Alright, here's the Volume 4 chapter. Sorry it took me so long to get this one out, but for some reason I couldn't think of a really good scenario for this until recently. But enough of that, you've all waited long enough.
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or the Arrowverse.
Thunder rumbled outside of Salem's keep, as Grimm emerged from the pools of black liquid surrounding the castle. Up on the highest point of the tower was the main meeting room, which was currently occupied by Salem herself, Doctor Arthur Watts, Tyrian Callows, Hazel Rainart, Cinder Fall, and the latter's two acolytes, Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai.
The five main individuals were discussing the events after the fall of Beacon, with Watts and Tyrian needling Cinder for her loss against Ruby until Salem arrived, and then the discussion soon shifted for their plans against Mistral.
After everything had been plotted out, with Watts meeting with Lionheart, Hazel with the White Fang, while Tyrian would hunt down Ruby Rose, all of which would allow Cinder to recover from her injuries. But before they could leave, Cinder gestured to Emerald, signalling one last discussion to talk about.
"I believe there is one other item to discuss." Emerald interjected hesitantly. "It's about this Flash."
"What about him?" Watts snarked. "Besides the fact that he apparently absconded with Miss Nikos right under your nose, what would you suggest we do?"
"Whoever he is." Tyrian chuckled. "He's just another goody two shoes hero. What could he do against us?"
At that moment, Watts had pulled out a canteen to take a drink, but paused in shock when the water started flowing up out of the container and hovered in the air, something that drew the attention of everyone in the room.
Two seconds later, the doors burst open and a streak of red lightning emerged into the room, circling the table two dozen times in three seconds before coming to a halt at the far end from Salem.
Mercury and Emerald's eyes went wide at their visitor. He was fairly tall, clad in a dark yellow suit with a red and black lightning symbol on his chest. His body was vibrating at an unnatural pace and his eyes were glowing red behind his mask.
"You know, I must say," A monstrously distorted voice emerged from the new arrival. "this certainly was a difficult place to find."
Cinder's acolytes drew their weapons almost immediately, and were rewarded by being knocked away into the walls by the new arrival in a second before returning to his former position like nothing happened. Everyone else at the table tensed, with the sole exception of Salem, who simply raised her hand.
"Enough." She said, before turning her full attention to this new arrival. "You certainly know how to make an entrance."
"I wished to speak with you."
"I can see that." Salem replied. "But I believe it is rather inconsiderate to enter someone's home unannounced."
"You don't exactly have a doorbell." The new arrival said dryly as Mercury and Emerald staggered to their feet. "But you make a fair point. I suppose introductions are in order."
The speedster took off his mask, the glowing eyes and vibrations disappearing as he did so. After the almost demonic appearance, the appearance of an ordinary looking blond man was rather anticlimactic.
"My name is Eobard Thawne." He said, his voice now normal as well. "And I have a proposition for you." Salem's eyes narrowed, as what almost seemed like recognition crossed over her face.
"I'm listening."
Ruby woke up first, surrounded by Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora and Ren. Unfortunately, sleep had done little to curb the thoughts that crawled into her head, especially after last night's revelations.
When she had first joined up with Team JNPR, Pyrrha had revealed a number of things she had learned from Ozpin and Qrow, including the things about the Maidens and the fact that Cinder now was one.
It had been rather hard to believe for any of them, but confirmation had come just yesterday: this Tyrian guy coming after them and Qrow arriving to save Team JNPRR had been surprising, and after defeating and cutting off his tail, they met up with Qrow, who not only confirmed everything Pyrrha had told them, but also revealed so much more.
The Grimm actually had a leader, who went by the name Salem, and both Tyrian and Cinder were working for her. Salem worked through agents like them to spread fear and disorder, turning mankind against itself.
And her goal was apparently four relics, crafted by the fabled God Brothers themselves, that would allow whoever collected all four of them to reshape the entire world. Of course, the round of revelations hadn't exactly been taken very well, including the reveal of Qrow's semblance.
Still, if everything he said was true, then they had an even greater need to get to Mistral and warn Haven Academy of a potential attack. Ruby planned to find a ride to Mistral as soon as possible, but what happened next would delay those plans.
Some distance away, Qrow was slumped against a tree. She surveyed the area when she heard Qrow cough. Her eyes widened at the sight of purple blood on his hand and leaking from his wound.
"Oh that's not good." His voice was even getting weaker.
The rest of Team JNPR woke when they heard, with Ruby already moving. It happened so fast. One second, Ruby was rushing over to check on Qrow, and in the next second she vanished, spirited away by a streak of red lightning.
"Ruby!" Nora shouted.
"No." Qrow groaned, struggling and failing to rise.
"Wha-what was that?" Jaune ran to the edge of the camp.
"It doesn't matter." Qrow attempted to rise. "We're going after he-" His speech was interrupted by more coughing, purple liquid spraying out of his mouth.
"You're in no condition to fight." Ren said, rushing to Qrow. "That wound must've been poisoned."
Suddenly, a streak of yellow lightning blew through the camp, kicking up a breeze as it headed in the same direction as Ruby. All four members of Team JNPR paused in shock, while Qrow just groaned.
"Was that who I think it was?" Jaune asked.
