(Author's Notes:

This chapter is a bit different from the others I've written so far. This will not be a regular thing; I just felt it was appropriate in this particular instance.

Thank you to everyone for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting.)

"Did Weiss just say she has a surprise for us?" Yang asked.

"Yes. Yes she did." Blake answered.

"Ooh! Ooh! I love surprises!" Nora cheered.

"Me too!" Happy Klein agreed.

"I hope it's a good surprise!" Ruby said.

"Yes, Ruby, it's a good surprise" Weiss responded. "Or at least I think it is."

"Well don't leave us hanging" Jaune said. "Tell us what it is!"

"I'm sure she will, Jaune" Ren said. "Just be patient."

"You look a little nervous, Weiss" Pyrrha noticed. "Do you need a minute?"

"No, I'm okay. Thanks" Weiss said. "Are you all familiar with my song, 'Mirror Mirror'?"

Everyone nodded and/or voiced their assent. "That's a lovely song, Weiss" Pyrrha said.

"Thank you" Weiss responded. "Anyway, during my free time over the past few months, I've been working on a sequel to that song."

"Wow, really?" Ruby asked, excited.

"That's awesome!" Jaune exclaimed.

"Heck yeah! We have a real songwriter on our team!" Yang cheered.

"Thank you all" Weiss said. "The reason I haven't told anyone before is because I didn't want to get your hopes up before it was ready."

"That makes sense" Blake said.

"Wait, does that mean you've finished it?" Ruby asked.

"I haven't come up with a title yet, but yes, the song itself is finished" Weiss answered.

"Well, if it's a sequel to 'Mirror Mirror', then perhaps 'Mirror Mirror Part 2'?" Pyrrha suggested.

"I suppose that could work" Weiss said.

"Would you mind singing it for us?" Jaune asked.

"Yes, Jaune, that was the intention" Weiss said. "But I do have one condition."

"What is it?" Blake asked.

"After I've finished singing, I want your honest opinions about it, even if those opinions aren't good." Weiss said. "That means don't pretend to like it just to preserve my feelings, because that won't help me get better. Also, no bad puns."

"That felt like a personal attack" Yang said. "But I accept your condition."

"Me too" Ruby said.

Everyone else also agreed to Weiss's condition.

"Okay. Is everyone ready?" Weiss asked.

"We're ready when you are, Miss Schnee" Ozpin answered.

Weiss got up, walked to the front of the room, faced her audience, took a deep breath, and started singing.

Who am I to complain?

My life's been spared so much pain.

Born with all that I need,

My comforts all guaranteed.

"I remember thinking that about her when we first met" Blake thought. "Now I know better."

So what's the problem?

What's keeping me

From moving forward?

It's hard to see.

"I guess being rich doesn't get rid of all your problems" Nora thought.

I should be free now.

I should be fine.

But the life I fought for

Still isn't mine.

"Maybe not, but it will be someday" Ruby thought.

Some believe in fairy stories

And the ghosts that they can't see.

I know that I could do so much

If I could just believe in me.

Mirror, mirror,

Tell me something.

Can I stop my fall?

"Yes you can" Klein thought. "I believe in you. I always have."

Years of scorn will leave you cold.

"Forget your dreams, do what you're told."

When disapproval's all you're shown,

The safest place becomes alone.

"I feel a connection to this verse" Jaune thought. "I was never good enough for my parents either."

And isolation's

The price you pay.

And every friendship

Is pushed away.

"I am so lucky to have a father who actually cares about me" Yang thought. "I know I grew up without a mom, but having a parent who puts you down all the time seems just as bad, if not worse."

But bit by bit now,

A step each day,

I'm slowly starting

To find my way.

"That's wonderful" Pyrrha thought. "Any progress, no matter how little or how slow, is good."

Some believe in fairy stories

And the ghosts that they can't see.

I know that I could do so much

If I could just believe in me.

Mirror, mirror,

I'll tell you something.

I think I might change it all.

"Indeed you will, Miss Schnee" Ozpin thought. "Indeed you will."

After finishing, Weiss breathed a sigh of relief. She looked around the room, and saw genuine smiles on everyone's faces. She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a few tears as well. "Judging by your reactions, I take it you all liked my song?"

