AN: Well, Trump won. He's a thing now. Oh well, enjoy this and get your mind off it.

Chapter 20: Fire Within Them

"Now, just concentrate on that flame. See it burning brightly inside the void."

Pyrrha Nikos nodded slowly and exhaled through slightly parted lips. The air around her began to crackle with energy as amber sparkles rose from her fingertips. Her teacher looked at her with a smile on her face as she pressed on with the lesson; noting with pride how far the training with her ancestor had taken her. She had gone from only being able to produce the barest of sparks from her fingertips to shooting out fireballs with the same intensity as she had seen all those years ago. She doubted the girl in front of her would have an Ultra Mode event coming up but…well, anything was possible when it came to the Grids. And seeing as the girl in front of her had accessed that special pocket of magic that had been inside the Rider Grid since the destruction of the Awakened Spider Wraith; it seemed all bets were off as to what she could or couldn't do. Of course, she had fulfilled a stable time loop by going back in time to help her past self with a crisis of faith but that was the way things in the world of Riders happened.

"That flame is a representation of your power but it is just that - only a representation." Honoka tapped her chin thoughtfully before settling on the correct analogy. "If you were to see a true representation of the magic inside of you, it would look a lot like our sun. It would be a sphere of continuous power and energy, fusing together and splitting apart at the same instant. Or it could take the form of a shining Phoenix, soaring through the sky on wings wreathed in pure flame."

Pyrrha liked the thought that the power inside of her could be equated to a mythological animal. Since their arrival three days prior, they had been going through various combat drills and trainings with the Riders that best matched their strengths. Ruby and Blake had been learning how to move their bodies to enhance their already lightning-fast reflexes. Takumi and Tendou seemed to be the best teachers of the lot but, as it turned out, they were still learning what their spirit forms were capable of. There had also been a few protests early on how it seemed rather unfair that they could be hit while not being able to retaliate but those had died down as the training progressed. Situational awareness and battle tactics were being taught to Yang by the first three Riders as it seemed the Huntress would forgo the built-in pile bunkers in her Rider gauntlets for a more brawler style. Some of the other melee-oriented secondary Riders were also assisting in the training, though their methods varied wildly. While Weiss was very proficient with her Dust Rapier, she had struggled a lot with using her bladed wheels as she had found them too unwieldy for her in the thick of battle. Surprisingly, Takatora's younger brother – Mitch – had volunteered to assist. So far, the quiet man was making a lot of headway into showing the heiress the best ways to fight with the unfamiliar weapons.

As for the three non-powered Hunters, they were fielding their own training sessions with various Riders. Jaune, in particular, was rotating through five Riders a day that were teaching him fighting strategies, moves, and even ways he could use his folded shield to his advantage. The blonde Hunter had also discovered a new feature in his ancestral weapon – something his grandfather hadn't mentioned to the family. When swung at a fast enough speed, the blade could produce a crescent of energy that could rip through the thickest tree trunks and could be felt by the Rider Spirits. Unfortunately, in true Jaune fashion, the first instance had been a fluke and the effect hadn't been repeated since. It hadn't depressed him though and she had seen him training by himself to see what he had done for it to come about. The other Riders were praising his dedication to learning more about himself and attempting to overcome his shortcomings. After talking with a few of the Riders, Nora had opted for training in an attempt to reign in some of her more excessive battle tactics and aggression. Against Grimm and other enemies that required more brawn, she was a useful member on the field but Kenzaki had warned that the machinations of Auric required a tad more finesse in order to take down. When questioned on his rather violent way he had disposed of the Raptor Grimm, the Undead Rider had just coughed something about necessary attacks.

On the other side of the coin was Ren; JNPR's resident meditative warrior wanted to express his feelings more in battle and cut loose. Battling with calm focus was one thing but the Eastern Huntsman wanted to expand his horizons and build on a few rudimentary skills acquired from an old parchment. Though there was no lack of available Riders to teach him, he had wanted a mentor that used similar weapons as Storm Flower in battle. Arata Kagami, Kamen Rider Gatack, and the strangely child-like Imagin Ryutaros, were currently helping him but he had received offers from others. When he wasn't training Jaune, her ancestor had also been spotted talking about the more spiritual and mystical natures of the Powers possessed by his friends.

"Or it could be that of a majestic Gryphon – head of an eagle and body of a lion; a true protector of the innocent."

