Copyright disclaimer: RWBY belongs to RoosterTeeth, The Legend of Zelda belongs to Nintendo, Pokemon belongs to Game Freak, any other franchises mentioned or included in this work belong to their respective owners (not me). All I own are my OC's (Aris, Perci, Raylo, Takashi, and Loretta), the cover (made it myself via Google Slides), and this story itself.

"I'm sorry," says General Ironwood. "But you've left us with no other choice."

"But he attacked me!" Yang cries.

"Video footage and millions of viewers say otherwise," the General says.

Weiss interjects, "But Yang would never do that!"

"Yeah!" Ruby adds

Ironwood sighs. "You all seem like good students. And the staff here at Beacon are fully aware that you would never lash out like that. Under normal circumstances. But I believe, and hope for this to be nothing more than the result of stress and a major adrenaline rush. When you're out on the battlefield, your judgement can waver greatly in an instant. Sometimes you see things that simply aren't there, even after the fight is over."

Yang tries to speak, "But I wasn't-"

Ironwood cuts her off, raising his voice. "That's enough!" His voice lowers again. "The unfortunate truth is...whether or not it was intentional...it doesn't matter. The world saw you attack an innocent student. They've already drawn their own conclusions. And it's my job to inform you that...you're disqualified."

The General leaves team RWBY's dorm.

"You guys believe me...right..?" Yang asks hopefully.

"Uh, doy!" says Ruby.

"You're hotheaded," says Weiss, "but you're not ruthless."

Yang turns to Blake, her eyes welling with tears.

Blake averts her gaze. "I want to believe you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" says Weiss.

"B-Blake..?" Yang says, her voice cracking a little.

Blake says nothing.

"How can you say something like that?" Weiss scolds. "Yang would never lie to us!"

Blake sighs. "I've seen someone I love change. It wasn't instantaneous...it was a gradual change. Little choices that began to pile up. He told me to not worry. At first, they were accidents...then it was self-defense. Before long, even I began to think he was right. This is all just very...familiar to me." Blake looks to Yang. "But you're not him. And you've never done anything like this before. So, I want to trust you. In fact, I will trust you. But first, I need you to look me in the eyes and tell me he attacked you. I need you to promise me that you regret having made that decision."

Yang moves her bangs out of her eyes. "I saw him attack me, so I attacked back."

Blake exhales. "Okay. Thank you."

"I think I could use some rest," Yang says.

Blake, Weiss, and Ruby all get up. "We'll leave you to it, then."

The three of them exit the dorm and walk out into the hallway. Two doors, one on either side of their own door, open. One reveals Jaune, and from the other emerges Aris. "Is she doing okay?" Jaune asks.

"What he said," Aris adds.

"She's doing the best she can," Blake answers.

"I hear Mercury and his team rushed back to Haven to be with his family," Ruby says. "So until they land, no one can really question him about what happened."

"If there's anything we can do," says Ren from inside the dorm, "please don't hesitate to ask."

"We're willing to help, too," Perci adds from team AMPR's dorm.

"Alright then," says Ruby. "If that's the case...Pyrrha?"

The world-renowned fighter raises her head. "Hm?"

"You be sure to win one for Beacon, okay?" Ruby says.

"It's what Yang would want," says Weiss.

"I'll do the best I can," Pyrrha says.

Some time later...

Ruby and Aris sit together in the stands. Pikachu is out on a walk with Raylo and Takashi.

All around them, the crowd roars. Aris and Ruby both scan the audience, not looking for anyone in particular.

Ruby's eyes land on one particular figure in the stands, someone all the way on the far side of the building. She points. "Aris, look!"

Aris turns his gaze to where Ruby is looking. He gasps. "Emerald!"

The green-haired woman notices Aris and Ruby staring, narrowing her red eyes at them.

Ruby gets up. "C'mon."

Aris rises from his seat and follows her. "What's up?"

The Hylian follows Ruby into a maintenance room, making sure no one is looking before entering.

