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.

Another OC of mine will appear in this chapter, with a different name.

BGM: Impa's Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

All were silent. The only sound in the room was the clock on the wall.

Weiss and Aris sat together on the love seat, huddled close together. Everyone else sat or stood elsewhere in the living room, with Oscar Pine seated in an armchair. The farm boy held a cane that looked strangely familiar.

"So, the Maidens," said Weiss, finally breaking the silence. "Magic. Salem. It's all true?"

Qrow nodded grimly. "It's true. All of it."

Oscar Pine spoke, but not in his own voice. It was the voice of the late Professor Ozpin. "Miss Xiao Long," said Ozpin, turning to Yang. "Is this more or less what your mother told you?"

Yang sat silently with her arms crossed. "For the most part," Weiss said, answering for her.

Yang eyed Ozpin. "You forgot something. You forgot to tell everyone what you did to Qrow and my mother."

"What's she on about?" Jaune asked, confused.

Qrow rolled his eyes. "Oh, great."

"That's not a secret I thought she'd give up so easily," said Ozpin. He turned to Yang. "Your mother must put a great deal of trust in you."

Yang remained silent, a scowl still on her face.

"Though my ability to reincarnate is a curse," said Ozpin, "it comes with a few key benefits. Much like the Maidens, and Aris, I too possess a certain magical power." He got up and started pacing towards Qrow. "Using this power, I was able to grant the Branwen twins with the ability to 'see' more. To move freely, unburdened by their human forms." He reached Qrow, gesturing to the younger Branwen twin. "To put it simply, I gave them the ability to transform into birds." He snickered a little. "Sounds rather ridiculous when said out loud, huh?"

"Uncle..?" said a worried Ruby.

"You turned them...into birds," said a confused Ren.

"Alright," put in Nora. "Now I know you're messing with us."

Jaune crossed his arms and scowled. "What else is new?"

"He's telling the truth," said Lucina. "My team and I, as well as Weiss and Yang...we saw it. Yang's mother turned into a raven, right before our very eyes."

A brief silence.

Yang narrowed her eyes at Ozpin. "Why would you do something like that? I mean, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Yang, that's enough," chided Qrow. "It was our choice, and we chose to accept it."

Ozpin looked at the younger Branwen. "May I?"

Qrow nodded.

Ozpin continued speaking as he paced about the room. "Granting them this power was no medial task, and I can guarantee that it was not done frivolously. I needed assistance in gathering information regarding Salem's plans, as well as seeking out Maidens when their hosts became unclear."

"Okay," said Ruby, "so, have you done this with anyone else? Like, General Ironwood, or Professor Goodwitch?"

"As helpful as that might be," Ozpin answered, "unfortunately it's not that simple. My power is limited, and to be frank, it's dwindling. All things considered, the amount of power I gifted to the Branwen twins was rather small. You see, centuries ago, I sacrificed a great deal of my magic to four young women, in the hopes that they would use my gift for good. They were the first Maidens." Ozpin turned to Yang. "Miss Xiao Long, I never intended to lie to you. There are just some matters that I prefer to...play close to the chest. I believed that's how Qrow phrased it?"

Qrow nodded. "I do it all the time in UNO."

"Everyone has a choice," Ozpin said to the former Beacon students. "The Branwens chose to accept their new powers and the responsibilities that came with them. Unfortunately, one of them chose to abandon her duties in favor of her own self-interest. Right now, I'm giving all of you a choice. If anyone wishes to leave, do so now. There is no shame in abstaining, only in retreat."

Everyone exchanged nervous glances. Aris had already made his choice. If Weiss stuck around, then so would he.

Just as Ozpin was about to say something more, Yang got to her feet, her fists clenched. Her gaze remained fixed to her feet. "If Ruby stays," she said, "I do, too. If I know my sister, she always somehow makes the right decisions. But, if we're going to help...if we're going to keep risking our lives," she turned to Ozpin, "no more lies. No more half-truths."

Ozpin nodded. "Understood."

Yang sat back down.

"So," said Raylo. "What now? What can we do?"