And, speaking of him, there he was – interjecting his way into their conversation as if it were second nature to him. From what the other members had told her, it wasn't that he was trying to be rude – on the contrary; he just had a lot of battle experience with various weapons and an uncanny sense about him that was rather hard to pin down at first. Currently, Weihan was sparring Jaune and – slightly worrying to her – had managed to be hit several times. Curiously, none of the other Rider Ghosts were perturbed or concerned by this development and she wondered exactly what other surprises he had in store for the rest of them.

"Is that what my power is?" She looked down at her hands and shook her head slightly. "Is this a side-effect of your exposure to the Grids?"

Wei chuckled under his breath, bringing the Rider Blade up to parry. Rolling away, he lashed out with his left leg to catch the Huntsman off-guard and send him crashing to the ground. As the boy picked him off the ground and offered him a sheepish smile, he smirked softly and looked around him at the other Riders that were gathered. Xonix hadn't attacked but he had sent spectral Fiends to the Graveyard, attacks that had been fended off by the patrolling Riders. He hoped to whatever was listening that his descendant and her friends were away from the area whenever he sent down another spectral creature but he doubted his luck would hold. After all, it hadn't held during the bout with Psychogre. As the Hunter came at him again, he looked at Pyrrha.

"Somewhat." He smiled, ducking Jaune's swing. "Remember, before I was a Rider, I was pretty much the strongest Ranger in the Multiverse. Visiting the Great Power on Phaedos twice – once to receive my Ninjetti Power and to solve a self-worth issue and another time to chase a time-travelling Wraith –allowed me to see the Ninjetti Spirit animals of those around me."

"That's amazing." Ruby shook her head and grinned broadly. "So, what do I have as my animal? Something super cool and speedy, right?"

Holding up a hand to Jaune to halt his charge, the Ranger closed his eyes and concentrated. Dulcea and Ninjor had taught him well during his visit to Phaedos after his second, and final, death but experience on how to see the spirit within had come with time and experience. Sensing Jean creeping up on the fringes of the training area, he allowed a sad smile to cross his features. The scientist and his wife were extremely amazed by all he had achieved during his time but, in return, he had been equally impressed that they had created Belts and Systems from scratch without any kind of pre-existing base. On the other hand, he wouldn't have wanted to expose the TYRANT chips to anyone – Rider descendant or not. The power left in them after the explosive destruction of Gabriela and Bloodless Mary was still too great for normal people to handle without their minds turning to mush. After a few moments, the ghostly images of the Spirit Animals connected to the Hunters in front of him floated past his mind's eye. With a start, he realised that the Power, as muted as it was on this world, had even moulded them together as a pseudo-Ranger team. Well, if the Rider thing didn't work out for them that was something they could fall back on.

"Ruby Rose, you have the speed and ferocity of a Praying Mantis. Your sister, Yang, has the strength and might of a Mantis Shrimp. Weiss carries the grace and silent watchfulness of an Arctic Wolf while Blake has harnessed the abilities of the fearsome Smilodon populator – more commonly known in my time as the sabre-toothed cat."

As the quartet looked at each other with awe and amazement, the Orange Rider had to wonder about something. Their animals were pretty much the same as their Rider motifs, which led to the mind-bending conundrum of whether the Ninjetti Spirit animals had influenced the Belts or it had been the other way around. And, yet, he wasn't going to touch the more mystical properties of their powers with a ten foot pole after the two week migraine he had received trying to fit in his trip to the past with Rider powers…and having been told he was just there with Ranger powers. If that meant what he thought it had meant, that would have to mean that the 'original' Orange Ranger – the one he had met – went back to the same past as he…and his brain was starting to ache again. Silently longing for the days when life wasn't so complicated, the Orange Ranger took a step back and waited for the question he knew was coming.

"Can non-Riders get Ninjetti whatsits as well?" Jaune wiped the sweat from his brow and folded his shield back into its holster form. "I'd really like the added security that I have a spirit animal backing me up."

From what the Hunter had shown in his fights, he didn't need a Spirit Animal watching his back. However, he supposed the truth would allow him to worry less and, in turn, allow his descendant to worry less about him. It was interesting looking at Pyrrha and seeing how much she obviously loved Jaune and his thickheadedness over her feelings for him – that everyone could see.

"Everyone has a spirit animal watching over them." He stated, summoning a small golden disc from thin air. "Yours is no different - the fiercely protective grizzly bear stands firm over you and guides your strikes. Seeing that one of your first Grimm kills was against an Ursa, it seems only fitting. Nora's animal is…well, it's an odd assortment of animals. It's a chimera: part lion, goat, snake, ram, and other odd bits and bobs. Ren has the silent meditative power of a scorpion. It's an absolute joy to see so many spirit animals in one place that have such intense bonds to their Chosen."