"If it was, hopefully he can help Ruby." Pyrrha replied.
...
Ruby staggered as she got her bearings. One second, she was moving to check on Qrow, and in the next, she was here, in an old and abandoned shack. She took a step forward, but halted, turning to find her arm handcuffed to a panel on the wall.
Her captor made his presence known in a streak of red lightning, which came to a halt in front of her. He was clad in some sort of yellow costume, his body vibrating and his eyes glowing a solid red.
"You know, I remember you on top of Beacon." Even his voice sounded monstrous. "You were helpless when I found you, but I thought you were just a child. To think that you have such power."
"Who are you?"
"Who I am doesn't matter." The man in yellow stepped towards her. "What matters is you. Salem wants you alive, but I'm wondering just what makes you so special, because it's certainly not your power."
"I think she fears you." He was standing over her now, his red eyes glaring at her. "You possess a spirit that rallies those to you, a simple soul that inspires hope to those in need." He raised his right hand, which seemed to be vibrating even more than the rest of him.
"Hope is so overrated."
Suddenly, a streak of yellow lightning appeared and sent the man in yellow flying into the wall. Dazed, he attempted to move, but the lightning followed, resolving into a man dressed in red who hit him with a lightning enhanced punch, seemingly knocking him out, as the vibration stopped. The new arrival turned to her, giving Ruby a good look at his features.
His costume was the reverse of her captor: it was scarlet in color, with a yellow and white lightning bolt symbol on his chest. Lightning shaped antenna were on the ears of his mask, while yellow lightning patterns could be seen on his arms, legs and waist.
"You're the Flash." Ruby whispered in awe. He nodded, walking over to her.
"I'm gonna get you out of here."
The Flash held out his hand, which started vibrating at an unnatural speed. He drove it into the restraint around Ruby's arm, breaking it easily. Meanwhile, Reverse-Flash stirred, the vibration appearing as he woke up and drawing both of their attention.
"Get back to your friends and get out of here." The Flash ordered. "Run!"
After a moment's hesitation, Ruby did as requested, streaking away in a flurry of rose petals. Barry blinked in surprise at the petals, but refocused his attention at hand. Now it just left the two speedsters as Reverse-Flash pulled himself off of the ground.
"So nice to see you again, Barry." His nemesis growled. "You always have to be the hero, don't you?"
"This ends now Thawne." Barry said. "I'm not letting you hurt anyone else."
"Except we both know that's not true. You couldn't stop me before, and you can't stop me now."
"We'll see about that." Yellow lightning danced in Barry's eyes.
Time slowed to a crawl as the two speedsters charged at each other.
As it turned out, the Reverse-Flash hadn't taken Ruby too far away from the campsite. The shack was only a couple miles away from Team JNPR, who had gathered their weapons and were prepared to go after her when she returned, panting and out of breath.
"Ruby!" Nora ran forward and hugged her in relief.
"You're... crushing... me." Nora quickly released her.
"Are you alright?" Jaune asked. "What was that?"
"I'm not sure." The young Huntress admitted. "All I know is that whoever grabbed me is working with Salem and has some connection to the Flash."
"So that was him?" Pyrrha asked.
"Yes. He told me to get out of there, but we need to move and quickly."
Right as she said that, the two streaks of lightning that represented the two speedsters emerged from the forest and danced around the campsite, clashing and separating multiple times in rapid succession as the Hunters brandished their weapons.
...
Barry followed Eobard as he ran into the campsite, tackling his nemesis as he attempted to grab the red-hooded teen again, sending them tumbling into the grass at super speed.
Thawne punched Barry in the stomach, who retaliated by headbutting him away. The two sprinted around the clearing, with Barry right on Thawne's heels. Abruptly the future human slowed and grabbed Barry's wrist, using his momentum to send him flying.
Reverse-Flash ran for Ruby again, but the Flash recovered quickly and diverted his passage. Eobard spun and kicked, but Barry ducked under the blow, leaving Thawne an opening to run off again.
...
The speedster fight scattered their belongings all over the place and Ruby could swear the red lightning attempted to attack her, but was intercepted by the Flash. After a minute of this, the Reverse-Flash had been knocked into a tree and the Flash had halted, shouting a name into the air.
"Cisco!"
A blue white portal appeared in the middle of the campsite, which the Flash and his nemesis battled around. Eventually, the superhero gained the upper hand and threw Reverse-Flash into the rift.
"NO!"
The Reverse-Flash screamed as he entered the portal, and in a streak of yellow lightning, the Flash entered it as well, the breach vanishing as soon as he did, leaving Team JNPR staring in surprise and confusion.
They snapped out of their confusion at the sound of Qrow coughing and immediately rushed to his side. Tyrian's poison had done a number on him, and they needed to get him to Mistral ASAP.
"We'll have to hurry." Ren said as Jaune and Ruby picked Qrow up. "I know a short cut."
Alright, and from here on out, the story goes more or less the same as Volume 4, with Ruby and JNPR heading to Kuroyuri, fighting the Nuckelavee Grimm and getting Qrow to Mistral.
I'm not sure when I'll get the Volume 5 chapter out (especially considering how long it took for me to get this chapter finished), but hopefully it should be sooner this time around.
With all that said, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and reviews are always welcome.