BGM: Interlude - Super Mario Galaxy

Aris and Ruby walk through the corridor together as Oobleck makes his announcement. "Alright, it is now time to begin the selection process for our next bout!"

Ruby stops. Aris stops.

Up ahead, Mercury Black himself is emerging from a separate doorway leading into the maintenance corridor. He notices Aris and Ruby, and stands still, as if preparing for a western-style standoff.

"Mercury?" Ruby says.

Aris narrows his eyes. "The hell are you doing here?"

Port announces back outside, "It looks like our first contender is...Penny Polendina of Atlas!"

Ruby and Aris keep their gazes locked on Mercury. The boy stands completely still, his line of sight meeting theirs.

"And her opponent will be..." Port declares, "...Pyrrha Nikos from Beacon!"

Ruby realizes something. "No..."

Aris glances at her. "What? What is it?"

"I'll explain later," Ruby replies, turning her gaze back to Mercury.

"Oooh," Mercury mutters to himself. "Polarity versus metal...that won't end well."

Ruby reaches behind her to draw Crescent Rose, only to realize that she doesn't have it. Aware that he doesn't have his sword and shield, Aris readies a PokeBall as Mercury puts his fists up for a fight.

"Mercury," says Aris. "What are you doing? I thought you were injured. What's going on?"

Mercury says nothing, a wicked smirk forming on his face.

End BGM

"Fine," says Ruby. "If you're not going to tell us..."

Ruby sidesteps, only for Mercury to sidestep with her, mirroring her movements. Aris prepares to throw his PokeBall.

Ruby quickly activates her Semblance and dashes around Mercury. Aris throws his PokeBall, sending out Decidueye. "Razor Leaf!"

The Grass/Ghost-type Pokemon sends a flurry of sharp leaves at Mercury, distracting him long enough for Aris and Decidueye to retreat and dash after Ruby.

The two of them exit the maintenance corridor via an exit on the other side. Ruby steps out into the main area of the Colosseum, and a dreadful sight is there to behold. Aris joins her.

Onstage is Pyrrha Nikos, standing still in shock over the sight of Penny Polendina, who has been ripped to shreds and is emitting sparks of green electricity. Aris understands now. Penny is an android, and now she's been put out of commission. He returns Decidueye to the PokeBall and joins Ruby on the ground.

BGM: Tension - Super Mario Galaxy 2

On all the big screens throughout the arena, the backdrop goes from shining bright blue to a deep blood red. A symbol of a black queen chess piece appears. "This was not an accident," says a woman's voice over the loudspeaker. "This is what happens when you hand over your trust, your safety, your very children, to men who claim to be our guardians. But are, in reality...nothing more than mere men. Our Academies' headmasters wield more power than most armies, and one even 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 torn to bits by another nation's star student. What need would Atlas have for a soldier in disguise as a 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, yet here, I have witnessed neither. Perhaps Ozpin thought defeating Atlas in the tournament would help people forget about his colossal failure to protect Vale when Grimm ravaged its streets. Or perhaps this was his message to the tyrannical dictator that has occupied an unsuspecting kingdom with armed forces. Honestly? I haven't the slightest idea as to who is right and who is wrong. But I know that the existence of peace is fragile, and the leaders of our kingdoms conduct their business with fists of steel. As someone who hails from Mistral, I can assure you that the situation there is...equally undesirable. Our kingdoms are at the brink of war, yet we the people are left in the shadows. So I ask you...when the first shots are fired...who do you think you can trust?"

End BGM

The big screens erupt into static.

Suddenly, a klaxon blares. Aris gets to his feet, readying Rapidash's Great Ball. "Alert," declares an automated voice. "Incoming Grimm attack. Threat level: nine. Please seek shelter in a calm and orderly manner."

People begin running out of the stadium in a manner that is nowhere near calm or orderly.

From above, a giant Nevermore lands atop Amity Colosseum's invisible force field, and starts pecking aggressively at it.

