Disclaimer: The following is a nonprofit fanfiction of RWBY. RWBY belongs to Monty Oum(RIP) and Rooster Teeth. Any likeness to writings of others is not intentional. To help with improvements: Read and Review!

Chapter 5: The time has changed

Ruby was dreaming. At least, that's what she thought she was doing.

Before her was a scene in black and white similar to the old movies her mom and Yang would watch. It was a living room with a fireplace and a fake Ursa skin rug in front of it. And on top of that rug were two people, a man and a woman. And that was it. Everything around them was shattered. Like the setup to a scene in some studio, but what surrounded it was shattered glass and infinite darkness.

Try as she could she couldn't make out their faces as they were blurred out. She desperately wanted to turn away as the two soon to be half naked couple moved their heads closer. The smacking of lips and other wet noises disgusted her as she was forced watched it happen. As the woman got up for air with her chest heaving, she breathed out in hoarse voice Ruby felt familiar with, but couldn't for the life of her point on.

"I love you *******." The woman moaned, laying down on the man's chest.

"I love you too, *********." His voice was also familiar, but Ruby couldn't remember.

What made things worse was that the names were drowned out. It was like a memory, but it was incomplete. Still unable to turn away, she saw the woman unbuttoning the man's pants while he was unclipping her bra.

Flash

"RUBY!" Weiss shouted, pulling the covers off her partner. "Wake up. It's thirty minutes before class."

The time traveler was never more happy to be yelled awake by anyone in her life till now. Sitting up and looking at her team, she saw they were all dressed in uniform and were waiting on her. As she got out of bed, the reaper remembered the events of yesterday and sighed at what had happened. She failed to recreate her past timeline and Weiss was now the leader of Team RWBY.

She was happy for her partner, but it just complicated everything she was trying to fix. Things may be different, but the deaths would still follow through. And the person that should be helping her was being a huge dingus on it all. One way or another, she and Ozpin needed to have a long talk.

Fifteen minutes later

After taking a shower and putting on her uniform, Ruby was ready to start her day with her friends. Her talk with the headmaster would have to wait. For now, she needed teams to build bridges with.

"Should we wake team …PRSN up?" Ruby asked her team, hoping they'd say yes. "I think after yesterday, we could all be great friends."

"I don't see why not." Blake shrugged, going over to knock on their door. She immediately stopped the moment her scroll started ringing a funny song. "E-excuse me. I need to take this call."

As Blake stepped aside to answer her scroll, Ruby walked over to Pyrrha's team door and knocked. Hearing shuffling and a loud thud, she was greeted to a sight of Pyrrha in her footie pajamas with a nasty case of bed hair and the rest of her team dressed for class.

"Hi Pyyrha." Ruby greeted with a friendly smile. "I- well we were hoping you guys would like to walk to class with us."

"That sounds great." The famous loser nodded, pushing the males out in the process. "I'm not ready as you can see but don't worry! I'll be ready in five minutes."

"A-are you sure?" Weiss asked in concern. "You don't have to rush because of us."

In her old timeline Weiss would have rushed everyone to go faster, but this Weiss was more lax and considerate. It was still foreign to Ruby as it was something she thought she'd never see.

"It's fine." They heard the muffled words through the door. "I took a bath last night, so just a quick shower will do."

If she could find a way to time travel once more, Ruby swore she'd make sure this Pyrrha was not a loser. Turning to Blake, she overheard the last part of her conversation before she hung up.

"Yes, I took a bath." The former cat faunus grumbled while rolling her eyes. "…None! …Okay, maybe one or two. But it's nothing serious! …I'm seventeen! I'm old enough to have one. …I know. …I know! …Ok. Love you too. Bye."

Hanging up, she gave a sheepish grin to her team who were looking at her with a raised brow.

"My dad." She huffed, pocketing her scroll. "I was supposed to call him last night to tell him how I was doing, but you know."

"Oh shoot!" Yang grabbed her head in panic while looking at her sister. "I forgot to call mom last night! She's probably worried."

"Maybe we can call her at lunch?" The time traveler suggested, trying to calm her down.

"Let's hope she's not pissed." The blonde mumbled, walking to lean on the wall.

Ten minutes later

"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha cried as they all ran to their class.

While in the showers, the redhead had spaced out and lost track of time. To make matters worse her uniforms were three sizes too big for her, so she had to find a belt to keep her skirt from falling down.

Running in front of all of them, the tall redhead saw the door to their classroom and slowed down to open it quietly in case the professor was in. Taking a peek in, she was glad to see that it was still filling up with students. Looking around, Ruby saw Jaune waving at them from the second row in front. Russell was sitting next to him while Cardin and Dove sat in the front rows with notebooks out.