"That's a difficult question," replied Ozpin. "I think it'd be best if we save it for tomorrow. It's been a while since you've all been together. So tonight, I want you all to spend some time relaxing, catching up a little more. Enjoy your time together."

He walked over to Yang and placed a hand on her shoulder.

End BGM

The farm boy's eyes flashed briefly as Ozpin handed control back to Oscar. The farm boy recoiled his hand with a nervous expression on his face. "Gah!"

Everyone had a little chuckle.

Meanwhile, in the woodlands outside Mistral...

"Hey, ugly!" said a voice. The bandit drew his pistol and scanned the woods surrounding the entrance to the camp.

Two figures emerged from the shadows. A young man with spiky gray hair, and a girl with short green hair and dark skin.

"Is Raven Branwen home?" asked the green-haired girl.

The bandit put a palm to his forehead and sighed. "Ya know, I've had a real rough week. So I think I'm gonna take it out on-"

From the shadows of the forest, three more figures emerged. An older-looking man with gray-streaked black hair and a bushy mustache. A male in a red and black jumpsuit with an ornate mask on his face. Said mask had the symbol of an upside-down eye on it. Leading them was a woman with short black hair covering her left eye. She wore a red dress with a sleeve that entirely concealed her left arm.

The gray-haired guy crossed his arms. "Hm. Doesn't seem like our guy wants to cooperate, boss."

"Then make him," the red-clad woman said, bloodlust oozing from her voice.

"Gladly," said the guy with gray hair. He turned to his green-haired companion. "Emerald, do your thing."

Emerald began to approach the bandit with a sway in her hips. She drew her weapons, a pair of blunderbusses that doubled as sickles.

The next day, back in Mistral...

BGM: Skyloft - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Aris stretched and yawned as he opened the sliding door that led out onto the balcony of the house. The sun was rising, and the sky was a pretty shade of orange. Ruby and Yang sat together on the balcony, watching the sunrise.

Aris sat down next to them. "Lovely day for it."

"Lovely day for it," Ruby echoed.

"You couldn't sleep either, huh?" said Yang.

"Nah, I slept fine," Aris answered. "Just happened to get up a little earlier than usual. Still need to make my morning coffee, though."

A voice joined in from behind them. "Taken care of."

Aris looked over his shoulder. Weiss stood behind him, holding a tray that held four mugs of steaming hot java. Weiss walked over and handed a mug to Aris. The Hylian examined the contents.

The coffee inside was a pure shade of dark brown, no cream whatsoever. Perfect.

"Thanks, darling," he said. "You're a lifesaver."

"What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't know how you take your coffee?" said Weiss, handing a mug to Yang.

Weiss went to give Ruby a mug next. "I put horrendous amounts of cream in sugar in it just for you," she said.

Ruby happily accepted her drink. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

Weiss took her own mug and sat down next to Aris, setting the tray aside.

"I still can't believe we're actually in Mistral," said Yang.

"That's what you can't believe?" said Ruby.

"Well, yeah!" answered Yang. "And all the other magic and stuff, but...well, you know what I mean."

"I honestly wasn't sure if we'd all see each other again," said Weiss.

"Well," said Yang, holding out her mug, "here's to doing the impossible."

"Cheers," put in Aris, clinking his mug against his friends' mugs. "I'll drink to that." He took a big swig of his coffee. Piping hot and horrendously bitter. Just the way he liked it.

End BGM

"I just wish Blake could be here with us," Ruby said wistfully.

Yang scowled a little, rolling her eyes. "Well, she made her choice."

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Weiss as she tilted her head to the side in curiosity.

"I mean, she could've been here if she'd just stuck around," said Yang. "No big deal though. We'll be fine."

"Don't you want to see her again?" said Ruby.

"Why would I?"

Ruby began to look worried. "Are you still mad at her for leaving?"

"Oh, whatever gave you that idea?" Yang scoffed sarcastically. "No, I'm totally fine. Peachy."

"Yang, cool the motor," Aris said, trying to help her simmer down.

Yang turned to him, her eyes blazing red. "Don't tell me to calm down!" she snapped.

Aris recoiled a little.

"Yang..." said Ruby.

