she used to keep it in a pony tail. She was definitely cuter asymmetrical.

On the side next to her, the rest of the team that my best friend was leader of. A usually quiet man of Eastern descent, holding a usually not-at-all-quiet woman in pink by her waist. For some odd reason, despite being so close to each other, they were never "together together."

There was another picture. A small cutout picture that was taped on top of the group photo in the corner. A picture that was taken long before the one behind it. The red-haired Mistral Regional Champion of four years in a row. I wished she was there with us when we took our picture. We would have been complete.

I have stared at this picture many times. Enough where I could just see it whenever I closed my eyes.

In large text underneath, a sloppily handwritten reminder to myself.

NEVER FORGET THE HAPPIER TIMES

I heard footsteps of someone walking towards me. Prepared for my mission briefing, I pocketed my journal away, and saluted at the figure approaching.

"Commander Goodwitch, ma'am."

An aged woman with eyes that seemed a lot older than they should have been stood in front of me. She scoffed at my salutations, "There really is no point in you greeting me like that anymore, Ross."

I slowly set my hand down, but didn't let my posture slouch. "Sorry. Force of habit." I apologized.

"You still have the device?"

I pulled out the pistol receiver from my jacket. It was one of the many things that the Headmaster left behind. With this, there was a chance that everything in the world could be fixed. A chance to prevent the war. A chance to go back and prevent this terrible future from ever happening.

The human race was nearly extinct. There were but a few of us left, barely surviving in this apocalypse. We were all so distracted with the war against the White Fang, we never noticed the Grimm taking advantage and slaughtering us from behind. We were so preoccupied with the war we were fighting in, that we had already forgotten about a previous war that never even ended.

Humans were dead. Faunus were dead. Society had collapsed and was now just ruins for the Grimm to move in. Everyone I knew and loved either died in the pointless war, or died during the Grimm invasions.

Mankind had lost.

But with the item that I held in my hand…

"You really think this could work?" I asked her, unsure of this idea myself.

"Does it really matter? We've got nothing left to lose. So why not try and hope for the best?"

"I never thought I'd hear that sentence ever come out of your mouth."

We stood in front of the old ruins of Beacon Academy. Even though I already cleared the area from Grimm, there was going to be more arriving soon to take their place.

"To imagine that Ozpin was actually trying to build a time machine…" I shook my head, still wrapping my head around the idea. "I didn't think he was the kind of guy to believe in that kind of stuff."

"Personally, I wasn't surprised when I found out about this. He wanted to do everything he could to make a sort of fail safe plan in case everything went wrong. Even if the things he came up with seemed outlandish and impossible." She seemed to smile a bit at a fond memory, before it went away as quickly as it came. "If this actually works, then you know what to do."

"Affirmative." I nodded. "It's just a shame I can't bring you along with me. What will happen to you if this all works out?"

"Well, if it all works out, I wouldn't be here looking at a destroyed academy building and awaiting death, now would I?" She said. "And you know that I can't come along. The device will only work if it's traveling at the speed of five hundred miles per hour. You're the only one with a semblance that can reach that velocity. It's not like we could just find a vehicle around that just so happens to have a world record breaking engine."

"Right…"

Only I could do this. I was mankind's last chance at survival.

"There's no telling what could happen when you use that device. You could go back in time before the Vytal Tournament, but there's also the possibility of you going back even further than that. Perhaps even further than the medieval ages."

"Yeah, that'd probably suck." I shrugged.

"But if you do make it back only far enough, before the start of the Vytal Festival, then you need to remember what you have to do. Find and locate Cinder Fall and her accomplices. Emerald Sustrai, Mercury Black, and Roman Torchwick, including Adam Taurus, and many of his White Fang second-in-commands. Then…"

"I have to kill them all before they set out the motions that started the War on White Fang." I finished for her. "I have all of their names and ID photos stored in my journal, and ingrained in my memories, in case I lose this thing."

She nodded in affirmation, "Alone, it may prove difficult. But with knowledge of future events, and with the assistance of Ozpin, Ironwood, your uncle, and my past self, you may be able to accomplish your mission without a hitch."

"Man… Going back to actually see Ozpin and Uncle Qrow alive and well again. It's hard to believe."

"On the topic of past selves and finding things hard to believe, it's in all likelihood that I, by which I mean my younger self, will have difficulty believing you. Ozpin, I highly suspect, will believe you straight away though. That's just the type of person he is." She shook her head, and resumed her briefing. "But for me, it'll take some evidence before I'll be convinced."

