22

Dozens of dreams. Maybe even more than a hundred, but he hadn't exactly thought to keep track, and the sheer number of them left him struggling to remember all he had seen. Over and over, Jaune changed the scenery, hoping to get a glimpse of something useful. It was always something different. A location that he didn't know, a scenario that didn't make sense to him. Not a single time did he see something that resembled home.

But the current dream was different.

He had been burning through dreams at a decent speed by this point, pausing only to check whether there was anything interesting going on before changing it once more. 

He didn't know what had changed. What might have caused this. But the blurry figure, whom he presumed to be Second Thoughts, had finally deemed him worthy of interacting with.

They were in what Jaune could only assume was a home office. About the size of his bedroom back home, furnished with only a desk covered in a handful of knick-knacks, a single office chair, and a computer. His dream companion had been typing away, but he hadn't bothered to check what was being worked on, having long ago come to the conclusion that he wouldn't be able to make any of it out.

Just as Jaune had decided to move on, something struck his face.

"Ow!"

It didn't actually hurt, but it certainly surprised him. Until this point, it had been like he was simply an outside observer. There was no need to be terribly observant when everything here would vanish in an instant, never to be seen again.

Looking down, he discovered that the projectile had been a pen, which was now lying on the floor. His blurry friend still had their hand outstretched, obviously having been the one to throw it.

"What was that for?" Jaune asked.

Instead of a verbal response, he received a rude gesture in return.

"I didn't even do anything!"

The blurry figure waved him over, pointing to the computer screen.

"I can't read anything in these dreams, what's the point?" He complained, but complied with the request anyway. On the screen was a blank document, the text cursor blinking in wait. "An empty file? Very interesting, glad you decided it was worth throwing a pen at me for." Jaune snarked.

Jaune you idiot.

It wasn't in his head like it normally would be, but seeing the words typed out for him felt all too familiar.

"That's new. So I was right then? You're Second Thoughts?"

That's the only thing you're right about. As usual.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

It means you're quick to make assumptions. Now stop changing things so much, it's giving me a headache.

"Oh. I guess I should have expected that there would be a drawback to changing it so much…" He had gotten so preoccupied with these dreams that he hadn't stopped to consider that because they were related to Second Thoughts, it might put a strain on his semblance.

They're not dreams.

"Wha- but I didn't say anything!" Jaune tried to defend.

We're too close. It's like when you first unlocked me, but worse. I can't not hear your thoughts right now.

"Well how do we stop it then?!" Jaune panicked, having once again gotten used to his thoughts being safe.

Not sure. Wake up I guess? Though that might be difficult. I think I put you into a coma.

"A coma? I thought we were just asleep!"

And I thought I told you that those weren't dreams.

"Then what are they?" Jaune questioned. "It's not like anything I've ever seen. Wait, no, back up a second, Second." That sounded weird, didn't it?

It did, but not much we can do about it.

"Would you stop that?!"

Sorry.

"I-ugh. The important part was the coma, not the… not dreams . Why are we in a coma, did something happen?"

You don't remember? I guess that explains why you've been so calm with all of this. I was surprised when you came into this without panicking over your last conscious moments… though it's probably for the best this way. I wasn't exactly at my best before this…

"Is that why you've been ignoring me all this time?" Jaune asked with a pout.

I wasn't trying to ignore you, I was… look. I'm not doing too hot. The long and short of it is that I might have… well… it might have been a panic attack of sorts? I'm not entirely sure, but that's my best guess at the moment.

"You had a- you're capable of having a panic attack? How- no, why?"

Apparently I am. If you don't remember that happening… what's the last thing that you do remember?

"The last thing I remember?" They had gotten called to Ozpin's office… there were more people than he expected… Second's prediction had been wrong…

Right. That's… I was wrong.

"Yeah? And? I get that it must have been disappointing, since it was your first time and all, but I'm wrong all the time and I'm still doing okay. Or, I think I am…?" Now probably wasn't the time for self doubt….

You're doing fine, Jaune. As well as can be expected, anyway. I just… there's a difference between you making a mistake and me making a mistake.

"Because you can see possible futures? You warned us from the start that the butterfly effect could mess things up, I don't see why you're being so hard on yourself."

Do you remember why I've been so worried about changing it? About letting people know what is to come?

"Uh…" Jane thought for a moment, trying to recall the information. "It was when Ironwood got here, right? Something about people either being too weak to make change or too powerful to keep the timeline steady? And something about sunlight and graves I think…" Not that much time had actually passed, but it certainly felt like it had been a while since then.

That was the jist of it, yes. But it seems you haven't thought about it very much. I might have said it in a sort of poetic way, but I was being literal. Graves, Jaune. People are going to die.

