Chapter 33: The Third Intermission
New guests for the show.
Ah, life is so nice. So perfect. Mayden enjoyed the times he screwed with the mortals by forcing them to watch other realms against their will. But hey, they also enjoyed it, kinda. Which meant it was a win-win either way.
Made him wonder if this was how other Keepers were like. Though then again all of them were different one way or another.
Some loved showing Jaune in all his glory-or gory depending on rating.
Others liked diversity like what he did.
Then some...just quit like that. Ouch.
Still, he and all the Keepers did their job just right.
"Screw you Mayden!"
"I'm going to kill you!"
"F*ck you!"
Right as in kicking out everybody but Akame, that deadly red eyed girl he was certain people figured out, and the Fate Grand Order guests. All current RWBY characters now hanging onto dear life as a black hole opened up and was sucking them in one by one.
"What the hell!" The blonde fool Jason yelled at the sight. "Is this what he always does!?"
"I want mommy!" The young Jack went fearfully seeing everyone vanish.
"Mayden is a mad man." Akame said coldly. Knowing full well Mayden could have just sent these guests she was with away calmly. Instead he did this for his own entertainment. He was what a friend of his would call him, a 'Jackass'.
"I hate this man." Adam just retorted as he soon fell into the abyss.
"Guess it was fun while it lasted." Tock says a bit disappointed that she's now being kicked out.
"Yeah. Yeah it was." Roman then let go with Neo hugging him tightly.
"Ah damn." Coco and her team soon left though not before Coco took a picture. Wanting something to remember this by.
"Tch." Cinder decided to at least hold some of her pride. Just staying silent as she fell into the abyss with Emerald hugging her with her face...a little too close to her chest. Mercury just shouting in fear. Clearly not as fearless as he thought.
It took time, but eventually with the exception of the Fate and Akame gang, everyone was soon gone.
"Boy, was't that neat." Mayden then said with what can clearly be seen as a non-existent smile. "Welp, what's done is done."
"You're an ass, aren't you?" Kid Gil then said instantly.
"Yep." No hesitation either on Mayden's side. He already knew what he was. A jerk. "In any case, it was nice having you guys here, but you four were all one-shot guests." Then like that, they vanished. Leaving only one. "As for you, well, you were a blast."
"I'm surprised you kept me here for so long." Akame says, wondering why.
"Eh, you're one of my favs." Mayden simply says. Being a fan of her world and how she and her friends beat the crap of those monsters. Heck, even when weakened in the next series she's still kicking ass. Nice. "But sadly, good things must come to an end." Yeah, fun having her here. But she had to go.
"Very well." Akame accepted. While her thoughts on this man were annoyance and anger, he wasn't evil. Just very irritating. Besides, seeing these other worlds made her think that maybe she could do things differently in her world. Particularly with the battle between the Empire and her sister.
"See ya Akame." Then like that, Mayden sent the killer assassin away. Back to her world with information she shouldn't have. Now likely to use it to her things up a notch like when characters go back in time to change their fate or whatever they do.
"Now then," Mayden coyly said ready to bring the magic. "Time to choose the new guests." Then a giant machine popped out of nowhere. This one looks like something you'd see in a casino. A lever, the triple pictures, and whatever it had. The lever then pulled down, the images then changing while showing characters like Pyrrha, Saphon, Qrow, and so on. All spinning to decide which to pick.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
"The cast has been decided." The [pictures showed a different amount of people. All that would come to his theatre. With a non-existent snap of his fingers, smoke came from the theatre where coughing could then be heard. Then from it people could be seen.
"Ka-ka! Are we...back already?"
"My Goddess! Where are you!?"
"Oh not this again."
There on the side of good, we see some familiar people. Ironwood, in all his glory, hacking the smoke in his lungs. Glynda, clearing out her faded glasses just feeling annoyed. Qrow looking drunk for some reason, just sleeping. Then of course none other than a angry looking woman whose face looked like Yang's only with black hair and a tight outfit. Then a man with dark skin and hair like a mane looking very nervous.
"Just what is going...on?" Then the man himself that led this dysfunctional group, Oscar...or should we say, Ozpin. White hair, white skin, his scarf, not a little boy's body that may have a chance with Ruby Rose. Because if so, then awkward.
"What the-Raven!?" Qrow said looking at his sister who then scowled back.
