Ruby stepped out the portal into the dry air of Olympus Coliseum, the first thing that immediately hit her mind was an instinctive hate. She pushed it down, it wasn't the Collasium's fault that it was built someplace hot and dry, and the people here, minus Hades, had never been anything less than personable. Even Hades was distinctly middle of the pack when it came to the bad people she had met. He was no Lady… whatever, Cinderella's stepmom, but he wasn't Braig, who for all his faults (and even if he was working for the Master, Ruby refused be believe any of his behavior wasn't real before he recognized the Gazing Eye) seemed to be legitimately happy to see Ruby and tell her that Terra hadn't killed Eraqus. Hades was essentially an oversized version of the pompadoured ginger of their year, a bully who thought he was good at convincing people they liked him.

At least, that's the feeling she had got, and she wasn't the best at reading people. She never thought Braig was anything other than a scumbag during their fight. And she had always remained on the outskirts whenever possible during the Unversed crisis, killing the monsters when they popped up and not talking to people unless it were necessary or they mentioned one of her friends.

Even as a child, she had always been slightly withdrawn. Add seven years of living on a small world with only four people you knew as company and her social skills atrophied into oblivion. Talking to people hadn't come easily, when it had come at all.

Except for Zack Fair. The boy was like a puppy, happy to worm his way into your life with laughter, smiles and joking (at least, she hoped it was a joke, and she hadn't offended him when she laughed) offers for dates. Who had gladly offered up every bit of information he had on her friends.

And then she had just forgotten about him like yesterday's garbage. Just gone on with her life while he was in trouble.

Suddenly, a hand wormed its way through Ruby's clenched fist while another landed on her unarmored shoulder. Blinking, she looked between Blake and Yang. Ruby's sister squeezed her shoulder tighter, "It's gonna be alright, we'll find him."

"...Thanks," Ruby said, smiling at them.

"Let's go find Phil," Pyrrha said, "we shouldn't keep Zack waiting any longer than we have to."

Too late.

-X Blake X-

Blake watched the match from their spots in the stands, sighing, "I can't believe he's making us wait."

"Phil's still got a job to do," Ruby said, but Blake noticed that she had taken to tapping her foot on the ground and abandoned her black coat while, somehow, bafflingly, not abandoning the gauntlet and pauldron that had been over it. Occasionally, she would send an all too disgruntled look either at Phil or into the vague direction of the sun, "and people come from all over for these cups. Can't keep them waiting because someone's been missing for a while. I should have agreed to compete."

"What-?" Yang said

"Tearin' my way through the competition worked last time I wanted information," Ruby said, pulling out the stainglass charm and spinning it around her finger by the cord, "would get us done quicker too."

"That… still doesn't seem right," Pyrrha said, "they'd-"

"Have other chances to compete," Ruby said, brusker than Blake said ever heard her.

"Calm down," Yang said.

"What is today, opposite day?" Blake snarked.

"I've put off finding Zack too long," Ruby said, "and I don't know where he-"

Before she could finish, a blue flame exploded into existence next to Phil and faded to reveal a blue skinned man in a black toga and flaming hair…?

What the hell?

"Hey," he drawled in a tone of voice that reminded Blake all too much of slime, "You between matches, Phil?"

"Why?" Phil asked.

"Got something I need to say," he drawled with a sigh, "Gonna steal the field to say it real quick. C'mon, I'm here for peaceful reasons, well, relatively peaceful. Ain't got anything to do with the twerp you're training."

Phil have an audible growl, "Fine."

"Thanks," the man said, stepping forward and onto the field. A near hush fell over the stadium as he did so, minus a few stragglers who were quickly shushed by the people around them, "Hey there, for those who don't know, and yes, I know you exist, the name's Hades, lord of the Underworld. Nice to meet cha. I got a problem that needs solvin' and figured, hey, why not drop by the friendly neighborhood blood sport and see if anyone'd be willin' to solve it for me."