Everyone nodded. "It was beautiful" Pyrrha said.

"And I believe this is the perfect setting for the debut performance, considering what we're doing right now" Ren said.

"Thank you. That is part of the reason I decided to do this now, rather than some other time" Weiss responded.

"Self-confidence is something many people struggle with, including me" Jaune said. "Having self-doubt doesn't make you any less of a person."

"It sounds like your childhood was very lonely" Ruby noted. "Did you have any friends in Atlas?"

"I had people who called me their 'friend', but they were more interested in my money than in me as a person" Weiss explained. "You guys are the only real friends I've ever had."

"The title of 'friend' is one of the highest honors one can bestow upon another" Ozpin said.

"Indeed it is" Doc Klein said.

"Weiss, I know I tease you a lot, but I hope you know I only mean it in good fun" Yang said. "I would never do anything to hurt you."

"Thank you Yang. I do know you like to joke around. That's who you are, and that's fine" Weiss said. "As long as you aren't being deliberately hurtful, and so far, you haven't been."

"I'm sorry for running away when you found out I was a Faunus" Blake said. "While I still don't fully condone some of the things you said to me then, I understand why you thought that way. And I'm proud to see just how much you've changed your attitude in such a short time."

"It's unfortunate, but if you keep hearing the same thing over and over again, eventually you start believing it, even if it's not true" Ren said. "I think that may be what happened to Weiss before she came here to Beacon."

"I think you're right, Ren" Weiss said. "Also, Blake, I don't think I ever actually apologized to you then. So, I know it's very late, but I am sorry for how I spoke to you about the Faunus."

"Apology accepted" Blake said. "I believe that if someone wants to change for the better, then they deserve a second chance."

"I should have stopped hitting on you when you first rejected me, and I'm sorry I didn't" Jaune said.

"But eventually you did stop, and that's what matters" Weiss said. "Besides, if you had stopped earlier, we might not have gotten to see you in a dress."

The girls giggled at that. "You know, you actually looked really good in that dress" Pyrrha said.

"I'd like to thank all of you for being such good friends to Weiss" Doc Klein said. "It has been a very long time since I've seen her as happy as she is now."

"Wow, thank you Klein" Ruby responded. "I don't know why, but I feel like getting praise from Weiss's butler is a big deal."

"Oh, I'm not that important" Bashful Klein said.

"You're the glue that holds our family together" Weiss said. "That makes you very important to me."

"Why, thank you, Weiss" Bashful Klein said. "That means a lot to me."

"Well, I don't want to keep you kids from seeing more movies, so I think it's time that I get back" Doc Klein said.

"It was good seeing you again!" Weiss said, giving Klein a hug.

"Bye, Klein!" Ruby shouted. Everyone else also said their goodbyes.

With that, Klein sat in a chair and fell asleep, and then he was sent back to the Schnee Manor, exactly when and where he was before coming to the theater room.

Okay everyone, I'll let you grab some food and take a bathroom break before bringing in our next guests.

"Guests? You mean there's more than one?" Jaune asked.

Yes. The most of any movie I'm currently planning to show you, in fact.

Everyone went to the dining hall to get something to eat, speculating about the next movie and group of guests.

"I wonder who we're gonna meet!" Yang said excitedly.

"I hope they're better than Vomit Boy" Ruby replied.

"Hey!" Jaune said.

"Ooh! Maybe it's all the teachers!" Nora suggested.

"Or maybe some of the exchange students" Blake suggested.

"Well, whoever it is, I'm sure we're going to have a good time" Pyrrha said.

After finishing their food and taking care of their personal needs, everyone made their way back to the theater room.

Is everyone ready to meet our guests?

Everyone nodded yes.

Okay. Here they come.

With that, not one, not two, but seven new people appeared in the room. They were Glynda Goodwitch, Theodore, Qrow Branwen, James Ironwood, Leonardo Lionheart, Oscar Pine, and Salem. They were all very confused.

"Ugh, my head" Qrow said.

"What just happened?" Theodore asked.

"What is this place?" Lionheart asked.

"How did we get here?" Ironwood asked.