"Alright. So what should I tell her to prove I really am from the future?"

"The first time I ever met Ozpin, he spilled coffee on my clothes."

"Pfft, seriously? Hope it wasn't freshly hot." I smirked.

"Focus Ross. Remember everything I'm going to tell you. Forget even one thing, and your credibility might be ruined." She reminded.

"Right, right. What else?"

"I wasn't born in Vale. My birthplace was actually in Atlas. Nobody else except Ozpin and I know of this."

"I could believe that."

"My mother's full maiden name was Margaret Elizabeth Ligon Turner-"

A loud roar from the distance interrupted her. As we turned around, we saw a vast army of thousands of Grimm charging towards our location. Leading them from above was the Grimm Dragon, packs of Elder Nevermores following closely behind.

"Shit, they're here." I growled.

"We don't have much time. Activate the device!" She frantically commanded.

Switching off the safety pin, a holographic pistol barrel appeared on the gun.

This was it then. This was either going to send me back in time before the Vytal Tournament, screw up horribly and send me back to the Stone ages, or not work at all and leaving me to look like an idiot as I die a horrible painful death at the claws of a million Grimm.

Either way, I had the feeling that the trip was going to suck.

Just when I was about to activate my semblance, she stopped me by the shoulder. "One last thing you need to remember in case everything I've mentioned still fails to convince me that you're from the future. Tell her this phrase: 'It looks like a Puma.'"

"The hell does that mean?" I asked, perplexed.

"It's a really stupid reference to something I like to watch in secret. I made great strides to never let anyone find out about it, so I should be the only one to understand what it means." She explained. "Now go!"

"Good luck on your end, Ma'am." I nodded, before preparing to run. "I'll miss you."

"Don't worry. If all goes well, you'll see me again before you know it." She gave me a fond smile.

"You know that's not what I meant." I smiled back at her.

Facing forward, I activated my semblance. The feeling of rushing winds and rose petals caressed my face as I began to run as fast as I could.

I needed to reach at least five hundred miles per hour. Once I maintain the speed for at least three seconds, the device would be charged up. After that, I needed to make a direct ninety degree angle towards the Beacon buildings, and shoot the device at its direction. A portal would show up and stick around for only half a second. I couldn't let it go to waste.

The gun didn't seem to be charged yet. I had to go faster.

I have absolutely no idea how to tell whether I've reached five hundred miles per hour. I don't even think I've ever run that fast before.

As I kept running in circles around the academy, I found myself annoyed that the gun still hadn't charged up yet. Did I need to go even faster?

Fine, let's not tiptoe carefully around this. I'll just give it my all.

I stopped conserving my aura, and just poured all of it into my semblance.

The rushing wind in my face that normally gave me comfort for so long now felt like it was burning my face off. I ran so quickly that flowing rose petals that fluttered by now felt like razors, cutting up my skin.

And yet still, the gun wasn't freaking charged yet!

Not only did I stop saving any reserve of aura within me, I started exerting my physical energy as well, hoping it would help.

My lungs were burning. My heart was booming. My legs were aching. Everything was a blur. I felt like I could drop dead at any second.

That was when I saw the gun glowing brightly.

There was my cue.

I immediately made a left turn, towards the old cafeteria building.

As I aimed forwards, I jumped, and pulled the trigger. Something shot out of the gun and landed just in front of me.

That's when I saw it. The insides of a giant portal.

What did I see?

I saw everything ever.

Then once I reached inside…

I stopped existing for a brief moment.

"I don't think that's a good idea to try in the midst of battle." Blake commented as she plopped a piece of sushi in her mouth.

"You're right." I agreed, nodding sagely before exclaiming, "It's a freaking GENIUS IDEA!"

"Okay, can you please give an explanation on how playing upbeat music in the middle of battle is a 'tactical advantage?'" Weiss asked, seemingly unable to wrap her head around my badass idea.

"So, you all know about the famous theory on how Grimm are attracted to negative emotions, right?" I started off.

Everyone around the lunch table nodded.

"By that logic, that means that having negative emotions make the Grimm stronger. So by THAT logic, positive emotions, which are the opposites of negative emotions, should theoretically make the Grimm weaker, right?"

"I guess that makes sense." Jaune furrowed his brows in thought.

"Eehh~?" Pyrrha shrugged unsurely.