He chuckled, only for silence to respond, "So, here's the thing. This silver haired pretty boy moved into the Underworld a few months back. And while I could probably go out and throw him outta there… I don't wanna. Too much effort on my part. So, I'll cut a deal, a king's ransom in gold to whoever marches in there and throws him out for me! Heck, I'll take things further. If you gotta group, a king's ransom apiece! Not like I'm hurting for the stuff. Well, come on, doesn't that sound-"

"Hades," Ruby said, breaking the quiet.

"Oh, Red!" Hades drawled, "Did realize you were in town. Ya ever find your friends? Because they haven't dropped by, otherwise I'd probably ask Bluebird to do it."

"Found them, lost another," Ruby said, voice clipped, "Have you seen Zack?"

"Zack? Zack Fair? Black hair, blue eyed puppy Zack?" Hades said, "That Zack?"

"Yeah," Ruby said, "Just have you seen him in the last few months?"

"And why should I give you an answer to that question, Red?"

"Answer it, and one other depending, and me and my team will go down to the Underworld and deal with your problem," Ruby said, "take that instead of my ransom."

"That's it?" Hades deadpanned, "that- you're willing to fight someone I don't want to work to deal with for two questions?"

"Yeah," Ruby said without hesitating.

"I'll never get you hero types," Hades shrugged with a sigh, "Yeah, I've seen him. That's one, what's the second question?"

"If he were in the same location now as he was then, where would he be?"

"Cleverly worded, cleverly worded," Hades said with a golf clap, "but, pointless. I can tell you exactly where the Puppy is, the same pest you're kickin' outta my home's got him trapped. Finish of the guy quick enough, and you might get him outta the Underworld in time."

"You'd let me?"

"I get everyone eventually, Red," Hades said, "and there isn't anything important I need him for in the foreseeable future, which, for some of my friends, is from now till the end of time. So yeah, I'll even throw that in as a consolation prize for how useless that question was, since, you know, you'd find him either way. Deal?"

"Ruby," Phil started, only for Ruby to grab Hades hand with hers.

"Deal. That's four king's ransoms," Ruby said, "Where can we find him?"

"Given the time? Probably out by the entrance of the Underworld," Hades said, walking away with a wave of his hand, "Come talk to me when you're done, either way, Red."

"...That was a bad idea," Phil said, "Someone Hades can't kick out of the Underworld without trying? I'm not sure you're ready for that."

"Alone?" Ruby said, turning towards the rest of team RNBY with fire in her eyes, "Maybe. You guys go wait out front, I've got someone to go get."

- X Mickey X-

Mickey sighed at the knock at the door, sliding his quill across the desk, "Come in, Donald!"

"Who?" Ruby Rose deadpanned, the helm of her Keyblade armor melding from around her head.

"Ruby?" Mickey said, before grabbing the (thankfully small) list of people he had to see today. No, he had taken care of them all before his lunch date with Minnie, and Ruby wasn't on that, "What- how-?"

"Sorry, are you busy?" Ruby asked, "I'd… I'd say I could come back later but I can't-"

"No," Mickey said, standing up to embrace his friend, "If it's that important, I'm never too busy. What's wrong?"

"I…" Ruby's eyes jumped around the room before locking on Mickey. Mickey's eyes widened as he took in the red pupil within her eye,"I need your help with a fight."

"A fight?" Mickey said, "what type of fight? And what happened to your eye?"

"Long story," Ruby said, rubbing it, "should be gone after the fight… and the hard kind, I think. Team RNBY is with me, and I'm not sure we'll be able to survive it without you."

Mickey's eyes, if anything, got wider, before hardening, "Xehanort?"

"I don't think so," Ruby shook her head, "but… I think this guy, he's still too much for us. I don't wanna take you away from work, but I- I need help here."

