I understand that there are some people who don't like the idea of Ruby and Yang's sisterly bond being severed like that. But don't worry, all will be explained the next chapter. So just sit back, read on and enjoy! Also, here's the current results of the poll I posted…
Poll Question: In the rewrite of RWBY New Century Zero, what should I do for the Liger Zero's CAS units? (first to 50 votes before the battle against Jack Sisco wins.)
Make my own armors: 14 votes
Zero X, one original armor and Liger Zero Gusoku Myukoh: 4 votes
Jager, Schneider and Panzer: 1 vote
*I still don't own RWBY or Zoids! This disclaimer counts for all future chapters!*
"Organized under strict rules and regulations Zoid Battles are fighting competitions held on enormous battlefields using mechanical combat units known as Zoids."
"The enthusiast young warriors put their pride on the line and sharpen their skills against one another."
"Battle Mode approved."
"Area scanned."
"Battlefield set up!"
"Ready… FIGHT!"
The Story Begins!
At the Blitz Team headquarters, the team was getting the place all spruced up. They were washing dishes, cleaning surfaces, sweeping and mopping the floors and rearranging furniture. But while the team was working hard to get the place presentable, they failed to see the need to hurry like they were. I mean, what's the rush?
"Looking good, team! I'd say we're just about done!" said Doctor Toros.
"Oh, thank God! I don't think I can take any more of this abuse!" sighed Brad as he put away the rag he was using to clean the counters.
Brad appears to be about seventeen years old, wears a sleeveless blue outfit with a torn up collar. He wore brown gloves, black pants, and long black boots with his outfit. He also has gold bands tattooed around his biceps. He has long, spiky brown hair, tan skin and blue eyes.
"Hey dad, I don't mean to pry but why are we so focused on cleaning the place up like this?" asked Leena.
Leena is a beautiful girl who looks to be about seventeen years old. She has messy fuschia colored hair, lavender purple eyes and porcelain skin. She's currently wearing her casual clothes which consist of a yellow tank top, a light blue skirt and a pair of sneakers.
Doctor Toros smiled and put away the tools he was using to clean with.
"I'm glad you asked, Leena. You see, a couple of friends of mine are sending their children to live with us for a little while. Just until they find work of their own. So I wanted to get the place sparkling clean and try to make a good first impression." he explained.
"So we're babysitting a couple of brats here? I guess with our current losing streak, it's all we're good for anymore." Brad said with a bit of a condescending tone.
"Who says we're brats?"
The Blitz Team (sans Doctor Toros) jumped in fright at the sudden voice. And they got even more nervous when a swirling red portal opened up in front of them. Two individuals, a boy and a girl, stepped out of the portal and they could already tell that something serious had gone down. Especially due to how skinny the girl looked, even with her visible cheekbones.
"Hey there! Is this the home of the Blitz Team?" asked the boy.
Doctor Toros stepped forward and helped guide Yang to the couch and had the girl sit down. It was clear that she was feeling weak due to the obvious malnourishment she was suffering from.
"Yes it is. And you two must be Jaune Arc and Yang Xiao Long, the son and daughter of Sarah Arc and Raven Branwen respectively. It's good to meet you both. I'm doctor Steve Toros, and I'm a friend of your mothers." said doctor Toros.
The doctor then gestured to each member of the team as he started introducing them.
"I'd like you to meet the warriors of the Blitz Team. This is Brad Hunter, Jamie, my daughter Leena and her brother Leon. I know they might not seem like much, but trust me when I say that they're very capable warriors!"
Jamie is a boy who looked no older than fourteen with short, spiky black hair, a slightly tan complexion, and brown eyes.
Leon is considered to be the current 'leader' of the Blitz Team. He wears a blue jacket over a green shirt with dark pants. He had tan skin, spiky brown hair in a crescent shaped style, and lavender-purple eyes.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Leon said.
He shook hands with Jaune and Yang, but he looked worried about the blonde girl. She looks like she's gone through hell and back and didn't live to tell about it. Not that she should have to.
"So why were you sent to live with us, anyway?" Jamie asked.
Jaune's eyebrows knit in anger while Yang grew fearful of the memories that began to assault her mind, leading Jamie to believe that he said something he shouldn't have. Jaune glanced at Yang, asking a question with his eyes.
Yang just subtly nodded, not trusting her voice. Jaune inhaled before turning serious and looking at the team with a gaze that could pierce through a Geno Saurer's armor with ease.
"What I'm about to tell you all is to remain between us. This story is not one that has… a happy ending." Jaune said.
Seeing how serious Jaune was being about the situation, the Blitz Team took a seat and listened as the boy began his story.
