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.
Team RWBY, team JNR, and Aris Atreides followed Qrow Branwen and Oscar Pine towards the main building of Haven Academy that night. Takashi, Raylo, and Lucina had all agreed to stay behind at the house and hold down the fort.
Aris jogged a little to catch up with Qrow. "Why are we here again?"
"Professor Lionheart thinks he can assemble a small raiding party to find the bandits and the Spring Maiden," Qrow explained. "We're all going to be a part of said raiding party."
"Search and rescue," said Aris. "Got it."
Qrow led the party inside of Haven's main foyer.
A gray-bearded man Aris assumed was Professor Lionheart stood on a banister that overlooked the foyer. He had a nervous expression on his face, as if he were...hiding something.
"Why, hello," said the Professor. "Thank you for...coming." Lionheart sounded quite unsure of himself. "There...seems to be more of you than last time."
"Last time..?" thought Aris.
"Well, you know what they say," said Qrow. "The more, the merrier. So, what's up with the council?"
Lionheart changed the subject. "Why...do you all have your weapons?"
"Leo, we're Huntsmen," Qrow replied. "Weapons are practically part of our religion."
"You okay, old timer?" Aris asked, concerned.
"Of course!" said Leo. "I just haven't had my evening coffee yet."
As Leo and Qrow continued their conversation, Yang's eyes wandered to her right, looking up onto the railing of the banister. A black bird sat there-a raven.
"Mom?" said Yang.
Qrow followed Yang's gaze and whipped out Harbringer, a large sword that doubled as a scythe and a shotgun. He fired a shot at the raven, which took to the air and flew towards Leo.
BGM: Ghirahim's Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
The bird landed behind him, and out from behind Leo walked Raven Branwen, her face concealed by her signature helmet.
Qrow turned Harbringer back into a sword. Aris took out his bow and loaded a Fire Arrow.
"Raven..." seethed Ruby.
"They really are magic..." Nora breathed.
Raven removed her helmet and eyed Aris. "If you're going to shoot me, shoot me. That was insulting."
"What are you doing here?!" exclaimed Qrow.
"I could say the same to you," Raven answered as she walked down the stairs that linked the bottom floor of the foyer to the banister where Leo stood. "You've been scheming, little brother. Planning to attack your own sister."
Qrow turned to Lionheart. "Leo...what have you done?!"
"Leo did what any sane person would do in his situation," said Raven. "He analyzed the information in front of him, assessed the situation, and made a choice. And it seems you all have done the same thing."
Yang clenched her fists. Aris put away his bow and instead rested his hand on the hilt of the Master Sword.
"You have the Spring Maiden, don't you?" said Qrow.
"Yep," Raven answered, popping the "p".
Qrow put away Harbringer. "Then hand her over and let's work together here. We can beat Salem!"
"Have you learned nothing from all that time you spent spying for Ozpin?" said Raven. "There's no such thing as 'beating Salem'!"
"You're wrong," interjected Ruby.
End BGM
"We've done things that most people would call impossible," said Ruby. She gestured to Aris. "I mean, this guy came from another dimension!"
"And be it here, or in other worlds," Aris added, "the only way we were ever able to do the impossible is by not doing it alone. We have people to teach us, people to fight alongside us. We had each other. So please, work with us here. We'll have a better chance if we do it together."
Raven hesitated, before sighing. "You sound just like Ruby's mother."
BGM: Tension - Super Mario Galaxy
Raven drew her sword and swung it through the air beside her. A swirling red portal suddenly opened, and out shot a blazing ball of orange fire. The fireball collided with Ruby, knocking her backwards and into the floor. "Ruby!" cried Yang as she ran to help her sister.
A woman with short black hair and a red dress emerged from the red portal. "Hello, boys and girls," she crooned. Four more people walked out behind her. Aris recognized them all. Vernal, the girl with short brown hair and sun-kissed skin from Raven's camp. Mercury Black, the one who'd somehow gotten Yang disqualified in the Vytal Tournament. Emerald Sustrai, a strange girl with dark skin and short green hair. Finally, a masked man in a black and red jumpsuit. The mask bore an upside-down eye, a blasphemous mockery of the symbol of the Sheikah.
"Cinder..." Ruby seethed.
The portal disappeared as Cinder and her companions stood together with Raven. "C'mon, guys," jeered Mercury. "That's no way to greet your old friends."
Yang growled at Mercury, raising her fists.
"Everyone, stay calm!" exclaimed Qrow.
Behind the group, the large double front doors opened and closed. Oscar gasped. "Oh no...Hazel..."
"Hazel", a large, burly man with a brown beard and tan skin, turned around after closing the front doors. "The White Fang and the Yiga Clan are preparing demolition and securing the school grounds," he said, his voice deep and resounding. "No one's getting in, and no one's getting out."