"Then of course I'm gonna help you!" Mickey said, summoning Star Seeker to him in a flash, "I'd be useless sitting here waiting, 'cause I'd just be worried about you the whole time!"

"...Thanks, Mickey," Ruby said, voice wobbling, "You-you're a better friend than I am."

"That's not true at all!" Mickey said, a frown pulling at his lips, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Ruby said.

"If it's bugging you," Mickey responded, "then it's important. What's wrong?"

"What would you do," Ruby asked, "if you realized you forgot about a friend in trouble?"

"I'd go help them," Mickey said immediately, "and I'd apologize once they weren't in trouble anymore. Why, is that what's going on here?"

"Yeah," Ruby nodded, eyes downcast, "Yeah."

"Then we shouldn't be standing around talking!" Mickey said, "We've got a friend to save! Come on, let's go!"

"Right," Ruby nodded, and throwing open the door, "I left the Corridor in the garden. Let's g-! Reflect!"

"Fira!" A familiar voice quacked, and Ruby slid back, her sabatons scraping the stone floor. Crescent Rose appeared in a burst of fire and smoke in her left hand while Master Defender appeared in a reverse grip in her right, "Get away from the king!"

"Who-?" Ruby started, before the helm of Crescent Rose formed around her face as she stared down Goofy and Donald. Mickey quickly stepped between them, spreading his arms wide.

"Stop it!" Mickey said, "Everything's fine."

"But… she broke in," Donald said, sounding confused.

"She'd have to be unwanted to break in," Mickey said, "and Ruby is always a wanted guest in my court, Donald, Goofy."

"Oh," Goofy said, standing up and lowering his shield with a wide smile, "alright then! Nice ta meet'cha, Ruby. I'm Goofy!"

"Hi," Ruby said, helm vanishing again as she cracked a smile, "Sorry to bust in and scare you, but I need Mickey's help."

"The King," Donald stressed, "is busy."

"Not busy enough to ignore a friend in need," Mickey said, "I'll be back for lunch. Tell Minnie."

"But-" Donald started.

"I'll be fine, Donald," Mickey said, "don't worry. C'mon, Ruby. Let's go."

"Sorry again," Ruby said to Donald and Goofy, "this was rude of me."

- X Blake X-

Blake followed Ruby down the path, mouth getting dry as they went. Something about this, all of this, this place, this person, this fight coming up… it set her on edge. One she couldn't-

Blake locked up as a loud bang echoed from ahead of them, where the path opened to a wide room next to a lake. She watched a massive, three headed dog slide down the wall and into the lake with a splash. The man who did it stepped into view with a bored sigh, a odachi far too long to actually be practical in his left hand.

At least, she thought it was too long. It had to be.

"You!" Ruby called, stepping forward and summoning Crescent Rose as the helm of her armor melted into existence around her head, "are you the one who-"

Blake froze again as the man turned and, with so much as a word of warning, vanished from his spot at appeared behind Ruby, sword held as if he had finished an upward swing and silver hair trailing behind him like a banner before he took a step to the side. Ruby went flying back suddenly, smashing into the wall behind them with a resounding thud. And then, slowly, Ruby fell and crashed into the ground on her knees, Crescent Rose flashing into existence in her hand. Blake's eyes jumped to the silver haired man, gut dropping as it dawned on her that he was staring right at-

"Protect!" Ruby snapped, a barrier forming around Blake milliseconds before the blade would have crashed into her neck. So fast, Blake realized with a sinking feeling, she wouldn't have had time to realize she was dead…

What the hell was this guy? They hadn't even-

"Are you the ones Hades sent?" The man said, voice as soft as it was dispassionate. Like the fact that he had nearly killed two teens in less than ten seconds didn't affect him as he put more pressure on the shield, cracking itx "I expected… mo-"

"Dark Fira!" Ruby snarled, a bolt of black flames flying for the man. At the same time, Mickey leapt into the air, over the shield, and pointed his Keyblade at the man's head.