"Morning." Weiss greeted her fellow leader, getting a seat behind him with her team while Pyrrha sat next to the blonde snake with Ren next to her. Nora and Sky had taken the vacant seats next to Cardin and Dove in front. "The teacher hasn't arrived yet?"

"Nah." The Mohawk teen answered for his leader. "Attendance wasn't taken yet, so you're all still good."

While Weiss and Yang sighed in relief with Blake taking her notebook out for notes, Ruby continued to observe them all with mixed feelings. It was hard to see CRDL being around them without remembering how they were before. She never got to know them on any other basis besides classmates in her last timeline, so seeing the four interacting with them and being nice was new. Especially with Jaune's status being a faunus.

"So who's the professor?" Weiss asked her fellow leader. "I heard some rumors from the upper years that Beacon hired two new teachers for this year."

Another bit of news Ruby wasn't aware of. Things were spiraling out of control and she was getting lost on what to do.

"It was some fat guy." Jaune answered, getting a stern look and nudge from his partner. "What? It's true, isn't it?"

"You still shouldn't call a professor that." Cardin advised him with a huff.

"Well the man wasn't really packing a six pack." Russell sided with his leader. "If anything, he was holding a keg."

That got a laugh out of the group besides Cardin, Ren, and Dove. Even Ruby had to give credit to that one. Looking over them once more, she was glad to see they were smiling. The last image she had before going back in time was not something she'd ever want to see again.

'I'm going to save you all.' She thought with determination, gripping her hood tightly. 'This time, things will be different.'

In a certain office high atop Beacon, another time traveler had thought the same thing as he looked over the city of Vale.

Minutes later

"Wonder what's taking the prof so long." Yang mumbled, getting tired of waiting.

"If he's not here in the next ten minutes I think we're allowed to leave class." Pyrrha pointed out, remembering one of the rules placed in their student handbook.

"Not really the best impression for Tactics class." Weiss stated her opinion.

"We're in Tactics class?" Ruby asked in surprise, not knowing the news. "I thought this was Grimm Studies."

"Grimm Studies is next class." Blake patted the young girl.

"So who's teaching-" Before Ruby could finish her question, fireworks shot into the class with something shattering next to her. Turning to her left, she saw someone she thought she'd never see in the class.

"Sorry for the delay." A familiar flamboyant voice said as the smoke cleared. "Had a few problems finding the place, but it doesn't matter. Because Roman Torchwick is here!"

"You!" Ruby shouted, using her semblance to try and rush him.

She didn't get far though as he had shattered in front of her and reappeared behind a desk with Neo next to him. "Thank you, dear student of mine. Why don't you join the others right next to scales and muscles over there."

Nodding, Neo had sauntered to sit next to Jaune while giving him a nod in greeting. He didn't return it though as he and the others were wondering why their youngest friend was trying to attack their professor.

"Hya!" Ruby shouted, trying to zip over to deliver a speedy flying kick to Roman's jaw. It didn't connect as he had sidestepped easily out of the way and watched her fly to one of her classmates.

"I get the feeling you don't like me very much." The ginger professor teased, finding some amusement in Ruby's failed attempts. "Do I owe you money or something?"

"Shut up!" Ruby shouted, dashing towards him before she started glowing purple. "Huh?"

Without warning, she was lifted into the air and was floating towards the door where Glynda was holding her crop out. "Care to explain?"

"He's a criminal!" Ruby pointed to Roman. "What's he doing here?"

"I advise you to hold your tongue Ms. Rose." Goodwitch stated crossly. "I was talking to Professor Torchwick."

"My past reputation precedes me." The teacher shrugged while leaning on his table. "Looks like someone didn't get the memo of who the new teacher was."

"But-" Before the time traveler could say a more, Roman had cut her off.

"I was hired kiddo." He continued. "Ozzy thought I'd have a better start as a teacher. Either I rot in jail, or I teach some kiddies how to kill. At the end of the day it's still the same thing. Only in here, I grade you on how you kill. Plus I get paid, can't forget that."

"Ignoring your nickname for the headmaster, I will be taking Ms. Rose to her detention now." Glynda said, walking out with Ruby still floating. "I believe the headmaster has some words he has to say to you, Ms. Rose."

"I'm sorry Professor Goodwitch, but you know who he is." She tried to explain.

"I do, Ms. Rose." She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly before she straightened up. "But as of now, you still attacked a professor. No matter the pasts, we all need to maintain order despite our doubts."

"Even yours?" Ruby asked, feeling light-headed as she was now upside down with hands keeping her skirt in place.

There was no answer as they entered the elevator heading to Ozpin's office. As they headed up, Ruby took note of how Glynda hadn't changed a bit. She was still strict, but she was also kind and fair. Now that she thought about it, out of all the people around her, she was the only person who didn't seem out of place. Then again, Ruby didn't know her that well to assume anything.