"You see, we come from the Continent known as Remnant. There we were undergoing training to become warriors at a place called Beacon Academy…"
The team listened with rapt attention while Jaune told them about his and Yang's adventures at Beacon Academy and all of the fights they were in. Initiation, the formation of RWBY and JNPR, the Breach… everything! And they were very impressed when Jaune told them about how he, the weak link in team JNPR, killed an Alpha class Ursa by himself with only one slice from Crocea Mors.
But then came the events of the Vytal Festival. Jaune explained how Yang was framed for attacking some punk named Mercury Black unprovoked after their match in the tournament. While she didn't break the guy's leg, she was still arrested for charges of assault. Jaune even told them the worst part as he held the now sobbing Yang in his arms.
He told them about how she was raped in prison by one of the inmates.
The team was shocked and disgusted by the fact that the guards allowed such a thing to happen to anyone. And for what?! Something as insignificant and repetitive as Taco Tuesday?!
"...And so, our moms snuck us out of Beacon that night and sent us here to try and find happier lives away from those people. That's our story." Jaune said.
He looked up at the team and expected to hear insults about how they deserved every ounce of treatment they'd received at the hands of their former friends and colleagues. What he saw was anger at someone else entirely and completely different results.
Jamie's face was contorted in anger as he looked like he wanted to rip somebody's head off, Brad looked neutral, but if you look in his eyes you can see cold flames of anger burning within them. Leon was clenching his fists so hard they began to bleed, and Doctor Toros looked like he was struggling to not lash out as his nostrils flared in anger.
Leena had wrapped Yang in a hug as she tried to comfort her. As a fellow female, being raped was one fear that was always there, hiding in the shadows. And the fact that it happened to Yang caused her heart to reach out to the blonde girl.
"Oh, you MOTHER FUCKEEEEERRRRS!" yelled an enraged Jamie.
"OW, my ears!" said a female voice in the distance.
"While I don't necessarily agree with his choice of words, I agree with Jamie. Those people went too far and don't deserve people like you at that school!" Leon said.
Brad slammed his fist into his open palm and cracked his knuckles in anger at what he'd just heard.
"If any of those bastards and bitches ever show their faces around here, I will PERSONALLY introduce them to the ground! And trust me… Their relationship will be intimate!" snarled Brad.
Leena didn't say anything. She just continued to rub comforting circles in Yang's back as the girl slowly stopped crying. Doctor Toros walked up and put a hand on Jaune's shoulder.
"I can't say I understand what you guys went through, but I can say that what happened to you both was wrong and completely inhumane. You kids are welcome to stay here with us for as long as you need." Doctor Toros said with a smile.
Jaune smiled and nodded in thanks to the man. Even Yang looked grateful to the man, who had a far more fatherly vibe than her own father did. The tense atmosphere was broken when the Blitz Team received a call on the Video Phone. Doctor Toros answered, and the face of a white robot appeared on the screen.
"Attention, Blitz Team! The Zoid Battle Commission has received a battle request, and scheduled a battle between the Blitz Team and the Tigers Team at coordinates W08X22 in Battle Mode 0982. The time of the battle shall be eleven o'clock AM. on the dot." said the robot.
"I understand." said Doctor Toros.
The call ended and the doctor sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.
"This is gonna be tough." sighed Doctor Toros.
"Why? What's the problem, mister Toros?" Jaune asked.
"Please drop the whole 'mister' thing, Jaune. I hate formalities, so just call me Doc." said Doctor Toros.
Jaune nodded in acceptance and understanding. He also hated it when people called him Mister Arc, but until a couple of months ago he never had the backbone to tell the teachers to stop calling him that. Even his father hates the term 'mister', stating that Mister Arc is his father.
"As for the problem, well that's a little harder to explain. You see, the Blitz Team participates in Zoid Battles all across the continent, but we're on a very long losing streak! We BARELY make enough to repair our Zoids after the battles and need serious help if we're going to defeat a team as skilled as the Tigers!" Doc explained.
Jaune hummed in thought and put a hand to his chin. If he understood what the problem was and found a way to help the team, then he might be able to REALLY pull them out of the dark, so to speak.
"Well, maybe I can help you guys." Jaune suggested. "I may not be the best at fighting Grimm, but when it comes to strategizing there's no one in my age group who can outdo me!"
"I say we let him have a shot. Honestly, we haven't really got much else to lose at this point." Leena said.
"Not to mention if he's really that great of a strategist as he says he is, then whatever plan he comes up with will be virtually flawless." Jamie said, adding his two cents.
The rest of the team nodded in agreement. Jaune stood up and popped his back before getting ready to plan the battle strategy.