"Well, doesn't everyone die eventually? We're all going to get old one day, and this is a dangerous line of work and all. Ozpin is pretty old, I don't imagine he's got too many years left in him…"

That's… actually a mature way of looking at things? But Ozpin has far too many years left in him, and I meant in a more immediate sense. People are going to die soon . People you care about.

"Oh." There wasn't much else that Jaune could say to that. Being a Huntsman had always seemed like a glamorous thing, even if it was dangerous. But even with him knowing that, he had thought it would be years before someone he knew died, and that it would be someone he had only gone to school with or something…

"When you say people I care about…" Jaune was afraid to ask, but if Second was this worried about it, then it must be something he should know.

It's not a guarantee. Nothing is, apparently. I hadn't realized I'd changed so much, but it still… Second Thoughts took a moment to compose himself.

Pyrrha is the most likely to die.

Jaune froze. He wasn't able to think after hearing that, let alone react.

She doesn't have much time left. Or at least, she normally wouldn't.

"What do you mean normally ?! Are you saying there's something we can do?!" Jaune shouted desperately, his eyes darting between Second and the screen.

I don't know. The timeline changed.

"That doesn't help me save her!"

Do you think I don't realize that? Do you think I'm calm, Jaune? We're in this situation because I had a panic attack over it. Because I'm only slightly less lost than you are. I don't know what I'm doing. I know a few possible timelines that are all looking like they're drifting further away from the one we're living in. Ever since I manifested as your semblance I've been trying to find a way out of this mess, because that's what it is. The story of your life is never filled with sunshine and rainbows, Jaune. It's one of hardship, struggle, and often grief and loss. There are a scattered few that turn out to not be so bad, but those are few and far between, and they were impossibilities before I even manifested. I was unceremoniously dumped into your head without any forewarning, left to try and pick up the pieces and make moves in a game that has been in motion for an inconceivably long time. Knowing the future the way that I do gives meaning to my existence, but it also places a heavy burden on it. I hold the power to save so many people, to prevent so much tragedy, but I…

Beyond my future knowledge, I'm nothing special. I'm just… a guy, Jaune. Less capable than you were on your first day in Beacon. How would you feel if instead of accepting your application like normal, you had shown up to Beacon and they asked you to be the Headmaster out of nowhere? You would be scared, out of your depth, feeling like a fish out of water, I'm sure. That's how I feel right now. But you know something? I'm actually sure of it. I've seen a timeline where that happens Jaune. Well, I suppose you were a teacher before becoming Headmaster, but I think my point remains. You were frightened and lost, but somehow that situation is one of your better timelines. It plays out more like a comedy than anything dramatic…

But I'm not you . I'm not some protagonist here to save the day. I don't have it in me to become that. When push comes to shove, where you brave the storm and stand taller after it clears, I fall hard, and I don't stand back up.

I had some small semblance of control before. I knew what was coming, planned for it, countered things before they even happened. But now that I can't do that? I am terrified . I'm not good enough to do this job, Jaune, but you guys are stuck with me. I can't deal with this pressure.

I'm worthless.

As Second Thoughts finished typing, and Jaune finished reading, a silence returned to the room.

"You…" Jaune trailed off.

"You're not worthless, Second."

Fine. Not worthless. Detrimental, which is worse. I've got you stuck in a coma.

"No!" Jaune's fist slammed down on the desk. "You may be an annoying jerk sometimes, and secretive, and maybe without your future knowledge you won't be as useful as other semblances, but you're not worthless, or detrimental-" he saw Second's hands reach for the keyboard again "-and you're not whatever other stupid thing you're thinking of typing up either! You're… my friend. And my friends don't get to call themselves things like that."

Will you be able to say the same thing if one of your friends dies while you're like this? After I put you in this state?

"Stop thinking like that! It won't come to that!"

You should expect the worst Jaune. That's what I do. If you always expect the worst, you can only be correct or pleasantly surprised. It leaves no room for disappointment.

"But you don't think like that!"

I just told you that I do.

"You don't act like it! You made plans that got Torchwick captured, helped Ironwood, and helped me stand up to Cardin! You didn't roll over and act like everything was doomed before! You made jokes and trash talked and… I… you made me care about you! You're my semblance, you're a part of me, and I'm not going to sit here and listen to this garbage about a part of myself just because one little thing didn't go to plan!"

I already told you, Jaune. This is serious. It's jmnhbytgrvf

"Stop typing!" Jaune grabbed the keyboard, Second's hand dragging across it with the movement, before tearing it off the desk and threatening to throw it at the wall… but didn't quite go that far with their only method of communication at the moment.

"I don't care about your pessimistic attitude. You're my semblance, and we're a team, whether you're willing to admit that or not. I'm not going to roll over and let my friends die just because you don't think you're up to the task of saving them."

Jaune glared at Second, daring him to indicate otherwise, but the blurry figure in front of him seemed to accept it, or at least give up on fighting him.

"Now, you're going to tell me what you know, and we , as a team , are going to come up with a way to stop all of this bad stuff from happening. Got it?"