Yang's angry expression subsided, her eyes turning lilac again as she blinked. She got up and began heading back inside. "Whatever."

In the forest outside Mistral...

Raven Branwen sat in her tent, sharpening her long, red-bladed katana.

The door opened. Vernal stood there. "Raven, we have a problem."

"What is it?" asked the bandit leader.

"Salem's found us," answered Vernal.

Raven internally gasped, her red eyes widening. She composed herself. "Salem. Okay."

"Four-no, five of her followers are waiting to speak with you," Vernal explained.

"Right," said Raven. "We planned for this. Get my helmet for me."

Raven emerged from her tent, her signature helmet concealing her face. Five people stood before her. A young man with spiky gray hair, a girl with short green hair and dark skin, an older-looking man with graying black hair and a bushy mustache, a masked man in a red and black jumpsuit, and a woman with short black hair covering her left eye, and the sleeve of her crimson dress concealing her left arm.

Raven put her hands on her hips. "I don't seem to remember inviting so many guests into our home. Either I'm losing my memory," she turned to her men, "or you dweebs are losing your brain cells!"

"Don't be too upset with them, Raven," the black-haired woman crooned. "Your men simply know a Maiden's power when they see it." Her right eye began blazing with orange fire. "Which is why we'd like to have a word with you." Her eye stopped flaring.

Raven addressed her men. "Leave us. Pack your things up, then break down camp. We're moving."

The masked man put a finger to his chin. "Seems a little late to run and hide," he said.

"You've been on our master's list for some time," the mustached one added. "So you must understand that we cannot and will not allow you to slip away."

"I know all about your master," said Raven, stepping down from the front porch of her tent, "but I don't believe we've met."

"We're the guys you should be afraid of," jeered the gray-haired boy.

"I doubt anyone with at least two brain cells would be afraid of you," Raven deadpanned.

"Oh yeah?" snapped the boy. "Tell that to-"

The woman in red held up her arm. "Quiet."

"That's what I thought," said Raven.

The woman in red gestured to herself. "I'm Cinder Fall." She gestured to the mustached man. "This is my associate, Arthur Watts." She nodded to the gray-haired boy and the green-haired girl. "And my disciples, Mercury and Emerald." Finally, to the masked man in red. "And this is Zargitho, leader of the Yiga Clan of Hyrule."

Zargitho bowed. "A pleasure."

"Two children you've tricked into following you, a disgraced Atlesian scientist, some assassin guy who I think is from some other universe, and a Fall Maiden with a surname so fitting that she probably picked it herself." Raven crossed her arms. "It's not out of the question that you might have a minor case of very serious egomania. Does that sound right?"

Watts cleared his throat. "Technically, I was also a doctor, but I must say that the rest was spot-on."

"Aren't you perceptive?" crooned Cinder.

"That's how I've survived this long," answered Raven.

"The only reason you're still alive is because you have something our master wants," said Cinder. "Of course, if I'm wrong..." Cinder held up her right hand, which conjured a small sphere of flames as her right eye blazed once again.

"Vernal!" Raven called.

The woman in question emerged from Raven's tent and stood beside the elder Branwen.

"So," said Cinder. "This is the long-lost Spring Maiden. Prove it."

Raven nodded to Vernal. "Do your thing."

Vernal closed her eyes, channeling her concentration and energy. She held out her hands. The ground began to tremble, and a breeze picked up. The breeze strengthened to a powerful wind as clouds appeared out of thin air and blanketed the blue sky. Zargitho, Watts, Mercury, and Emerald all braced to resist the wind, but Cinder stood still, a wicked smile on her face.

Vernal lowered her hands and opened her eyes. The trembling and winds stopped, but the clouds remained.

Raven placed a hand on the Spring Maiden's shoulder. "Vernal has done well under my training," she said. "I'd remember that before you try to pull any funny business."

"Raven, I won't underestimate you, so please don't insult my intelligence," said Cinder. "There's still a slim chance you and your Maiden could escape here today. But if you know our master as well as you claim you do, then you know that there is no such thing as truly escaping her."

"Luckily," chimed in Zargitho, "we hope to extend an olive branch."