As they reached the top of the tower, they saw Ozpin standing by his window and looking out to Vale. From the reflection, Ruby could tell he was focusing on where the mountains. To be more specific, the spot where witnesses had stated the dragon was.

"I've brought Ms. Rose." Glynda reported, looking to her scroll. "I caught her in the middle of attacking Professor Torchwick."

"First day of class and already causing trouble." Ozpin said, not turning around. "Tell me Ruby, what is it you are hoping to accomplish?"

"Sir?" Ruby was panicking as she thought Ozpin was going to sell out their secret.

As she turned to look at Glynda, she was shocked to see her looking at her scroll with a blank face. She wasn't even looking up from her scroll to acknowledge her or Ozpin's words. Looking around, she noticed that nothing seemed to be moving. The gears that surrounded the office had stopped, even the bord flying outside was frozen in mid flap.

"You stopped time?" The hooded girl gasped, backing away a bit.

"Yes, I did." The headmaster admitted as if he was talking about the weather. "I felt we would need privacy for you to tell me the truth."

That was his mistake, she thought, ready to unleash all her frustration.

"What the fuck!" She shouted, pointing a finger at him. "Not just with Torchwick, but with the teams and the exam! When was there ever a time limit? Why PRSN and JCRD? I'm fine with Weiss being the leader, but everything is all messed up!"

After minutes of just ranting on, Ruby had gasped for air as she had shouted her throat dry.

"Seeing as you are finished, I think it is my turn to talk." The older man said calmly. "What you see happening Ruby is not of my control either. I have no control of anything. I simply live in what is happening and try to adapt to the situation. As I've told you before, I have lived thousands of years in traveling through time. I have made many mistakes, and have done many methods that lead to those mistakes."

"But-"

"I am not done, Ms. Rose." He tapped his cane on the floor. "What you see is me trying to fix things. I am tired Ruby. I've tried to do the same thing over and over with small differences hoping for a different result."

"But it's not happening." He sighed in frustration. "Each time, everyone dies. Not always in the same way, but in the same time. It's insane for me to try things the same way. So I'm doing things differently."

"But JNPR and RWBY." Ruby whispered, wanting her old friends and life.

"Are you not listening?" He ground out, showing signs of anger. "I had no control of that. And if I did, it could be for the better. Every time Jaune and Pyrrha get together, Pyrrha somehow dies. Every time Ren and Nora were friends, they met their end in a tragic demise together. In some way, these miniscule connections are the very demise of someone. You may have manipulated things to get your team back, but not everything works out."

"But what about the White Fang?" She asked. "What about Salem and Cinder? The Breach? I know those things, but my team doesn't."

"I'll have you know that those things will be an impossibility." Ozpin assured her. "We've won Ruby."

"What do you mean?" She asked, not understanding how they had won so early.

"You still don't remember anything?" He asked, walking towards her and then to the elevator. Motioning for her to follow, he pressed a button and waited for the doors to open. "Tell me Ruby, do you remember anything else besides saving your mother?"

"I've told you, no." She muttered as she walked into the elevator as it opened. As Ozpin pressed a sequence of numbers, they had descended to lower levels of the school. "Why?"

"It's best if I show you." He said cryptically, waiting for the doors to open. As they reached their destination, he walked out and motioned for Ruby to stick close.

Ruby knew this place. The Jaune of her past timeline had told of how the Fall Maiden was in a machine. He was right in one thing: It was creepy. Looking ahead, she saw the machine. Ozpin had walked towards it and wiped the glass where frost had accumulated.

"Come." He called her to see.

Running up to the machine, she wondered if who she saw would a different Maiden. But who she saw inside shocked her to her bones and had her reel back in fright and surprise. For lying frozen with eyes closed and injured was the Grimm witch Salem.

"O-Ozpin." She whispered, looking at him with mixed emotions. "How? When?"

"I believe the when was seventeen years ago." He said, remembering when he had found her. "As for the how, I think you should know it by now. Perhaps a touch would jog the memory."

Getting what he meant, Ruby stood up with shaky knees to place her hand on the glass. She didn't get that far as Ozpin had stopped her to hold out a scrap of fabric for her.

"This is a piece of Salem's clothing." He said, placing it in her hand. "It should be easier than touching glass."

Nodding, Ruby took the fabric and readied herself.

Flash

"Milady." Dr. Watts gasped through his injuries. He was cut in numerous places and had one arm gone. "I'm sorry."

With one quick swoop, the villain was beheaded where he crawled.

"So you've killed all my men." Salem sneered, looking around for her attacker. "Care to show who dares to defy me?"

"Behind you." A cold voice whispered.