"First things first, I need to see what kind of Zoids you guys have and the fighting style and Zoids of the Tigers Team." Jaune said.
Doctor Toros stood up and motioned for the rest of the team to follow him.
"Come with us to the hangar, and we'll tell you everything you need to know." Doc said. "Yang, you just stay there and get some rest for now. We'll come and get you when it's time for dinner so we can get some meat back on those bones."
Yang wanted to argue, but she just didn't have the strength to right now. She really wanted to see the Zoids and didn't want to miss out because she was bedridden.
Seeing the conflicted emotions crossing Yang's face, Leon smiled and typed something on on the computer. The screen lit up at the hangar, and Yang saw four different Zoids there.
"Here, watch this. I'm streaming you live feed from the hangar's security cameras so you can see and hear what's going on down there." Leon said.
"Thank you, Leon." Yang said gratefully.
Yang snuggled up to the soft cushions of the couch as Leena draped a blanket over her before they all began to head down to the hangar with Jaune. As they were walking, Jamie took the time to explain the team statistics of the Tigers to Jaune.
"So the Tigers Team are absolutely ruthless! They usually gang up on the enemy Zoids one at a time to take them out quickly and often bombard the enemy so they can't fight back. These tactics cause their enemies to go into a state of panic, making them easier for the Tigers Team to finish off. In some of their past battles, they heavily damaged several enemy Zoids and even damaged a few of them beyond repair! And with our current losing streak, I don't know if we can beat them." Jamie explained.
"Okay, I'm gonna stop you right there, Jamie. This is one of the reasons why your strategies are good, but they aren't good enough! You lack confidence in your skills as a warrior, and in turn end up making bad decisions in battle that cause your teammates to lose the battle. This lack of confidence and tension you have makes it difficult for you to both think and fight at your full potential." Jaune said. "And so, your first lesson should be to relax. When you see an opportunity to rest, you must take it. Like Brad does."
Jamie let out an embarrassed groan while Brad chuckled with a lazy smirk on his face.
"Well, Jaune's right. I love me a good nap and a nice, hot cup of coffee." Brad said.
Jaune's eyes narrowed at the mercenary as he tensed up slightly.
"But you have problems too, Brad." Jaune said.
Brad didn't even see it coming. One minute he's walking along, next thing he knows he's on the ground in a headlock with Jaune giving him the mother of all noogies!
"HEY! KNOCK IT OFF! WHAT'D I EVER DO TO YOU?!" Brad demanded.
Jaune let the mercenary go and began to lecture him in a manner that was scarily similar to Glynda whenever she taught her students.
"Being too relaxed can also be a weakness. And don't even get me started on the issues with your overconfidence! No matter how strong you are as a warrior, if you let your focus waver, you're set up to fail. In fact, I'll bet there have been many past instances where you're so sure of yourself, you let your guard down in battle."
This time, it was Jamie's turn to laugh.
"He's got THAT one right!" Jamie laughed.
Brad just groaned and tried to fix his hair, which could now only be described as something that was attacked by a pair of rabid squirrels after an acorn.
"Well, I still say that was a cheap shot!" mumbled Brad.
"Okay, come on team! Let's not fight!" Doctor Toros said. "Now, we're here to show Jaune the Zoids we have so that we can come up with a good strategy for our battle against the Tigers Team."
The doors opened and Jaune was greeted to a sight that really made him astounded! This technology has Atlas beat in every way possible!
There were four giant mechs that easily dwarfed the Mech Suits of the Atlas Military! And each one was built in the form of an armored animal.
"Okay, Jaune. Here we have the Zoids that belong to Leena, Brad, Jamie and Leon. In order, we have the Dibison, the Command Wolf, the Pteras Bomber and the Shield Liger." said Doctor Toros.
The Dibison is a Zoid is heavily armored like a tank and has the firepower to match. It sports a 105 mm 17-Shot Megalo Max Assault Cannon on its back, two 8-Shot Missile Pods on its cheeks, an AZ 3-Barreled Shock Cannon mounted on the belly, two 35 mm Anti-Ground Cannons and a Pulse Beam Cannon. This Dibison is a yellowish hue as opposed to the standard green of the Dibison species. And Jaune doesn't even KNOW how he knows this fact!
As for the Command Wolf... It's a sleek Zoid with an orange lense for a canopy and blue armor covering its body. Mounted on the Wolf's back is a Long Range Cannon that seems to be fixed in a forward position, possibly due to the lack of a turning mount.