"Bright Firaga!" A fist sized ball of fire basted from the end of the sword. The silver haired man blurred away from the spells, letting them crash into each other and detonate, "Blake, Pyrrha, Yang! Now isn't the time to lock up!"

Blake swallowed, mouth dry while Miló fired at the man. His sword moved in a blurring lattice, bullets pinging off it and smashing into the ground. This guy was… what the hell was he? He made Adam look like- like a child play fighting, "Haste!"

Even with her senses in overdrive, the man was still a blur of motion. Blake swung both blades of Gambol Shroud in an X, the flames of Terminus Est blasting through the barrier and-

Were severed by an upward swing of the man's sword. Blake's gut dropped as he launched towards her, sword angled at her chest.

And then Yang shouldered her out of the way with unusual speed.

- X Yang X-

"Blake, Pyrrha, Yang!" Yang snapped to attention as Mickey's words broke through the weight that had seemed to crashed down onto them from the moment the man moved. The golden light of the flames seemed to make the air easier to breathe, "Now isn't the time to lock up!"

"Mickey," Yang said over the bangs of Miló and the pinging of the silver haired man deflecting those bullets with a damn oversized sword like it was the most casual thing in the world, "Can you cast that speed up spell on other people?:"

"Spe-?" Mickey started before nodding, "Yeah!"

"Cast it on me," Yang ordered.

"I-"

"I can't see him move," Yang snapped, "I'm gonna be useless in this fight if I don't have it and I refuse to be useless when a guy just tried to kill my sister."

"Right," Mickey said, planting a hand on her back, "Hastega!"

Yang blinked as the man slowed enough that she could actually see the blade as something other than a streak of gunmetal grey light. It was still a blur of motion, but followable now. Good.

Ember Celica clicked into place around Yang's hands as Blake's attack launched through the barrier and the silver haired man severed it. The blue flames exploded on either side of him as he lunged forward, sword flashing for Blake's exposed… everything. Yang moved, shouldering her teammates out of the way and raising her arms to let the blade slash across her outside of her forearms. Then the man said something that distracted Yang, something so simple and bizarre it completely threw her for a loop.

"What kind of shampoo do you use for your hair?" The man said, letting up his assault for a moment, "and how much? I used to use a bottle, back in the day."

"I-" Yang lowered her arms, jaw dropping "what!? What do you mean-"

"Got you," the man said, sword swinging for her chest and-

-colliding with Master Defender as Ruby came swinging from above them, her left arm, instead of holding Crescent Rose, was wrapped in the black fabric of Gambol Shroud, the kusarigama in hand. The sliver man ducked the kick angled at his head while Ruby swung the ribbon around the sword four times and tossed the scythe back at Blake who caught it and pulled with both arms, forcing the arm wide. Crescent Rose appeared in Ruby's now free hand as she continued the spin, "Now!"

"Pearl!" Mickey said, a white orb firing off the end of his Keyblade as he rushed forward. Yang clenched her fist, driving her right gauntlet for his left temple as Milò swung for his captured arm. There was absolutely no way for him to dodge it.

So he didn't. Instead he shifted his body, moving his right hand to join the left on the hilt of his sword and ripped it through the ribbon like it wasn't there, let go of the hilt with his offhand to catch Yang's punch by the wrist, deflected Milò and Mickey, and threw Yang into Ruby by that wrist.

What the unholy fuck was this guy?

"You actually managed to hit me," the man said, touching a scorch mark on his black coat as he turned toward Mickey. He gripped the sword, looking at the mouse, "What's your name?"

"Mickey Mouse," Mickey said, summoning his Keyblade as everyone else got up.

"Sephiroth," the man said, and then shifted, barely dodging the thrown spear from Pyrrha. Milò stopped unnaturally, looping around his head and nicking a cut on the other side of his face. Yang blinked as Ruby growled something and then took off at Sephiroth.