"And what's one of the many things that can evoke positive emotions? Music of course! They're happy, they're snappy, they're fun to listen to and have the spiritual power of making you move to a rhythm that you've never moved to before! I propose that we weaponize our Mp3 players during hunts. Not only will we have a more enjoyable time, which will provide a moral boost, our positive emotions will make it tons easier to kill off the Grimm! If we make this idea popular and get everyone everywhere to get happy, we'll eventually be able to overcome the Grimm, and beat their dark soulless asses to extinction! Eh? Eh? Good idea, yes?" I grinned excitedly.

They all looked at me silently.

Then Yang started to snicker, and they all went back to casually eating their food.

"Ross, I don't think it works like that. Good try though! You might come up with something soon!" She praised/teased as she kept chuckling at my original idea.

"Pfft, laugh all you want Yang." I sat back down and brought a glass of milk up near my lips. "One of these days, I'm gonna be the guy that'll save the entire world from the Grimm. Then I'll be the one laughing! You'll see."

"Sure Ross. I have no doubts about that." Yang shook her head, taking a bite of her burger.

"I for one, think that's a kicking idea!" Nora complimented. "Just imagine, all of us charging towards an army of Grimm, and playing in the background, dramatic Death Metal music!"

"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" I smiled, before realizing what she said and replied, "Uh, maybe except the Death Metal music. That seems kinda counter productive."

Then without warning, we heard thunder booming. We all looked from the window to see dark clouds forming outside.

"Really?" Weiss groaned bitterly, "Didn't the weather forecasters say there'll be clear skies for the rest of the week? Shows how competent they are at their jobs."

"You can't blame it all on them, Weiss. Mother nature does what it wants, even if we try to-"

I was interrupted when lightning flashed, and out of nowhere, a red blur came crashing through the windows of the cafeteria building.

Nearby students shouted and screamed in surprise, as the red object came tumbling down the long lunch tables.

Tumbling and tumbling, knocking food and drinks off the tables, showing no signs of stopping.

Until finally, coming to a sliding halt a few meters far away from the window it crashed into.

Which was, conveniently enough, right on top of our table, causing our food to spill off and making a huge mess everywhere.

"Agh! My lunch!" "The hell?!" "No, not on my uniform!" "Are you alright?" "Fuck, my milk!"

We all paused from our confusion when we heard a groan from the the thing that crashed onto our table.

Upon closer inspection, the red thing was actually just some guy in a red trench coat. His clothes were dirty, and his black hair seemed unkempt. He looked like he was tall enough to be an adult. Couldn't get a good look on his face though, since he was still facing down.

"Oohh dust... fucking knew... that was gonna suck." The man wheezed, apparently out of breath.

Did this guy jump out of a moving plane or something? How the hell did he land so far inside the building?

Meanwhile, Weiss was having a fit about her clothes getting dirty. "Ugh! You got mayonnaise and tea on my uniform! Do you have any idea how long it's going to take to remove these stains, you crazy window-diving lunatic?!" She screamed in outrage at him.

"I haven't even finished my lunch! Aaww, fourteen liens worth in sandwiches, all wasted away!" Woe is Jaune, who could never catch a break.

"Those voices… Weiss? Jaune?" The guy whispered.

Wait, what?

The way he said Weiss and Jaune's name shut both of them up, and kept the rest of us silent.

How did he know Weiss and Jaune? Who was this guy?

The guy started to move his left arm upright, trying to push himself up. When he raised his head to look at us, we finally got a better look at his face-

"Holy shit."

The guy's face… looked exactly like me.

He looked around the table, eyes widening as he met eyes with everyone else. We all just sort of stared in shock.

When he finally looked at me, his opened his mouth in astonishment. I took a few steps back in surprise from how similar he looked.

"Hello?" I greeted the weird old version of me.

"Huh. It actually worked." He said to himself.

"Eh?" I so eloquently expressed my confusion.

As he slowly pulled himself up, he slurred, "So this is gonna be a long story. But first things first, I need to see Headmaster Oz- Okay, can't feel my legs." He suddenly tilted forward off the table and fell face-first on the floor, instantly passing out.

There I was, in the cafeteria room with my friends, surrounding a man that looked exactly like me. The room was full of confused and startled students, and my friends were all looking at me as if I had the answers for what was happening.

But fuck if I had any clue of what was going on.

…

I'm going to get another glass of milk.

WRITER'S BLOCK.

THE BAAAAAAAANE OF MY EXISTENCE.