Next up, we have the Pteras Bomber. It's a Pterosaur type Zoid that has a strange type of wing that is full of holes. But then again, Jaune realized, that design might actually be how the Zoid is supposed to fly. He's got a lot to learn about Zoids if he hopes to have a chance at helping this team. Anyway, the Pteras has blue armor with an orange canopy to shield the pilot, and its overall design is kind of like a salamander with wings.
The final Zoid, which is Leon's Shield Liger, is a large Zoid that is mainly black with a long steel gray tail, and it has blue armor on each shoulder and at the top of the hind legs. It has an orange lense for the canopy, and like its cousin Zoid the Saber Tiger, it has a pair of long saber fangs jutting from the upper jaw. But the Shield Liger's most distinguishing feature is its large mane made from blue armor.
But Jaune's sight was soon brought to the last Zoid in the hangar. A Zoid that looks strikingly like a lion with white armor and red stabilizer knobs in its legs, and golden colored claws for feet. But it also had a more streamlined design when compared to the Shield Liger.
"Hey Doc, what's the deal with that Zoid over there?" Jaune asked.
"Oh, that one? We call it the Liger Zero." Doc replied.
"Liger Zero, huh?"
Leena stepped up and gazed at the Liger as well. Her face was one of slight contempt for the Zoid, for reasons as of yet unknown to Jaune.
"Yeah, some dealer conned my dad into buying it. And dad fell for it because… white Ligers are rare. But as far as we know, it's the only one of it's kind. This makes it difficult to maintain by finding the right parts for it. Not to mention that so far no one has been able to pilot the darned thing!" Leena explained.
Doctor Toros cringed at the memory of acting so recklessly when buying this Zoid, but Jaune didn't notice that.
"You mean no one knows how to pilot it?" Jaune asked.
"It isn't that. It's that the Liger has a habit of going berserk if someone tries to pilot it. Even going so far as to eject someone who steps into the cockpit!" Leena explained.
Jaune looked at Liger Zero in amazement. Such a Zoid deserved to be out there on the battlefield, not cooped up in a hangar collecting dust.
"You know something, guys? I think Liger Zero keeps rejecting you guys as pilots because he's searching for the right pilot who will treat him as an intelligent life form and not just another machine. I don't know who that is, but I sure as heck know that it's bound to happen soon!" Jaune said to the team.
Doctor Toros actually smiled at Jaune's words. He could see so much of Sarah in the boy, knowing that Sarah also thought that the Zoids are more than just giant machines. She and Raven were like sisters, in a way, and when they were put on opposite teams they still tried to make as much time to spend together as they could.
'Sarah, you would be so proud of your son right now.' Doc thought to himself.
As if sensing the sincerity in Jaune's words, the Liger's eyes began to glow reddish orange. The Zoid began to growl in a fashion that was almost like it was purring before it startled everyone by doing something completely out of character. It began to lower its head to the ground while crouching down, and seemed to nuzzle Jaune with its big metal muzzle.
To add more surprises to this day, the Liger Zero began to open up its head from the back forward, revealing the cockpit to Jaune.
"Guys… has this ever happened before?" Jaune asked.
"Nope! Normally it just roars and goes berserk, thrashing its head around in an attempt to get whoever's trying to pilot it out of the cockpit." Leon explained.
Jaune just stared at the giant cat Zoid's empty cockpit as it roared softly at him. He seemed to understand what the Liger was saying, as he spoke to the Zoid itself.
"Are you saying… you want ME to be your pilot?" Jaune asked.
The Liger just growled some more and lowered its head down a little lower so Jaune could get in easier. But Jaune wasn't so sure. In his mind, he felt as though he wasn't worthy of being the pilot for such a great Zoid.
But he felt Doctor Toros nudge him gently in the direction of the Liger. The good doctor had a big ol' smile on his face. He had a feeling this day would come!
"Go on, Jaune! Get yourself acquainted with your new partner here! Take him for a run and we'll call you guys back about an hour before dinner. Then we'll try to come up with a plan for our battle against the Tigers Team before bed." Doc said.
Jaune was startled at the words of the doctor, but soon found himself grinning like a maniac before nodding and climbing into the cockpit. He pushed a few buttons and lowered the safety harness just as the Liger closed the canopy to protect his chosen pilot. The Zoid slowly rose back up from the ground before its eyes started glowing even brighter than before.
Liger Zero gave a loud roar that even the rest of the Blitz Team could sense was full of happiness before the Liger took off running out of the hangar with Jaune laughing as he felt the freedom that came with piloting a Zoid.
The four pilots of the Blitz Team were truly stunned by what happened.
"How can this be possible?" Jamie asked. "That Liger has never let ANYONE pilot it willingly before today! So what makes this any different?"