The last Salem saw before a scythe lodged itself in her chest was silver eyes blazing with the scent of roses in the air.

Flash

"Guh!" Ruby gasped as she let go of the fabric. She couldn't believe what had happened. "What? W-w-who?"

"That was you." Ozpin said, picking the fabric back up. "From what I could gather, you saved your mother by having your father take her place on a mission. But before that, you killed Salem and her group before they could recruit Cinder. Sadly, you weren't successful as you only fatally injured and froze her in place."

"Then why cant I remember it?!" She cried, raking her hands through her hair in frustration and stress while looking at the frozen witch. "Why can't I remember stopping her? How are you sure it was me? And why is she even here?"

"The other two questions I cannot answer, but as to why she is here." The headmaster said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "With her here, she can be easily monitored. As to how I know it was you: Look closer Ruby."

Doing so, Ruby gazed at the sleeping Salem in the pod. She took notice of how small her breathing was. It wasn't even that noticeable at first glance with how little her chest moved. Roaming over her body, she saw something that stood out the most. It was a jagged piece of metal stabbed deep where Salem's heart should be. Looking closer, she saw it was a double pronged jagged blade similar to what she had on-

"Crescent Rose." She whispered, seeing the small part that belonged on the bottom shaft of her scythe.

"Indeed." Ozpin nodded, pulling her back. "On my way to confront Salem, I saw traces of heavy battle. Besides the wound she had, I also saw bits of rose petals lying around. I'd be a fool not to recognize your work."

As they walked back to the elevator, Ruby's mind swam aimlessly. The sole reason she had gone back in time was to save her friends. But in the process she had taken the main obstacle that forged their ties even closer.

"What now?" She asked her fellow time traveler in a whisper.

"Why ask me?" The old man said, pressing the button that headed to his office. "It's your life."

Remembering a rule he had taught her, Ruby's eyes widened. "Death!"

"Excuse me?" Ozpin said, not expecting that answer.

"I still need to make sure they all survive." She said frantically. "Where there is death, there is death! I need to find some way to stop them all from dying."

The headmaster said nothing as he just simply nodded. After the ride back up to his office, he had gotten back into his position and ordered Ruby to stand next to the frozen Glynda. With a snap of his fingers, time had started once more.

"First day in class and already challenging your teachers." Ozpin acted out his role. Turning around, he gave Ruby a level glare with cane in hand. "Ms. Rose. I hope I haven't made a mistake in bringing you into my school so early."

"I'm sorry sir." Ruby bowed with an apologetic tone. "I just cant understand why Roman is a teacher here."

Ozpin took note of how Glynda nodded slightly with her statement.

"I believe in giving people second chances." He justified himself in a calm tone. "Why make an enemy that lasts days when I can make an ally that lasts a lifetime?"

Ruby knew the underlying meaning. If Roman was an ally on their side, that was one less problem for them.

"Roman and any other of his associates are under my watchful eye. You have no need to stress yourself on them." He added.

'I'm keeping an eye on him and the others.' She read between the lines. 'Don't get involved.'

"Yes, sir." She nodded.

"Since today is your first day and I can understand your reason to panic, I will give you this one chance off." Ozpin said, taking a seat. "But the next offence will have a parent meeting if you aren't careful. Now run along now. I'm sure Professor Torchwick is expecting an apology by now."

After all was said and done, Glynda had escorted Ruby back to Tactics class where Roman was in the middle of discussing the great use of words. After an apology and a small pat on the head, Ruby sat next to her partner while observing her friends.

What Ozpin had said about connections bringing the downfall of others had gotten to her. She saw Pyrrha and Jaune sitting close while the blonde entertained her with a drawing that had her snicker. She saw Nora eyeing Ren with a glare that could have burnt a hole into his head while the quiet boy was looking over to his partner and the leader of team JCRD. She then looked at her team.

Had forming team RWBY been a mistake? Would them being together cause their deaths in the long run? And what of Jaune and Pyrrha? Would Pyrrha die once more because of her feelings for Jaune? Would Ren and Nora choose to die together once more?

"-and as I end my lecture, I give you this wise piece of advice related to today's topic." Roman said to his class. "Anyone can say what is and isn't. But it's another to make others believe it. That's all for today so get out."

"Sir I have a question." Weiss raised her hand.

"No you don't." Roman laughed, walking out of the class. "As of now you are someone else's problem."

It would take awhile for anyone to get used to Professor Roman.

End

AN: And here's an update! Art classes are something. The projects ARE the exams and I had to do case studies. But what hurts the most is having those lazy teammates that do nothing. Couldn't remember their names so I couldn't report who was the leech.

Bet no one was expecting Salem to already be defeated. If that's the case then what's the conflict? It's getting there. This is just a storm slowly brewing. There are hints of what is to come though.