"This was all just a trap?" Weiss said, shocked.
"Looks like it," said Ren.
Qrow's fists clenched. "Raven, tell me. How long have you been with them?"
"Aww, don't take it personally, little bird," Cinder crooned. "Your sister was a recent addition. The lion, on the other hand..." she gestured to Leo, "...well, entrance into the Vytal Festival was a real treat, but Leonardo's been sending all sorts of information to Salem for a very, very long time. And don't even get me started on the masked assassin leader." She gestured to the masked man in red. "Lord Zargitho of the Yiga Clan is one of Salem's most trusted allies."
"Leo..." breathed Qrow. "It was you. You sit on the Mistral Council. You had information on every Huntsman and Huntress in the kingdom, and you gave it all up to her. I couldn't find any of them...all because you let her kill them!"
Leo looked down, ashamed.
"Aww, don't beat yourself up about it, Lionheart," said Cinder. "I'm sure Tyrian and Hazel would've found them at some point."
Jaune had his gazed fixed on the floor beneath him, his hands clenched into shaking fists. "What is wrong with you?" he said, his voice breaking. "How can you be so...demented? To take so many lives, and then come here and rub it in our faces like it's something to be proud of?!"
"Jaune..?" said Nora.
Jaune looked up at Cinder, tears streaming down his face as he yelled, "ALL WITH THAT DAMN SMILE ON YOUR FACE!"
Aris finally drew the Master Sword. Ruby unfurled Crescent Rose, and Yang cocked Ember Celicia.
"Everyone, stay fucking calm!" Qrow exclaimed to no avail.
"I'm gonna make you pay for what you did!" Jaune cried. "DO YOU HEAR ME?!"
Qrow tried to calm everyone down, but his efforts were for naught. Weiss drew Myrtenaster and Nora unfurled Magnhild.
"Well?!" cried Jaune. "SAY SOMETHING!"
"Who are you again?" Cinder deadpanned.
End BGM
Jaune drew his sword, his shield-sheath around it. From the sheath emerged two blades, turning the sword into a two-handed blade. Jaune rushed at Cinder with his weapon at the ready.
Cinder raised her right hand, conjuring for herself a blade of glowing hot obsidian. She blocked the incoming strike from Jaune.
"Jaune!" cried Ruby as she ran to help him.
Emerald knocked her to the ground. "You want Cinder, you're gonna have to go through me."
Yang was intercepted by Mercury. "Hey, blondie," jeered the gray-haired brawler. "If my memory serves me right, you still owe me an apology for my leg."
Raven and Qrow locked blades, making their fight a battle of the birds.
"Running away was one thing," said Qrow. "But this...now you've crossed the line."
"Sorry, little brother," said Raven. "Sometimes family can disappoint you like that."
As the battle of the Branwen twins continued, Vernal approached Weiss, her wrist blades at the ready. "Let's see what the Schnee name really means."
Weiss pointed Myrtenaster at the brunette. "I'm more than a name."
"Prove it."
As Oscar began slowly advancing up the steps towards Leo, Nora and Ren confronted Hazel. "I don't want to have to fight either of you," he said.
"Nor I you," Ren replied.
"But if you're with her, then we don't have any other choice!" said Nora.
Hazel cracked his knuckles, his fists the size of small hams. "Very well, then."
Meanwhile, Leo noticed that Oscar had ascended the stairs. "Young man," said the Professor, "I don't know who you are or what you think you're doing, but for your own sake, I suggest you leave. Now."
Oscar was silent, his response being a continuation of his advance. Leo raised his weapon, a sort of gauntlet that went over his left hand. "I'm warning you!"
Oscar reached behind him, pulling out Ozpin's cane.
"That's enough!" cried Leo, activating his weapon. A red circle appeared above the gauntlet and a ball of fire collided with Oscar. When the resulting smoke cleared, the farm boy still stood there, his Aura flickering. He continued his advance, a sort of fire in his avocado green eyes. He readied Ozpin's cane.
Leo gasped. "Ozpin..?"
"Not quite." Oscar rushed Leo with a battle cry, and their fight began.
Aris stared down the masked assassin. "You..." he seethed. "I thought the entire Yiga Clan was dead. My sister and I killed your leader."
"That was just their previous leader, Lord Aaroghah," Zargitho jeered. "I am the new leader of the Yiga Clan, and you must be the Hylian the White Fang informed me of."
"I am," Aris said. "My name is Aris Atreides. You killed my family. Prepare to die."
"You're quite resilient, surviving a severed arm like that," said Zargitho. "You've bounced back, stronger than before. I wish to congratulate you." Lord Zargitho gave a courtly little bow. "My name is Lord Zargitho. You royal whelps forced my people into exile. For this, you shall die."