No one said a word. Doctor Toros just kept smiling as he sent a mental message to Jaune's mother.
'Sarah… I think your boy has finally found his calling in life!'
*The Next Day…*
The Hover Cargo was cruising along the sands of the desert that was the designated Battlefield, and within it are four out of the five Zoids currently on the team. That's right, they're carrying the Shield Liger, the Command Wolf, the Dibison and the Liger Zero.
After Jaune and Liger Zero got back from their run, Jaune used a type of Zoids variant of chess to play out some scenarios that could be used against the Tigers Team. Each time, he used the Shield Liger, the Command Wolf and the Dibison against three enemy Saber Tigers. There were several instances where the Blitz Team lost, but each time they got closer and closer to winning the battle. And on the final game, Jaune had a breakthrough!
The plan was simple. Fan out and attempt to take the Sabers on one at a time and while the Saber Tigers pulled their gang up maneuver, Brad would shoot his Long Range Cannon at them to cover whoever was being attacked in order to disrupt the team's formation. And once that happened, the two remaining Blitz Team pilots would select a target and take down the Sabers!
It was actually a pretty solid plan that had no exploitable flaws as far as they could tell, but Jaune also recommended bringing Liger Zero along for the ride. Doctor Toros agreed to the proposal, stating that it would be better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
"Alright team, get ready to mobilize your Zoids! We're approaching the Battlefield, so you all better hurry and get a move on!" Doc ordered.
"Roger that!" was the collective response.
Within the Liger's cockpit, Jaune was busy running a systems check to make sure Liger Zero was okay.
"All systems functioning at optimal capacity. No anomalies detected. Liger Zero and I are good to go, Doc!" Jaune reported.
"Good to know! Just sit tight and be ready in case we need you and the Liger for this battle." Doctor Toros instructed.
"Roger that!" Jaune said in affirmative.
Up in space, a Judge Satellite belonging to the Zoid Battle Commission was orbiting above the planet as the staff on board prepared to drop one of their many Judge Capsules down to the planet.
"Coordinates W08X22, Zoid battle request in Battle Mode 0982 approved!"
As the staff continued their work on the satellite, a hatch underneath the spacecraft opened up to reveal the four prongs of a Judge Capsule. And it was ready to be fired.
"Judge Capsule… release!"
The capsule was released from the orbiting vehicle's hold and began its rapid descent to the planet below. It was already covered in flames due to entering the planet's atmosphere, and it crashed into the ground of the battlefield not too long after.
The capsule rose up from the ground and was now at the top of the crater that formed upon impact. The hatches on the door unlocked, and it slowly opened up to reveal a white human sized robot with a visor for a face and two different colored panels for hands. The left hand is blue, the right hand is red.
"The area within a 30 mile radius is a designated Zoid Battlefield. This zone is now restricted! Only competitors and personnel have authorized entry. Danger! All others must leave the area at once!"
The Judge did a quick scan just as Leon and the others launched their Zoids. First was Leon in the Shield Liger, next was Brad in the Command Wolf and finally Leena and her Dibison. And walking into the field were three Saber Tiger Zoids that were a stunning golden color with dark blue armor on their shoulders, the backs of their hind legs and their tails.
"Area scanned… Battlefield set up!"
"Okay gang, remember to stick to the plan! We can't let the Tigers gang up on us, so we need to do everything we can to get them to separate from pack formation!" Leon instructed.
"Right! Just like Jaune said!" Leena said in agreement.
"Roger that!" Brad added.
Before the battle began, the two teams installed their Zoid Gears into the Zoid Computers of each individual Zoid. These Zoid Gears are used as proof that you are a registered member of a certain team, and are an essential piece of equipment for any Zoid Warrior.
"The Blitz Team vs The Tigers Team! Battle Mode 0982! Ready…"
The Judge spread his arms out wide before he crossed them as he shouted a single word.
"FIGHT!"
The gong sounded and all hell broke loose! The Shield Liger roared as it lead the charge against the Tigers Team. Naturally, the Tigers tried their usual method of ganging up on one member of the team at a time. They ran to take care of the Dibison first, knowing that its heavy weaponry would be a major problem.
But their plan was doomed from the start.
Just as they were about to converge on the Bison type Zoid, one of the enemy Sabers was forced to stop as it was shot at by Brad's Command Wolf and its Long Range Cannon! The lead Saber Tiger was then brought into a grappling match against Leon's Shield Liger while the Dibison charged in to attack the final Saber Tiger with its horns.
"This is working out perfectly, Jaune! You were right!" cheered Doctor Toros.