Jaune waited to get a nod of approval from Second, even if it took the semblance longer than it should have to agree. Only then did he return the keyboard.

You… you're right.

I suppose… if we make the decision together… it's a bit like a firing squad, isn't it? I don't have to bear the full burden, because I can't tell if my actions caused the death. That might make it easier…

Not an analogy Jaune liked, but if it got things moving, he would take it for now.

I have a lot of things I should tell you. You deserve to know everything. What this is, where we are, my past and our possible futures. 

His past? How could he have a past?

But if the future is changing… some of it will have to wait.

If my memory of the timeline is correct, it should be about time for team RWBY to visit Mountain Glenn, and that's a disaster that we can probably help with, but only if we manage to wake you up soon. There's also the threat in our midst.

This is the abridged version of what I know about Cinder Fall.

When Emerald and Mercury concluded their report, a smile was brought to Cinder's face.

"Good. Very good. Meetings with Ozpin alongside a sudden visit to the infirmary for problems with a recently discovered semblance… you're certain that you read his medical files correctly?"

"Of course, Cinder!" Emerald eagerly responded with a nod. "I used my semblance on his teammate while Mercury talked to him so he wouldn't notice my snooping. Even if they see me checking in any security footage, they'll see that his own teammate didn't think it was a big deal."

"Second Thoughts… a fitting name, I suppose. I'm sure they'll all be having second thoughts when we bring their lives crumbling down around them. It's a shame that there weren't more details on its capabilities, but I suppose knowing that there is another mind inside of him will have to be enough."

"It's not like it'll matter much when he's dead." Mercury chimed in, and for once, his quips did not annoy her.

"No, it won't." It wouldn't be terribly hard to see the boy fall victim to an "unfortunate accident" before the Vytal festival.

Soon the thorn in her side would be removed, and all would become right in the world.

Team RWBY, supervised by Doctor Oobleck, as they had been corrected, found themselves wandering the ruins of Mountain Glenn, killing Grimm left and right but not finding much of importance beyond that. It was shaping up to be a rather boring trip all things considered.

But then the ground started to shake.

"Woah! Is this an earthquake?!" Ruby shouted in surprise.

"Highly unlikely!" Oobleck responded. "This area is not near any major fault lines. It would have been rather poor planning to place a major city in such a seismic hotspot, though many would argue that matters not when it lacks the natural barriers Vale had to protect its borders! However, the ground does indeed appear to be shaking. How peculiar."

"If it's not an earthquake then what is it?!" Yang yelled out.

"Are we safe here? These buildings could all come down if it gets more intense than this!" Weiss worried.

"No, this…" Blake hesitated. It was much more powerful than she had ever felt, but if the ruined city was in such a poor state, and if the source was big enough…

"Is there a subway track under the city?" She asked. She may regret her time in the White Fang, but apparently it was good for something. She had spent more time on and around trains than the average person.

"A subway track beneath the city? That's… genius!" Oobleck exclaimed. "Of course, it all makes sense now! There is indeed a subway beneath the city, quite an elaborate system in fact! Created in order to carry citizens safely from the new territory into the main Kingdom, the citizens of Mountain Glenn used the subway system and the massive caves they had cleared out for it as a safe haven, cut off from the surface as they saw the writing on the wall! The city has not had any upkeep since its fall, obviously, and so it would stand to reason that the barrier between where we are now and the caves holding the subway has weakened considerably in that time! Why, it's entirely possible that the ground we are currently standing on is about to collapse from the stress, plummeting down to the floor of the cavern!"

Taking in what their mentor had just said, the group quickly started moving, running until the ground directly beneath them wasn't shaking so much.

"This area feels more solid, but… are you suggesting that someone is using a train in this deserted city?" Yang doubted. "Why would they do that?"

"That is the question! The entrance from the Vale end is sealed shut, so it remains a mystery to me."

That's when the weakened ground finally gave in, leaving several gaping holes within their sight. Luckily the spot they had moved to was safe, but there was one such collapse close enough for them to see into the cavern.

Peering over the edge from what she assumed to be a safe distance before anyone could stop her, Ruby was the first to see the cause of the collapse.

"Uh, guys? I think we have a problem."

"I would recommend against getting so close to a recent cave in! At least wait for the shaking to stop!" Oobleck warned, moving closer to pull her back. But then he saw it as well. "Oh dear. That is indeed a problem."

Their vision was limited by the angle they were watching from, but it was hard to miss the giant tail end of a train gaining speed. It was also hard to miss the many White Fang watching from the side as it left towards Vale.

"Does anyone have a signal on their scroll from here?" Oobleck asked hurriedly, his words even faster than usual.

None of them did.

"Ladies." Oobleck said with more gravitas than they had ever heard from him. "I apologize for the sudden change of plans, but it would appear that we have a train to catch."