RWBY and Friends watch the Multiverse: The Rewrite Chapter 1: Welcome to the Repository, a rwby fanfic

Author's Note:

Yes, this is happening. Took a long while, my fault, but it is done. I have rewritten this fanfiction, but allow me to get a few things straight before we continue to the actual story.

You can leave requests but please understand that I will not fulfil all of them. I will try to be accommodating and consider as many received requests as possible. I am the one writing this fanfiction, however, and I will have final say in what happens in it.

If you do not like this fanfiction, that is fine. I do not control your opinions. If that is the case, stopping reading, ignore this fanfiction if you ever encounter it again, and read a much better fanfiction. There are a tonne of other reaction fanfictions, and if this one does not appeal to you, than another writer might be up your alley.

There will be no grandiose plot behind the events in this fanfiction. No half-baked attempt thought up while in the toilet to make this story interesting by inserting a sub-plot without any real end goal behind it. None of that. This will just be a story where RWBY cast members watch stuff.

One last thing, I shall avoid substituting any characters from non-RWBY franchises as much as possible. It used to be fun thinking up who could replace who, but it got bothersome later on and people started complaining about who I substituted who with. If I do put RWBY characters in non-RWBY properties they shall either be; cameos, characters who do not conflict with the canon version of the original work, or part of original chapters inspired by those properties.

Okay, that should be enough from me for now.

Enjoy this fanfiction as best you can.

Welcome to the Repository

To say RWBY were freaked out right now would be an understatement.

There they were. It had been a simple day and were going about their business in Beacon. Their young leader, Ruby, had been doing maintenance of Crescent Rose and contemplating how she could make it even cooler than it already was. The diligent and graceful Weiss was studying and coming up with new forms of fighting she might perform at the same time. Blake, elusive and quiet, had found a new spot in Beacon to get away from all the noise and read her books in peace. Meanwhile, the strong and hot-heated Yang was about to break her personal record of sparring match wins.

When suddenly, after blinking their eyes at the same time, the team found themselves in the elaborate front foyer of some sort of manor house or something like it. Rather much like the Schnee Manor at Atlas, bar the lack of Schnee iconography.

It that were not strange enough, they found they were not the only ones here. They included; Team JNPR, CFVY, Penny, Sun, Neptune, Headmaster Ozpin, Glynda, Qrow, General Ironwood, Winter, Cinder, Mercury, Emerald, Roman Torchwick, Neo, Adam, and Salem.

Sounds like the start of a very bad joke, right?

All were confused and immediately began puzzling over the why and how they were in this unfamiliar place. All of them had been in the middle of something, and could only remember blinking before finding themselves here. At the same time, the presence of some of the other people present was found to be startling, as one was meant to be locked up and another looked like something straight from a horror movie.

"Torchwick? What the hell are you doing here?!" Ironwood exclaimed in alarm, a hand reaching for Due Process, but found it absent from its holster. Likewise, everyone quickly found themselves bereft of their weapons, even if they had been holding them just moments ago. Fortunately, their Scrolls were on them.

"Whoa, hold your horses! I didn't have anything to do with this. I mean this place isn't bad, but I'd take a nice sunny beach than a manor with you people right now." Torchwick took a step back in alarm, Neo defensively stepping in front of him. It was not just for the Atlesian General she did, but also the other 'do-gooders' present.

"Maybe so, but I am not about to let you, your accomplice, or that terrorist freely walk around. Winter, with me." Ironwood declared, a quick look sent to Winter.

"Yes, General." Winter replied, though not without a little hesitation, and joined Ironwood as he advanced towards the criminal pair and Adam.

"Come on then, human! Even without weapons, I will cut you down!" Adam barged past Roman and Neo, hands balled into fists as he and Ironwood began walking toward each other. A menacing aura coming off the two as they began closing the distance between them.

At the same time this was happening, people had laid eyes upon Salem. With her white as snow skin, creepy black veins, eyes that pierced your soul, and fashion sense that screamed stereotypical bad guy. This being the first time all but a few of them laid eyes on such an person, they were, understandably, both amazed and very much scared.

"Uh, I know two notorious criminals and a terrorist are here, but what the heck is up with that lady?" Sun said, voicing the general thoughts of those not aware of who Salem was.

"A bit Grimm-like, don't you think?" Jaune observed, his mind drawing parallels between Salem's appearance and the general look of the Creatures of Grimm.

"I know she looks weird and pretty scary, but there's no reason to be like that. For all we know it could be a... uh, strange skin condition." Ruby tried to reason, also aware of the similarities between Salem shared with the monsters.

Not far off from the students, Ozpin stood as still as a statue, his eyes locked on Salem. In a similar manner to him, Salem just stood there and stared at Ozpin with a dispassionate expression on her face. The Headmaster and Queen performing an unseen mental battle despite their physical stillness.