Sun Wukong shoots up from his seat. "A Nevermore?!"

Coco Adel stands up next to him. "How the hell did it get past the kingdom's defenses?"

The Nevermore lets out an earsplitting scream. The automated voice speaks again, "Warning. Safety barriers failing."

The Nevermore starts to circle the arena from the air. Aris nudges Ruby, who is still on her knees. "It's go time!"

Aris shouts at Pyrrha. "That Nevermore's gonna break the barrier! You need to get out of there, now!"

Jaune leaps down onto the stage after Pyrrha as the Nevermore dive-bombs the barrier, shattering it completely. He and Pyrrha are knocked back by a blood-curdling screech from the Nevermore.

Ruby runs into action and picks up one of Penny's fallen swords, driving it into the Nevermore's side. Aris follows after her, commanding Salamence to wallop the Grimm with Dragon Claw. The Nevermore jumps back and screams.

"Ruby?" says Pyrrha. "Aris?"

Ruby readies Penny's sword. "Leave her alone!"

The Nevermore takes flight and starts circling above Ruby and Aris at immense speeds. Ruby raises the sword to strike. Aris prepares to call for Salamence to use Dragon Tail.

From the skies above, steel lockers rain down upon the Grimm, sending it to the floor with a cry of agony. It stops just short of Aris and Ruby.

The lockers begin to open. Inside are various weapons. Jaune's sword and shield, named Crocea Mors. Ren's Stormflower guns. Nora's Magnhild. The massive greatsword wielded by Yatsuhashi Daichi. One by one, the students of Beacon and beyond claim their weapons. Aris calls the Master Sword and Hylian Shield, as well as his bow and arrows, to him. He straps the gear to his back, putting the Sheikah Slate on his waist belt. Pikachu bounds in from one of the stage entrances and hops on Aris's shoulder. The Hylian is surprised, but relieved to see his Electric-type safe and sound.

BGM: Focal Line - Hyrule Warriors

The Nevermore shrieks as the battle begins. Ren leaps at the Grimm's back, driving Stormflower into its neck. A Huntress named Arslan Artan grabs Yatsuhashi as she swings from the Nevermore's wing.

Aris and Nora surf together down the Nevermore's face before the latter of the two smashes it over the head with Magnhild. Aris follows through with a Bomb Arrow to the Nevermore's forehead.

Arslan throws Yatsuhashi into the air with Sage of team SSSN, and the two claymore wielders behead the Nevermore together.

End BGM

Ruby turns to Pyrrha, who is kneeling on the ground with tears in her eyes. "Ruby, I..." Pyrrha trails off, looking mournfully at a scrap of Penny's blouse in her hands. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too," says Ruby. "But it wasn't your fault."

"She's right." Jaune Arc walks up to Pyrrha and delivers her weapons. "Whoever was on the mic, they're the ones behind this. And we have to make sure they don't take anyone else."

Jaune holds out Pyrrha's weapons. The invincible girl claims her things.

Aris walks up to Ruby. "It's dangerous to go alone," he says, holding out Crescent Rose. "Take this."

Now, a ragtag battalion of Huntsmen and Huntresses in training is ready for battle.

Several Grimm known as Griffons swarm the arena, one of them swooping down at Ruby. A gunshot drives it back.

Professor Port lowers his axe/blunderbuss. "Students. I think it would be best for you to leave."

Ruby tries to protest. "But we-"

"Miss Rose!" Oobleck interrupts, standing next to Port with his metal bat in hand. "This day will surely go down in Remnant's history. I'd like to think my students can live to tell the tale."

Ruby unfurls Crescent Rose as Aris draws the Master Sword and Hylian Shield. The Hylian raises his sword skyward. "They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!*" he cries.

A camera snaps. Aris turns his head. A brunette female rabbit Faunus named Velvet Scarlatina lowers what looks to be a camera. "Sorry. Old habits."

Aris and Ruby set off to fight.

*This is a quote from the movie Braveheart