"Qrow." She then glared at Ozpin. "Oz!" She then tried grabbing her weapon, only to find none.
"Gah!" Lionheart just screamed as he was somehow back among the living. His head spinning before he flinched at the sight of Qrow and Ozpin. Luckily Glynda and ironwood didn't do so, as neither actually knew Lionheart was a traitor.
"Did you do this Ozpin!?" Raven shouted, looking ready to pounce. Though Ozpin didn't really care, instead more concerned how he was back in his own body. And what happened to Oscar.
"OZPIN!" Then ruined as he noticed a strong man with huge muscles glaring at him. Why, it was none other than Hazel, who looked as mad as a Grimm. Seeing him then made Ozpin realize something.
'In my side are those who are part of the inner circle...and Hazel is here.' Which could only mean one thing.
"Well, well. Seems we have some fine guests among us." Standing nearby is Arthur Watts. Ironwood and Winter glaring at the rogue scientist. Qrow himself taking a stance when he saw someone laughing.
"You!" He said angrily.
"Hahahha! Oh my. Has the little bird come to get himself clipped." Tyrian joked around.
"Hello Raven." Cinder said coldly yet had a small smile on you. "How does it feel to have lost the Relic to a weak child." During small breaks between the films, Cinder got some understanding of what happened after falling being frozen. One she enjoyed, Raven failing in getting the Relic of Knowledge. Now that made her smile.
"Gr." And made Raven frown and growl. Having thought this girl was dead. Then she just glared. "And how does it feel to have been beaten again." Cinder's own smile fell.
"My," Then a voice opened up getting everyone to stop. The ones on the bad side smiling. "It seems fate just loves toying with us."
Salem. The Queen of Grimm. Manipulator of mankind. The one who led and brought an end of the old humanity. Deceiver of all. And-
"Nice. Got all of you to join." Just another guest alongside everyone else. A power then quickly forcing all to sit down. "Time for some info sharing." Then like the others, everyone from both sides sans Ozpin, Ironwood, Glynda, Cinder, and Qrow gained the information they needed.
"This is madness." Watts shouted as he learned this information.
"Oh! How beautiful!" Tyrian giggled madly seeing these crazy-ass worlds. Loving the ones with violence and blood.
"Wha-what...is this?" Raven felt overwhelmed by this information. The way it was worming into her head.
"Blah!" Lionheart failed in even staying awake. Instantly having a panic attack, throwing up, then falling unconscious. Honestly, it was rather embarrassing.
"How...interesting." Salem fared better. While she couldn't deny this information is more than strange, her eons of life made her allow the stream of information handling much better than others. I mean, compared to thousands of years of living, a little over an hour or two wasn't much in comparison.
'Wait a second. An hour or two?' Yet it felt like months for some reason. That felt off.
"Hold on, so we...are forced to watch other worlds?" Hazel grunted clutching his head from all he now knows.
"Pretty much." Qrow takes a sip of his flask again. "Trust me. You'll get used to it."
"Though if you can't, then I won't mind." Cinder smirked at Watts who just scowled.
"To think, we're now forced to watch with Salem." Ironwood shook his head. "Man this place is weird."
"You're taking this too well!" Raven shouted standing up. Looking slightly fearful. "How are none of you freaking out." If Lionheart were awake, he'd agree. The most he offered was just a gurgle from his mouth.
"Used to it." Glynda stated.
"Not that big of a deal." Cinder mocked the bandit.
"It's just life." Ozpin says.
This all served to only piss Raven off more. She then glared at Qrow who unhelpfully shrugged his shoulders. Hey, he disowned her as his sister after what she did at Haven. So right now, he didn't really care. This angered Raven further at how they were taking this so nonchalantly.
What was wrong with this place!?
'Thank you subtle mind control.' Mayden might act like it, but he's no fool. He knew fully well bringing in two sides that battled each other wasn't going to end pretty. Heck, bringing the teams of RWBY with Cinder's faction would have ended badly in the beginning. Which is why he made a special contingency.
Particularly, using a subtly mind control so both groups, while they would yell, shout, and insult each other, wouldn't try killing each other. Granted it wasn't perfect what with Cardin, Tock, and so on. But hey, it kinda worked.
"Moving on my new guests." Mayden then interrupted them all. "As of now, you will all be watching other worlds were you replace others, or worlds (fanfiction) like your own."