Snatching his Power Coin out of the air, he looked wistfully at the crocodile on the front before stowing it in its subspace pocket. From the Ninjetti Mode to the unexpected Ninjazord summon against Mesogog, his Spirit Animal had done far more for him than he had for it. Dulcea had explained to him that it was the solemn duty of theirs to protect and serve their Chosen in any capacity that was needed but he doubted it extended to beyond death. On the other hand, stranger things had happened to him since he found himself on the other side; so, maybe, it was biding its time until he needed its power. He had a very strange feeling that time was rapidly approaching. In fact, he could almost sense it in the back of his mind. Weihan shook his head and looked at Pyrrha. While his training with Jaune had gone slightly overtime, thanks to his explanation of the Spirit Animals, his descendant had a frighteningly accurate grasp of time and was already gearing up for her no-holds-barred training with him. Physical attacks and assaults weren't going to get anywhere with one of Mistral's champions but he had another trick up his proverbial sleeve that either would catch the chink in her armour…or it would finally push Jaune in her direction.

"All right, Pyrrha," he began slowly, "come at me with everything you have. You're one of the aces in the team; I know you don't like being looked to as such but you are a veritable powerhouse. That said…you know you can't defeat everything, right?"

Pausing in her first attack, Pyrrha narrowed her eyes as her ancestor rushed her. Stepping out of the way and bringing up Akouo to deflect a strike from his Rider Blade, she used the momentum to plant a kick to his chest. For some reason, she was one of the only ones that could connect with the Raptor Rider during their training sessions. Qrow had hypothesised that their shared blood and DNA was the cause but, for rather glaring reasons, they couldn't do a quick DNA comparison. She had pretty much memorised his attack patterns but this was something different from him.

"What do you mean?"

Gliding out of the way of a swipe that would have sent his guts spilling to the ground, he leapt off a tree to deliver a powerful flying kick to her head. As expected, as was routine the past fifteen times he had tried this move, she spun out of the way and brought up Milo in a sweeping blow that bounced off his rapidly materialising helmet. Flash transformations weren't new to him but this was the first time it had happened in a training bout – making his opponent and the watching crowd gasp in shock and amazement as they saw his Rider form for the first time. Although he had reached full merging of System and Crystal, the massive and overwhelming change in his uniform hadn't come about and it still looked the same as it had after his second upgrade – small shoulder spikes, unconcealed Rider Shoot and frighteningly realistic helmet. Snapping up the visor to allow his vision to be clear of annoying pop-ups, he shook his head once before turning towards Pyrrha once more.

"You fight Cinder and whoever is pulling her strings," he checked everything off his fingers. "You bring peace back to Remnant and you raise Beacon back to the Hunter Academy it once was. Then what? One faction is down – a huge one – but there are still others out there. Anti-Faunus groups like the White Fang still exist, is your crusade going to turn on them as well? How about the petty criminals and thugs of the world? Don't forget about the Grimm; creatures attracted to fear and negativity will always pop up no matter what."

Powering the System down and taking note of its speed, he turned to address the Huntsmen and Huntresses around him. Some, like Ruby and Blake, held expressions of quiet acceptance and determination; while others, like Nora and Yang, looked like they hadn't really considered the possibility. Of course, from what Kenzaki and Qrow had told him, he knew that wasn't the case. Team RWBY and most of JNPR knew what lay ahead as Huntsmen and Huntresses in Remnant and the addition of Kamen Rider powers and abilities wouldn't change anything.

"I'm not trying to discourage you from this path." He shook his head and suppressed a tired sigh. "I just want you to realise what you're getting yourself into. Thanks to your bloodline and the power you possess, you may very well find yourself fighting for the rest of your life. Is that something you really want to do?"

"I'll be there with her."

All eyes turned to the blonde Huntsman who was looking rather surprised by the words that had come out of his mouth. However, there was no turning back from what was out in the open and, apart from an indecisive glance to the sky; he showed no sign of retracting that statement. A ripple of excitement would have wormed its way down his spine but the Interdimensional Rider realised the direction things were about to take and, judging from the dawning looks on Ruby and Ren, a few of their friends knew it too. However, he wasn't going to let up until he had the answer he was seeking from Pyrrha.

"That's all very well and noble of you to say, Jaune," Weihan backed off, stowing his blade and running a hand through his hair. "Have you seriously put actual thought into this endeavour? It's not going to be a romantic adventure where it's the two of you against the world."