"Well, he wasn't the top strategist at Beacon Academy for nothing, Doc." Yang said, praising her friend.
But Jaune didn't respond. He had a feeling that something was going to happen that would require himself and Liger Zero to get out there and fight alongside the rest of the team. But he didn't know what just yet.
Meanwhile, things were going quite smoothly for the Blitz Team, in terms of combat. Since the sabers weren't quite used to fighting one on one against any opponent, they were now struggling to defeat even ONE enemy Zoid! And it showed as the Shield Liger managed to pin the Saber Tiger belonging to Kirkland, the leader of the Tigers Team.
"Not so tough without your buddies backing you up, are you?" taunted Leon.
"Shut up! We're the Invincible Tigers Team, and we won't lose to anyone!" Kirkland declared angrily.
He then grinned maliciously as he spoke again.
"In fact… We came prepared to win this fight by hiring a mercenary!"
"WHAT?!" gasped Leon.
He suddenly cried out as his Shield Liger was hit by gunfire and sent tumbling across the ground with its computer system frozen! This allowed Kirkland to get back up as he and his three teammates began to go after the Dibison!
"Doc, Leon's been shot down!" Jamie reported in shock.
"But where'd that gunshot come from?!" Doctor Toros questioned.
From within the Liger's cockpit, Jaune growled in anger. Such a tactic was used by people like Roman Torchwick or the Atlas Military. The Tigers Team leader said something about hiring a mercenary, so they must've stationed him out at the edge of the field in order to pick off the team one by one!
This variable was not one he had expected, but this also gave him the perfect time to test his true abilities.
"Doc, Jamie, hurry up and send me and Liger Zero out there! If they're gonna play dirty and bring in a hidden fourth teammate, then we're just gonna have to even the odds!" Jaune ordered.
And Yang backed him up.
"You heard him, guys! Get that big cat ready to launch!" Yang added.
"I'm on it! I just hope Brad and Leena can hold on until Jaune gets out there…" Jamie said.
The Dibison and the Command Wolf were currently busy running for their lives as they dodged incoming fire from three enemy Saber Tigers plus a hidden sniper! And with Leon down, it really put a monkey wrench in the plan!
"Hurry Leena, we gotta move!" Brad ordered.
"I'M HURRYING AS FAST AS I CAN!" Leena shouted in response.
But as they made to turn and avoid more gunshots, Leena cried out as her Dibison had its leg shot out from under it! It was still active, but now it was rendered completely immobile until repairs could be made.
"Leena!" Brad and the others cried in worry.
Leena groaned and held her head, feeling blood start to drip down from her forehead due to hitting it against the controls. But she had no time to dwell on the pain as she noticed the three Saber Tigers standing over her Zoid, ready to completely decimate the Dibison.
"I hope you've had a successful career as a Zoid Warrior, girly! Because we're about to end it!" declared one of the Saber pilots.
Leena started whimpering in fear as she knew that this very well might be the end for her and her Dibison. But what she didn't know was that help is on the way!
"KEEP YOUR GRUBBY CLAWS OFF OF HER, YOU DAMN DIRTY FURBALLS!"
The Saber Tigers were startled as a new Zoid suddenly pounced at them! Kirkland and one of his teammates managed to get out of the way in time, but the third pilot wasn't so lucky. He got pounced to the ground and his system froze as Liger Zero bit a chunk of armor right off the Zoid's neck!
"Jaune?! What are you doing here?" Leena asked, relieved to have been saved.
"Sorry for butting in like this, Leena. But I didn't like the idea of my team being bullied by a bunch of ruthless thugs like these guys." Jaune said with his 'ladykiller smile'.
Although this time it actually worked, as Leena found herself blushing due to Jaune's chivalry and sincerity. Unfortunately, the moment was lost because of two irate Saber Tiger pilots.
"Hey, who you callin' thugs?" Kirkland demanded.
"You guys must be as deaf as you are bad pilots." taunted Jaune.
"What was that?!" demanded the other pilot.
The Judge suddenly appeared on Jaune's monitor, and began to speak with him.
"Registration of Liger Zero as Blitz Team Zoid has been confirmed. Warrior registration has not been received. Warrior, state your name."
"Jaune. Put me down as Jaune Arc." Jaune said.
"Registration of warrior Jaune Arc has been accepted. Registration number is 777A09. Input number into Zoid computer, at once."
"Right away, sir!" Jaune said.
Liger Zero opened up the Zoid Computer to reveal a blank Zoid Gear, and Jaune input the number given to him by the Judge. And the Tigers Team was not happy about this.
"Come on, Judge, he can't register mid battle!" Kirkland said.
