Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY, Zelda, Kid Icarus, Pokemon, or any other franchise alluded to or included in this work (I don't own the background music either). All I own is this work and my OCs (these include Aris, Oleana, Nash, and any Grimm ideas I come up with).


Ruby sat by herself in the stands at Amity Colosseum. The next match was about to begin. The crowd roared in excitement.

Ruby scanned the audience and saw someone sitting on the far side of the stadium. She gasped. There was Emerald Sustrai, who had a wry smirk on her face. "Emerald's here?" Ruby whispered to herself, bewildered.

BGM: Bottle Grotto - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019 remake)

Emerald seemed to notice Ruby's staring, so the hooded Huntress quickly averted her gaze. Something felt...off. Ruby didn't know what. She got up from her seat and left the arena. She sneaked through the corridor and, making sure no one was watching, slipped into a maintenance room. The door opened into a corridor. Ruby closed it behind her and began walking down the hallway. Meanwhile, the combatants for the fight were being chosen. Ruby ignored the announcement and pressed on.

Up ahead, someone was emerging from a doorway and into the corridor where Ruby was.

It was none other than Mercury Black.

"Mercury?" said a confused Ruby.

At that moment, the fighters were being announced. The first contender was Penny Polendina. Ruby ignored the message. "What are you doing?" she asked Mercury.

Outside, Penny's opponent was being revealed. Penny was to fight Pyrrha Nikos.

Mercury narrowed his eyes at Ruby and smirked.

Ruby thought for a moment, and then her eyes widened. She realized what this meant for Penny. "Oh no."

"Oooh," Mercury muttered. "Polarity versus metal. That could be bad."

Instinctively, Ruby reached behind her back to draw Crescent Rose. She felt nothing but air. Ruby had forgotten to bring the scythe with her. Mercury got into a fighting stance.

"Mercury, what are you doing?" said a confused Ruby. "You were hurt! Why..?! Uh...what's going on?"

Mercury said nothing. Ruby understood what that meant. She narrowed her eyes. "Fine. If you're not going to tell me..." Ruby stepped to the right. Mercury mirrored her, stepping to his left. Ruby stepped to her left, Mercury stepped to his right.

Back on the stage, the fight between Penny and Pyrrha commenced. Mercury smirked. "Showtime."

BGM: The Chase - Deltarune

Ruby moved to get around him, but Mercury moved to intercept her. Ruby tried to dart around him with her Semblance, only to be halted by Mercury's incoming foot. The kick sent her backwards and she landed on the ground.

Ruby took out her Scroll and tried to dial for help, but a bullet from Mercury's boot knocked the device out of her grasp. "Let's just keep this between us," he said.

Mercury sent several kicks Ruby's way, but the hooded Huntress managed to evade the blows. Activating her Semblance again, she darted behind Mercury and ran as fast as her legs could carry her.

End BGM

Ruby made it out of the maintenance corridor and looked at the arena. There she saw a dreadful sight.

Penny Polendina had been ripped to pieces. Mechanical parts were visible, crackling with green electricity.

Ruby fell to her knees and wept. "Penny..."

Behind her, Mercury emerged from the maintenance corridor, but for some reason, went back inside.

BGM: Attack of the Airships - Super Mario Galaxy

Something appeared on the jumbotron: a chess piece, a black queen, and a red backdrop. A woman's voice announced, "This is not a tragedy. This was not an accident. This is what happens when you hand over your trust. Your safety. Your children. To men who claim to be our guardians, but are, in reality, nothing more than men. Our Academies' headmasters wield more power than most armies, and one had the audacity to control both. They cling to this power in the name of peace, and yet, what do we have here? One nation's attempt at a synthetic army, mercilessly ripped to shreds by another nation's star pupil. What need would Atlas have for a soldier disguised as an innocent little girl? I don't think the Grimm can tell the difference. And what, I ask you, is Ozpin teaching his students? First a dismemberment, and now this? Huntsmen and Huntresses should carry themselves with honor and mercy, and yet here, I have witnessed neither. Perhaps by defeating Atlas in the Vytal Tournament, Ozpin would help people forget his massive failure to protect Vale when the Grimm invaded its streets. Or perhaps, this was his message to the tyrannical dictator that has occupied an unsuspecting kingdom with armed forces. To be honest, I have no clue who's right and who's wrong here. But I know that peace is a fragile thing. The leaders of our kingdoms conduct their businesses with iron fists. As someone who hails from Mistral, I can assure you; the situation there is equally undesirable. Our kingdoms are on the brink of war. Yet we, the people, are left in the shadows. So I ask you this...when the first shots are fired...who do you think you can trust?"

End BGM

The screens displayed static.

A warning siren blared. A computerized voice announced, "Warning. Incoming Grimm attack. Threat level: nine. Please seek shelter in a calm and orderly manner."

The audience did seek shelter, but not in a manner that was anywhere near calm or orderly.

Above the Colosseum, a Nevermore clawed at the invisible barrier that protected the occupants.