"The Maidens are merely a means to an end," said Watts, approaching Raven. "Salem's true desires are the Relics locked within the Huntsman academies. Come with us. Allow Vernal here to unlock the way to the Relic of Knowledge, and all previous acts of defiance against Salem will be ignored. It's the best deal either of you are going to get." Watts walked back to Cinder's side.

"You say that like we can just casually waltz on into Haven Academy," said Raven.

"That's because it will be," said Zargitho. "Headmaster Lionheart is loyal to Salem now. All we need is the key to the vault."

"You're not the only one to betray Oz, Raven," Cinder added.

"I'm not with Salem, and I'm not with Oz," Raven replied. "I don't want anything to do with this." She rested her hand on the hilt of her sword.

"That ship sailed when you chose to harbor a Maiden," said Cinder, "but if you come with us to Haven, we'll leave you, your tribe, and your little secret to spend the rest of your lives out here in the wilderness scrounging for resources. All we need is the Relic."

"I need time to think," said Raven.

"You don't have time," Watts said. "In two days, Haven Academy will be destroyed by the White Fang. You're going to choose now."

"Caught me with my pants down, huh?" said Raven.

"So, what's it gonna be?" crooned Cinder. "Are you with us, or are you against us?"

Silence ensued. The tension in the air became almost palpable.

Raven removed her hands from the hilt of her sword and used them to take off her helmet, letting her long black hair cascade down her back once again. "Agreements like these are built on trust, and forgive me for saying this, but I don't trust any of you for a second. You're going to need to give me more to benefit from if I accept your proposal."

"You aren't exactly in any position to negotiate," chided Zargitho.

"I want my brother dead," said Raven.

"Qrow?" asked Cinder.

Raven nodded. "That's right. And he knows I have Spring, and if I help you get your Relic, he's going to be a problem. And I already have enough problems to deal with. Qrow doesn't trust me, but he does trust Ozpin's other lieutenants. If Leo really is loyal to you, then you can order him to invite Qrow right into an ambush. He arrives at Haven, we take out his kneecaps, you get your Relic, and we all walk home happy."

Cinder smiled. "Hm. I see this as an absolute win."

"Alright, ladies, let's pause for a moment," Watts interjected. "Our one objective is to retrieve the Relic of Knowledge. Now, Qrow Branwen may be on our list of individuals who would be much better off dead, but he's not going to go down without a fight. And knowing him, he's not going to fight quietly. Our advantage here is just as you said. We walk straight into Haven. No resistance, no one the wiser. A battle with your brother would throw all of that out the window and into the dumpster fire."

"He's strong," said Raven, "but not that good. All of us against him...it'll be over before anyone can bat an eye."

"He's not alone," Emerald said. "He has the students with him. He has Ruby. And Aris."

"He certainly does," agreed Cinder.

"And that's why I want to be there," said Zargitho. "That little Hylian's blood will be all over my swords when we're done."

"If we leave that school in a bloody mess, the authorities are going to have some questions," Watts interrupted. "The kingdom will be on high alert, and the White Fang's attack will be ruined. Oh, and I forgot to mention this earlier, but Zargitho's men in the Yiga Clan will help out the White Fang."

"Then we wait," Cinder suggested. "We wait until the full moon. Leo invites Qrow and his little party to Haven the same night Hazel and Adam arrive with the White Fang and the Yiga Clan. As soon as the battle is won, the White Fang and Yiga demolish the school and any evidence of a fight will be wiped out."

"And after that, Salem leaves my people alone for good," Raven chimed in.

"You have yourself a deal," said Cinder. The Fall Maiden held out her right hand.

"Wait." Watts grabbed Cinder's wrist. "Don't think I don't see what you're after. If this plan falls to pieces because of your grudge against some child, I will not be taking any blame for it. Same goes for you, Zargitho."

"Then what are you worried about?" asked Zargitho.

Watts removed his hand. "You can fly back home and tinker with your little machines," Cinder crooned to Watts. "And tell Salem she'll be getting what she wants. And more."

Cinder held out her hand towards Raven.

As tension filled the air, Raven accepted Cinder's handshake.