"The Zoid was preregistered and the warrior is now officially accepted."
"That ain't fair!" yelled an angry Kirkland.
"You should talk about playing fair, with your snipers!" Jaune said before he and Liger Zero ran into action.
He and Liger Zero jumped over the two enemy Zoids and made a break for the edge of the Battlefield.
Where are you going, Jaune?!" Leena asked in worry.
"There's a fourth Saber Tiger farther out that's been equipped with a Sniper Rifle! I'm gonna take him down first!" Jaune explained.
"What…?" Brad asked.
Out at the edge of the Battlefield, a standard Saber Tiger equipped with a Sniper Rifle was firing at Jaune like crazy. He was put into a panic when Jaune had figured out his position, and couldn't believe he'd let himself be discovered so easily.
"HOW'D AN AMATEUR PUNK LIKE HIM FIND ME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE?!" he cried in panic.
Each shot he fired missed the Liger Zero by a mile, and Jaune already had a plan of attack. He had the Liger jump into the air and pile drived the Saber Tiger to the ground before running off to fight the other two Saber Tigers.
There was a small explosion from the Saber Tiger as its computer system froze.
"Destruction of enemy Saber Tiger confirmed!" Jamie exclaimed.
"Already?!" Leon asked in disbelief.
"ALRIGHT! GO JAUNE! SHOW 'EM WHO'S BOSS!" cheered Yang.
"That'll teach 'em to play fair!" Jaune said to himself.
"Jaune, you've got enemies heading at you from the front!" Leena warned over the comm link.
Jaune looked and saw the remaining two Saber Tigers shooting their armor piercing rounds at him. While none of them actually hit the Liger, the tremors from the blasts were enough to stall our young Arc.
"I still haven't found anything that looks like a weapon control! Make a run for it, Liger!" Jaune urged.
Liger Zero started running full speed just as the Saber Tigers continued their vicious onslaught of cannon fire. Liger managed to run between the two Sabers, and skidded to a stop as it turned to face the enemy again. And Jaune knew he had to figure something out to stop these guys.
"Man, how am I supposed to stop these guys without any weapons?!" Jaune asked himself.
Suddenly, Liger pulled up some statistics on one of its monitors. It showed an attack move that just might help the Blitz team to win this thing.
"That Strike Laser Claw thing might be a weapon…" Jaune said to himself.
He didn't have any time to contemplate this anymore as Liger Zero roared and charged at the Saber Tigers that had also charged again. Jaune seemed to understand what it was that the Liger wanted to do. He grinned, and let the Liger take over.
"Alright, Liger. I'm leaving it to you!" Jaune said.
Liger Zero roared and fanned out the sides of his mane which began to glow with a golden energy. This energy then started to build up in the Liger's forelegs as it began to pick up speed.
"Look, it's glowing!" said Kirkland.
Soon enough, the golden energy began to glow even brighter than before once it got to the Liger's claws. Liger Zero jumped up and roared as it reared back its right paw while Jaune shouted the name of what would soon become one of his signature attacks.
"Let's do it, Liger! STRIKE LASER CLAW!" Jaune yelled.
As the Liger came down, it slashed at the lead Saber Tiger with its glowing claws. The result was the right foreleg of the Saber Tiger being sliced clean off! It fell to the ground with its combat system frozen just as the Liger's forelegs and claws stopped glowing and it retracted the sides of its mane.
Liger Zero roared in victory, knowing that with most of the pack eliminated the final Saber Tiger would be rather easy to defeat.
And he was right about that.
"Kirkland!" cried the remaining Saber Tiger pilot
He was going to try and avenge his fallen leader, but he was quickly shot down by Brad's Command Wolf! The armored wolf Zoid stood tall and proud as opposed to the downed Saber.
"Don't tell me you forgot about me, did ya?" quipped Brad.
And thus, with all three members of the Tigers Team shot down, the Judge called the match.
"The battle is over! The battle is over! The winner is… The Blitz Team!"
"We did it!" Jamie cheered.
"We won the battle…!" Leena said in awe. "...ALRIGHT!"
"Blitz Team, congratulations on your win! Farewell! Until the next battle!"
Having said his piece, the Judge capsule closed and the Judge flew back up to the Zoid Battle Commision satellite. Jaune smiled in satisfaction at the results of his first official Zoid Battle. It was truly a new and exciting experience for him, and he loved every second of it.
*Later That Night…*
The entire team was currently celebrating Jaune and Yang joining their team plus their first victory in a long time. Dinner was a veritable feast, as Jaune insisted on cooking for everyone. This proved that his skills as a Zoid Warrior were equal to his cooking abilities, as everyone left a praising word at the boy's food.