"You're right and I know it's not going to be like that." Jaune held the steely gaze of the veteran warrior, never moving an inch. "It's going to be grim and bloody and there are times when we'll be at each other's throats…but it'll be worth it for her."

Slowly nodding at the determination radiating off the young man, the Rider stepped back to allow the proverbial spotlight to shine onto him. This was a pivotal moment and he wasn't going to let anything stop Jaune from spouting off his innermost thoughts and feelings.

"I'm not dumb," he continued, oblivious to the admiration in Pyrrha's eyes. "I know it's going to be rougher than anything I've ever experienced before but that's why we're training, right? To persevere after the major battles are won? I may not be a strong fighter right now. I may not be the most reliable member in the thick of things but I promise I'll improve to be a Huntsman worthy to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the great heroes of the world. It may take me months or years but –"

Surprising absolutely no one but the man in her sights, Pyrrha silenced him with a long kiss. She seemed surprised by the impulsive move but soon relaxed, running her hands through his blonde hair as the man struggled to process what was going on. All too soon, the kiss ended and she stepped back to wait for a reaction. For a moment, Jaune stood there unsteadily like a tree in the wind. Almost imperceptibly, his face began to change from stunned surprise to shock and, after what seemed like an age and a half, reciprocal love. He always knew Pyrrha had admired him for not seeing her as a hero to be viewed from afar but he hadn't known her feelings ran as deeply as they did…and that was wrong. He knew she was in love with him but he just supposed that, if he acted dumb, she would move onto a more worthy option. However, it seemed as though she loved him just as he was and would be beside him for as long as it took for him to grow and better himself. Before his brain could catch up with the rest of him, his left arm was pulling the woman he loved for another kiss – totally oblivious to those around him.

"Ah." Weihan covered his mouth with his hand as he looked away. "Well, that's…one way to clear the air."

After a second kiss that bordered on obscene, the two new lovers parted and were instantly made aware of the people watching them by their cheers and claps. Some of the spirit Riders were clapping as well, finally glad to see some form of love and happiness in an area that had seen far too little of it. Sharing a glance with Honoka, Weihan grinned broadly as he clapped and cheered their happiness. He could see the next couples to form but it was up to one, or both, members to come together and admit to the fact that their feelings ran deeper than teammates and friends. Alternatively, he could see one of them throwing everything to the wind and making out with her partner at the drop of a hat but they would need to be in the same mental space. However, there was something that made him uneasy. He had assumed the tingle of excitement and energy from earlier was leading up to this but, as it was still present in the back of his mind, it clearly wasn't the case. Abruptly stopping his earlier actions, he scanned the forest and listened for any unusual sounds. The ghostly monsters of Death Shocker and Xonix made lots of sound to announce their appearance but he still hadn't forgotten the tell-tale signs of a monster he hadn't seen in a very long time.

At the fringes of his hearing came a sound that sent what was left of his stomach dropping to his toes. To the untrained ear, it didn't seem like much – just a light crunching nose that sounded like someone stepping on ice or glass. On instinct, he summoned his Turbine and Activation Gem to him in a flash of light that caught the attention of everyone still swept up in the revelry. Planting his feet on the ground, he placed the Buckle on his waist and allowed the belt to wrap around his spectral form. It was true that after the defeat of Bloodless Mary and Gabriela, he never had to fight another Wraith in his home dimension but his spirit would always carry the additional burden of the Wraith Queen's final attack. It was a 'gift' he never thought he would have to use in this dimension but, as it seemed, fate had other plans for him. Well, if anything, it would prove for an interesting footnote in the 'cross-dimensional monster' theory Alex had cooked up. The sound came closer and the spiritual Riders tensed up, some shooting understanding glances his way.

"You need to get out of here now." Weihan's voice was tight and full of emotion. "This thing is too powerful for any of you to face."

A bellowing roar silenced any protests as the creature revealed itself. It stood as tall as an Ursa, had the same sharp teeth and claws as a Beowulf, but was covered in patches of shimmering mirror-like material. On its head were the same blood red markings of a Grimm but the power its aura was putting out was nothing anyone had ever faced before. Swinging its gaze to the Asian spirit in front of it, the monster plunged its left hand into its chest and began shaping the shimmering blood spewing from the wound into a thick club.

"That's a Wraith."

TBC…

AN2: No Mirror Monster but something deadlier…and to reply to the reviewer Ultimate Kuuga (who needs an account so I can reply directly); Wraiths are much deadlier than Mirror Monsters. Which is why I have put Kamen Rider Tyrant as required reading for this story.