-X Ruby X-

Oh brilliant blade of coldest steel…

Ruby rushed forward in a whirling tide of petals, Darkness and metal. Crescent Rose groaned under her hand as she swept in front of Sephiroth and went straight for the throat. Sephiroth scoffed, tilting his head to the side. Before he had time to adjust, Ruby was behind him, slashing Crescent Rose through all six hamstrings as she slid past. The odatchi in his hand swung for her as she came out of it, the reach letting it graze her armor in a shower of sparks. Ruby moved forward, more sparks scrape into existence as she brought Crescent Rose across his chest in a splatter of blood.

...Rend the infinite darkness…

Ruby's movements were suddenly stopped as Sephiroth's hand lunged out like a cobra, wrapping around her neck and lifting her up before slamming her into the ground, his sword angled to pierce her head.

Shifting gears with a spike of pain, Ruby unleashed a wave of force that sent him flying into the sky in a wave of silver and black. Sephiroth stopped suddenly in a rustling of feathers, three black wings flaring and stopping his backwards moment. Ruby had a second to swing Crescent Rose between before he swept into a divebomb, his sword angled at her heart.

And then he was yanked to the side quite suddenly, right towards Pyrrha with Miló bared. Silver met emerald, and Ruby nodded to her teammate, kicking off the ground to join the melee.

-X Pyrrha X-

Unlike her teammates, it wasn't a spell that let Pyrrha keep up with the blur of silver death that was Sephiroth. Instead, it was her Semblance. It wasn't enough to manipulate the blade, which was moving too fast for her to get a grip on it, but it did give her a sense of where it was, even if she couldn't see it. Moving Akoúo̱ to block the blows, Pyrrha slowly retreated from the onslaught of slashes, arm protesting with each attack she deflected.

What the heck was this man made of? She had blocked attacks from men three times his size without flinching before!

Ruby and Mickey came in from opposite sides, magic around Crescent Rose and his Keyblade as they slashed at Sephiroth. At the same time, Yang swung her fists for his spine.

Can't dodge left, can't dodge right, can't dodge backwards or forward…

"Terminus Est!" Blake called from above them, a burning X launching down towards them.

...and can't dodge up.

An explosion pushed everyone back as the attacks impacted, forcing Pyrrha to let go of Milò as she slid back from Sephiroth. After a long moment, the smoke cleared.

Sephiroth was panting lightly, raising his right hand to smother the burning spot on his longcoat before apparently deciding better of it. Impaling his sword into the ground, Sephiroth deftly undid the harness and shrugged off the destroyed jacket. A small smile split his face as he pulled Miló from his gut and dropped it, "Cura."

The injury knitted shut, and he raised one hand, the oppressive atmosphere slamming down across them with renewed force. Slitted green eyes stared at each of them as the magic swirled around his body, "Descend-"

Pyrrha blinked as she suddenly plummeted, the ground disappearing as she and the other members of Team RNBY and Mickey were suddenly over the lake. Or rather, all of Team RNBY except their leader.

Ruby was staring down Sephiroth, a wing of black-grey energy exploding off her left shoulder and coiling down her arm. Her fingers were splayed, the energy creating talons off each one, "No, you don't!"

"Heartless-"

"Song of-!"

"Angel."

"Annihilation!" Ruby slammed her hand into the ground, and the world seemed to grind to a halt for a second.

And then it resumed with an unholy roar.

- X AN X-

You would not believe how hard it is to write a fight where your aimed goal is to establish a character to be more powerful than a group by a wide margin without turning it into an absolute curbstomp battle. I wanted Team RNBY to need the LB from Diabolos, but I also didn't want them to come across as completely useless without it.

If anyone would be willing to drop a Review on this story, it'd be appreciated. People have been quiet lately, and it's making me start to be worried about the quality of my writing and whether I should make a sequel to Fears after all or just do an MHA crossover on it's own.