Doctor Toros cleared his throat as he stood up and raised his glass. The drink of choice tonight had been non alcoholic strawberry sunrises.
"I'd like to express my gratitude for todays victory to one Jaune Arc, who proved to us that Zoids are more than just machines and that his heart is bigger than even a Gojulas! To Jaune!"
"To Jaune!" the team cried, raising their glasses.
Everyone downed their drinks and continued to celebrate. Laughing, telling jokes, sharing funny stories from their pasts and just having a good time.
"Well, I thought it seemed rowdier than normal around here! What's the occasion?" asked a woman's voice.
Everyone looked up to see Sarah Arc and Raven Branwen stepping out of a red portal that the black haired woman had created using her Semblance. And it was certainly an unexpected yet highly welcome surprise.
"Mom! Misses Arc! What're you guys doing here?" Yang asked, getting up to hug her mother.
But the grim look on her mother's face showed that there was a problem. And whatever it is, it can't be good.
"I wish we could say that this is just a surprise visit, but I'm afraid that's not the case." Raven said. "It's Ozpin and General Ironwood, Jaune. They want us to bring you back to Beacon so they can marry you off to several women of their choosing."
"SAY WHAT?! WHAT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHO I MARRY AND WHEN?!" demanded Jaune, whose rage suddenly flared.
Sarah put a hand on her son's shoulder and looked him in the eye, her calming gaze helping to calm him down to the point where he won't ignore rational thought.
"Believe me, sweetie, we're just as against this as you are. But Ozpin and James want to marry you to several strong huntresses in hopes of breeding a stronger generation of Arc children. And trust me when I say that your father is so opposed to the idea that he destroyed a good portion of the school in a fit of rage before leaving Ozpin, Port and James with their heads literally stuck in the ground." Sarah said.
She then grinned with hidden sadistic glee as she reported something else.
"He also took a page from your book and literally crushed Ooblecks balls with a single punch!"
Surprisingly, none of the male members of the team offered any form of sympathy for what happened. Nor showed any signs of cringing at the mention of the destruction of said male bodyparts.
"Wow, you actually crushed someone's nuts with a single punch, Jaune?" Leon asked.
At Jaune's nod, he grinned in sadistic glee much like Sarah.
"I honestly didn't think you had it in you. I hope he suffered!" Leon said.
"Yes, well… as entertaining as it is to hear about the crushing of Oobleck's reproductive organs, we came here to tell you that there is a way to put a complete and utter stop to Ozpin's plan of turning you into a breeding machine." Raven said.
This garnered the attention of the whole team as they leaned forward to hear what she meant by that.
"You see, there is an old ritual in the Branwen family. Forbidden, even amongst our highest ranking members!" she said.
"And you're just going to abuse it?" Leena asked.
"Ohhh, maliciously!" Raven replied with an evil smirk.
"Okay, how does this ritual work?" Jaune asked.
Raven dropped the smirk as she turned completely serious.
"Well, you see… this Ritual is sort of an engagement ritual of sorts that was used on male members of our family due to the fact that when the Branwens were plentiful, there were more females than there were males. So our ancestors created a ritual that, in essence, bound a single male to multiple females. In short, it meant that the man in question had to marry multiple women in order to increase the chances of producing male offspring." Raven explained.
"...So, you're saying that… basically, Jaune has to be soul bound to several random women who we won't know about?" Yang questioned with a twitchy eye.
"Believe me, sweetheart, I don't like having to do this anymore than you do. But right now, we have no other choice! But it's entirely up to Jaune if he wants to do this." Raven replied.
Jaune just looked down at the floor. He didn't know what to do, and this whole situation was just becoming more and more stress inducing for him. Jaune sighed and stood up from his seat.
"Give me a few days to think about it." he said simply.
"Of course, Jaune. We'll be staying here for the time being, so we'll know your choice right away." Raven said. "Perhaps now would be a good time to turn in for the night. It's been a very eventful day for all of us."
Everyone nodded in acceptance and helped to clean up before turning in for the night. Leena escorted Raven and Sarah to the guest rooms before turning in herself, knowing that there might be more and more challenges down the road.
*To Be Continued…*
Ending Narration (Jaune): Hey, it's me, Jaune! Liger Zero and I have won our first Zoid battle, but now we've got another problem. Our next opponent is a top class sniper and Liger doesn't seem to have any long range weapons! But then again… I am kinda suspicious about what's on the end of his tail. But at least we managed to get a good Zoid for Yang. Next time on RWBY New Century Zero: Rewrite; The Red Comet Appears! Ready… FIGHT!