"I'm sorry. But did he say something else after world." Ironwood said suspiciously.
"Already this seems like something to regret." Watts shook his head.
"Hold on a second." Qrow then realized something. "We're the kids!?"
That's right, the kids. Everyone then looking around to see that the kids were nowhere to be found.
"Don't worry." Mayden said to them. "I can assure you they are all safe and sound."
"Safe!" Glynda yells out. "If I recall, you sent us all to some world with a rampaging giant robot."
"Really." Cinder smiles hearing the misfortune of those that left. "That sounds nice."
"It was hell." Ironwood states angrily.
"Well don't you worry your pretty heads." Mayden laughs. "This time, I got it right."
It was time.
In a flash of light, Akame had returned home.
The red eyed girl looked around and saw she was back where she belonged. A small smile on her lips at her home. It made her glad to be back in her own world. That strange place was nice, but overall it was okay. She had to admit, it was actually fun being there.
"Shame I couldn't make friends with them." Akame says, wishing she could have done so.
"Ow." She then hears a voice. A familiar voice. Turning, she then saw a large dogpiled group on the ground. Twitching in absolute pain. The person who said it was Ruby, her eyes spinning.
"What just...happened?" Mercury crawled out from the tangled limbs.
"Bluh!" Jaune threw up near the mud. His stomach having felt like it just did stomach flops.
"Aghhhh!" Nora-who's still baby sized, cried as a tree branch-a big one-hit her head. Ren picking her up and rubbing her head. Like a mother taking care of her child.
"..." Akame didn't expect this.
"Hey Akame, there you are." She then saw a group of girls from afar. None that she has ever seen before, yet they said her name so casually. Akame then noticed something off, the location. She is...near some beach actually. With people rowing on boats. One of the girls looked surprised.
"Akame. What happened to the markings on your arm? They're gone." She said confusing Akame. What did she mean by marks, how did she know her name, where was she? So many questions, yet no answers. Then, it hit her.
"Mayden."
"What are you all...doing?' Then from nowhere, another girl came out. Black hair, red eyes, and markings on her body, It was...Akame.
"..."
"..."
Everyone staring at the two Akame's, all shocked. The 'past' Akame also looking surprised. Then, Mercury came out of the dogpile and saw the girls. He then walked to 'present' Akame.
"Wanna go on a date?" He smirked.
"They are perfectly safe." In another world. And hey, the time he put them in was after the whole battle for the empire. Meaning the threats they'll be facing is less dangerous compared to that time. Alright!
The adults didn't look convinced, but couldn't really do anything. I mean, trapped here in this place with no powers and crap. Clearly they would just have to hope they will be fine wherever they are.
"Guh." Raven sat down staring distrustfully at both Salem and Ozpin's respective groups. Wanting no part of what they are doing. Already hating this situation. "I can't believe I'm stuck here with all of you."
"That's life for you." Qrow just chuckles with Raven steaming in anger.
"Are we seriously going to be watching with our mortal enemies?" Arthur asks Salem who was sitting down. Having already summoned some fine food to eat.
"While bothersome, I see no problem with it." She says to her inner circle. "Not like we can do anything to change the rules. So we may as well enjoy ourselves."
Arthur just grunted while Tyrian took the information to heart, not even minding it. He is already summoning some food to eat. Hazel himself just glared at Ozpin, but knew attacking him would be pointless with the Rules in place. So he just turned away while also giving a small prayer to see a world with Ozpin hurt or dying.
"Hey Oz." Qrow then speaks to the leader of their group. A thumb at Lionhearts direction. "What do we do with him?" Obviously Glynda and Ironwood wouldn't know of Lionheart and his treachery, but he and Oz did with a few others. Naturally Qrow didn't like being with him.
"Nothing." Ozpin says. "At least, for the time being. Though we shall keep an eye on him just in case." Perhaps also hear his reasonings of joining Salem. Though Ozpin already had a few good guesses on why he did. Lionheart was a bit of a coward in the face of danger. Having always preferred long-range distance.
Meanwhile, Salem may have looked to be taking this well, though a part of her was rather upset. 'All of them so close, so easy to kill.' Yet incapable of even touching them. How annoying. This Mayden being was clearly something of the Gods level. Just thinking of them made her mad.