"Who are all of you?" Oscar asked.

Ozpin stood up and got everyone's attention. "It seems I have some explaining to do, as well as some introductions to make. First, these are some very promising students of mine: Team RWBY, consisting of Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long; and Team JNPR, consisting of Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, Pyrrha Nikos, and Lie Ren." The students all waved as their names were called.

Ozpin continued. "This is Headmaster Leonardo Lionheart of Haven Academy."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance" Leo said.

"Headmaster James Ironwood of Atlas Academy."

"I hope Ozpin wasn't exaggerating when he said you were some of Beacon's best students" Ironwood said.

"Headmaster Theodore of Shade Academy."

"Beacon's best, you say?" Theodore asked. "I would love the chance to spar with some of you!"

"You all already know Professor Glynda Goodwitch."

"I hope you have been behaving yourselves, students" Glynda said. The students all looked around nervously.

"And finally, Ruby and Yang's uncle, Qrow Branwen."

"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby shouted. "Hi. Did you miss me? Did you miss me?!"

"No" Qrow replied.

Oscar then spoke up. "Um, I don't know any of you, but my name is Oscar Pine, and I'm a farmhand from Mistral."

"It's nice to meet you, Oscar" Pyrrha said.

Salem, meanwhile, was in a corner of the room trying not to be noticed. Unfortunately for her, Nora did notice. "Who's the lady with the white skin?" she asked.

Ozpin sighed. "Her name is Salem. Let's just say that she and I have a long history together."

"My dear Ozma, you weren't even going to introduce me to your friends?" Salem asked. "Is that any way to treat your ex-wife?"

The room fell silent. "Ex… wife?" Jaune repeated.

"Did I hear her correctly?" Weiss asked.

"Professor, what is she talking about?" Yang asked.

"That is an excellent question, Miss Xiao Long" Glynda said.

"Indeed" Ironwood agreed.

Everyone turned to Ozpin, who looked up. "I thought you said our secrets wouldn't be revealed."

No, I said that I wouldn't reveal them, and I didn't. Salem did.

"He got you there" Theodore said.

"Who was that?" Leo asked.

"Our host, Kevin" Weiss answered.

"So, Professor, what's going on?" Ruby asked.

"That's what I'd like to know" Qrow said.

"You don't need to know" Ozpin answered.

"Really? Okay, well, if you won't tell us, then maybe Salem will" Yang threatened. Salem actually smiled at this.

Ozpin sighed. "This is a very long story, but I'll summarize it as best I can. First of all, both Salem and I are immortal."

"Immortal?" Ruby asked.

"It means you can't be killed" Blake responded.

"I know what it means!" Ruby exclaimed. "I'm just surprised!"

"More specifically, my soul reincarnates in a new body when my old one dies, whereas Salem's physical body cannot be permanently destroyed" Ozpin explained.

"Salem… can't be killed" Ironwood said, hardly believing his ears.

"When were you planning on telling us?" Qrow asked.

Ozpin ignored the question. "Anyway, a very long time ago, Salem was locked in a tower, and I rescued her. Back then she looked different than she does now, and also I went by the name of Ozma. We fell in love, but I got sick and died."

"Is Salem the girl in the tower, from the fairy tale?" Pyrrha asked.

"That's correct, Miss Nikos" Ozpin replied.

"Back then, the Brother Gods were still living on Remnant" Salem continued. "I asked them to bring Ozma back to life, but they refused, cursed me with immortality, wiped out all of humanity except for me, and abandoned Remnant."

"You mean the Gods of Light and Darkness were actually real?" Ren asked.

"Indeed they were" Salem answered. "I was alone for an extremely long time, longer than most of you could probably imagine. One day, I came to a pool that birthed Grimm, and jumped into it, hoping that would end my curse and my miserable life. It did not. Instead, it made me into what I am today."

"This is so sad" Nora said.

"The Gods offered me a chance to return to Remnant, and assigned me a task to fulfill" Ozpin continued. "I went back, reincarnated in a new body this time, and reconnected with Salem. We eventually got married and became the heads of a prosperous kingdom. But it wasn't meant to be."

"What happened?" Weiss asked.