Yet sadly none of them could do anything but sit, have some food, and watch the many, many worlds that Mayden came to offer them. In fact, thanks to the information Mayden gave them Salem felt inspired in making some new Grimm. Plus these worlds might even give her an idea in taking out her foes. Ozpin of course was thinking the same. These other worlds provided excellent ideas in what to do as well.
"Do you think the kids really are safe?" Glynda then asked James, still worried for their safety.
"I'm not sure." Ironwood answered. "But while Mayden is indeed an irresponsible being, I don't think he intentionally wishes to kill us."
Mayden seemed like the type to enjoy the pain of others, but not wishing to cause the exact pain himself. An asshole that loved when things went wrong for people, yet not bothering with causing such problems on his own even when he could. Thus James decided to trust Mayden didn't put the kids in some hell of a world. At most they were probably just in a world with lots of confusion.
How right he is.
"Now then everybody." Mayden then called out to his guests. "While it is nice to have you all here, I think a new guest star is needed. One that will stay longer than the others aside from Akame."
"That red-eyed girl?" Qrow asks Ozpin who simply shrugs.
"As such," Mayden continued. "I will call upon the stars, throughout the heavens, from another world with the permission of the God that made their small multiverse-"
"Okay, this is just bull." James states.
"Really?" Tyrian chuckles. "Because I love it."
"I call thee….Jaune Arc!" Then a beautiful angelic glow came out, and from it Jaune Arc appeared. Wearing...a White Fang mask.
"Huh, where am I-" He then paused upon seeing Ironwood. "YOU!?" Then screeched like a mad hyena. Running towards James with craziness in his eyes. "How dare you do that to my sisters. The experiments! Fuck Atlas! I'll kill you ALL!"
James was honestly shocked by this, like everyone else. He also felt his own aura vanish, when suddenly Jaune took out a gun. So Ironwood did what he did best.
Pow!
Self-defense.
"Guh!" His iron arm punched the air out of Jaune, before throwing him like a rag doll and back into the circle uncouniouse where he then vanished.
"Huh. Got the wrong one." Seriously! Again with this!? "Let's try this again."
From the light out came Jaune Arc...wearing a suit and tie and looking nervous.
"Uh...what's going on?"
"Yeah. what's happening, Mayden?" Qrow calls out the higher tier being.
"I just called upon a Jaune Arc from another world." Mayden explains while also giving information to this version of Jaune Arc. "The one from before comes from the same multiverse...though admittingly is broken and angry at what happened. Of course it seems I pulled out the right one this time."
Everyone was now unsure of what was going on, but decided to just move on. As for this new Jaune, he then saw Cinder just a few feet away from his location.
"Oh. Cinder." He said with familiarity that made the girl uncomfortable. "Uh, listen. I get that you're trying to be nice and all, but, uh...I don't need a harem." He then wildly said. "So, you don't need to do that, or get in bed with m-" Having heard enough of this, Cinder stood up, walked to him, and slapped him silly in the face. Sexual harassment retaliation.
"Uh." Jaune says before his mind then clicked. "You're...not my... Cinder…" then hit the floor face first knocking him out.
"...Wow." Watts says not impressed.
"Wow indeed." Mayden joins in. "Just lttng you guys know, this Jaune comes from a world where the Fall of Beacon didn't happen, him having some interesting allies, and even saving Atlas. Sorta." That only served to make the guests here confounded by this Jaune's world. But again, they pushed it aside.
"Now then," Using his powers he laced Jaune in a seat while waking him and Lionheart up. "Time for everyone to see these new worlds out there. The third intermission is over, with these new guests and a guest star about to see the wonders of the multiverse. Be it an alternative of their world, another world with them replacing others, and whatever crazy thing Mayden pulls from his hat.
Oh man, this is going to be fun.
Welp, that's the end of that. This time we'll be having the two factions being forced to watch with one another. Oh boy. Plus, we have a new guest star to replace Akame-who is now in the future after her home series with the other characters. That will be making some changes alright. However, I will not be showing them. As of now, consider RWBY, JNPR, and the others gone for at least ten chapters. They'll be back in the next intermission with some other new characters to replace the grown-ups.
I hope you can all accept that.
As for the new guest, naturally he's from Coeur's world-the one from Professor Arc 2 to be precise. And I bet you all know where the first Jaune came from. Enjoy this Jaune for now, because he'll be gone after ten chapters.
Until Next Time.