"I revealed to Salem the true reason I was sent back, and she did not take it well" Ozpin explained. "Let's just say the divorce was… messy, to put it mildly. And we've been fighting each other ever since."

"What was your task?" Blake asked.

"Before abandoning Remnant, the Gods left four very powerful relics scattered around the world" Ozpin answered. "If all four relics are brought together while everyone is living in harmony, then the Gods will return to live with us once again. However, if they're brought together while we're still fighting among ourselves, then our world will be wiped from existence."

"Talk about high stakes" Yang said.

"Yang, this is no joking matter" Ruby scolded.

"That's about the gist of it. I'm sorry I kept this from you, especially those of you who have trusted me for so many years" Ozpin said.

"The important thing is that we know now" Glynda said.

Salem suddenly started looking at Ruby. "Uh, is something wrong?" Ruby asked.

"You have silver eyes" Salem said.

"Ozpin said that when he first met me" Ruby said. "Is there something special about having silver eyes?"

"Not really, I just don't see them very often" Salem answered.

"This is all well and good, but you still haven't told us what we're doing here" Theodore said.

"We're watching a movie!" Nora shouted.

"Excuse me?" Ironwood asked.

"There is another world where we are fictional characters, who are inspired by the myths and fairy tales of that world" Ren explained. "We are here to see the stories that inspired us."

"Intriguing" Leo said.

"So, how many movies are we watching?" Qrow asked.

"Several" Pyrrha answered.

"To be more specific, the students and I are watching all of them, while the rest of you are guests for just this one specific movie" Ozpin explained.

"And after it's over, you will be returned to the exact time and place you came from" Jaune added.

"What's the name of the movie we're watching?" Glynda asked.

'The Wizard of Oz', which is based on the children's novel 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' by L. Frank Baum.

"I have a feeling I'm not going to like this" Salem mumbled.

"What are the names of everyone's characters?" Weiss asked.

Both Ozpin and Oscar are inspired by the titular Wizard.

"Does this mean Oscar is my next incarnation?" Ozpin thought.

"Does this mean Ozpin's going to die and get stuck in my head?" Oscar thought.

The Wizard's full name is never mentioned in the film, so I'll say it now: Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs.

"Say that ten times fast" Yang commented.

The initials of that name spell 'Ozpinhead'.

"Oh! Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon! Cracked it." Nora said proudly.

Moving on, Theodore is inspired by a girl named Dorothy Gale.

"I'm… a girl?" Theodore asked, not quite believing it.

Some others in the room started chuckling. "That must be embarrassing" Jaune said, trying to hold in his laughter.

You will find that several of the people you know are the opposite gender of their respective inspirations. Including all four members of Team JNPR.

"You were saying, Jaune?" Blake teased. Jaune didn't respond.

Glynda is inspired by Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.

"At least I'll be easy to spot" Glynda said.

Salem is inspired by the Wicked Witch of the West.

"Why am I the wicked witch?" Salem asked.

The adults all looked at her, as if to say "really?"

Qrow is inspired by the Scarecrow.

Qrow shuddered. "Those things are creepy. I don't like them."

James is inspired by the Tin Woodsman, which was simplified to just 'Tin Man' for the film version.

"Well, there is a lot of metal in my body" Ironwood admitted. "Although most of it is other types of metal besides tin."

And finally, Leo is inspired by the Cowardly Lion.

"I have to admit, that's a pretty accurate description of me" Leo said.

Also, though probably not intentional, there is an alternative interpretation which has Ruby as Dorothy, Weiss as the Tin Man, Blake as the Cowardly Lion, and Yang as the Scarecrow.

"I guess we'll have to wait and see how accurate that interpretation is" Blake said.

This film is an absolute classic in my world. It is believed to be the most-watched film in movie history. It won the Academy Awards for best original song and best original score, and was nominated in four other categories, including best picture.

"So it's another old film like Snow White?" Weiss asked.

Yes, this film came out two years after that one, although this one is live-action, not animated.

"Nominated for best picture, huh?" Qrow asked. "Sounds impressive."

"Indeed" Ozpin agreed.

Now, is everyone ready?

There was a general murmur of agreement in the room.

Then let's watch 'The Wizard of Oz'.