Before things were about to escalate further, a door atop the foyer's main staircase loudly swung wide open, drawing all of the group's attention. Stepping through the doorway came a humanoid figure dressed in black and purple hooded robes, a dozen peacock feathers hanging from a belt around their waist, and a featureless white mask that appeared to the cover their entire head. More curiously were the pair of deer-like horns protruding out from the hood. The appearance of such a strange looking fellow put the group on even higher alert than they were previously.

"Hello and welcome! Forgive me for the suddenness of your arrival, but I doubt any of you would have willingly come here if I were to ask." The robed figure said in a male voice as he stood at the top of the stairs and performed an elaborate bow to them.

All were quiet after hearing the black robed man's greeting. After all, it is not everyday you find yourself in so strange a situation and meet someone who indirectly admits to kidnapping you.

"Who... are you? And why in Remnant have you taken us here?" Ozpin calmly but firmly asked the robed man, still keeping Salem within his line of sight. Next to him, Glynda attempted to use her Semblance, but found it had no effect on anything she tried it on. It was there, she could feel it, yet nothing was happening.

In fact, everyone from Remnant attempted to activate their Semblances in some way, but found their efforts provide no results when directed toward the strange individual.

"You may call me 'Alaric' and the location within which we stand is 'The Repository'. My home," Alaric began to explain, spinning around in a playful fashion. "This place is, well, let us call it my abode. Do you like it?"

"You still have not explained why we are here." Salem remained calm as her eyes analysed every aspect of Alaric's appearance. She felt power radiating off of him, but just how powerful he was remained to be seen. The antlers on Alaric's head were of particular note to Salem, as it reminded her of the God of Light's, which made her feel more suspicious of him even though the possible connection between the two may simply be superficial.

"Of course. Of course." Alaric nodded as he began to descend the stairs, most of the people from Remnant taking a step back as he did. He stopped halfway down and continued speaking. "You, my esteemed... guests are here to witness the many and varied worlds of the Multiverse. Now if you do not mind."

With a click of his fingers, the entire party of definitely not abductees felt as though they were compressed and pushed through a space no larger than a needle, before finding themselves sat in an auditorium of similar opulence to the front foyer with a large screen at the front.

If things were not already bizarre, it most definitely was now.

In terms of seating, the group was spread out across the room. Teams RWBY and JNPR were seated together in the middle, alongside them were Sun, Neptune, and Penny. At the right side of the auditorium, Ironwood, Qrow, Glynda, and Winter were placed near each other, while the likes of Cinder, Mercury, and Emerald were at the left. Near the front Roman, Neo, and Adam were lumped together. Ozpin and Salem were placed at the very back, not directly next to each other mind you, but certainly close enough to hear each other if either spoke.

Appearing at the very front of the auditorium in a puff of purple smoke, Alaric clapped his hands together, exposing black gloves over human hands with sharp claw-like fingernails at the ends.

"Ah, wonderful! None of you turned inside out, that is a relief." Alaric remarked in a casual tone, although his guests reacted differently to that piece of news.

"What. The. Fuck?" Mercury could not help but say aloud as he inspected every part of his body to ensure nothing was missing.

"Did you day 'inside out'?" Ruby gulped as the image played out in her mind. Not a great one to be honest.

"You could have also melded into a single horrifying flesh monster, gone mad, or been abducted by extradimensional horrors. But none of that seems to have happened yet." The robed man said dismissively, before turning serious and thumbing the chin of his mask. "But you may have all become sterile, though."

"What?!" Everyone cried out at once.

"I'm kidding!" Alaric said, erupting into a fit of laughter after seeing the looks on his guests' faces. "You people... so gullible. Apart from a nauseating feeling, you were all going to be fine."

Now the guests did not take kindly to the humour Alaric pulled on them. They already had little reason to like or trust him, and if that would be the kind of things he pulled on them all, well, he better hope they don't find a way to use their Semblances. Salem, for her part, attempted to discreetly cast magic on him. The energy manifested in her head, but, for some reason Salem could not place, the energy did not fly at Alaric as she wished. Seeing that effort to be fruitless, she attempted the same with Ozpin which ended the same way.

Ozpin, an eye ever on Salem, could see what she attempted and made a note of it. His own weaker magic may have a similar lack of an effect on Alaric and the others in the room. Still, if necessary, he would try if he gave Ozpin reason to.

"I know we can't use our Semblances against you, but I'd really like to kick your ass right about now." Yang said as she punched a fist into the palm of her other hand. Her eyes flashing red.

"Ye-Oh gosh! I think I'm feeling it!" Jaune covered his mouth with a hand as he felt his stomach churn and the contents of his lunch threaten to come out.

Alaric was unfazed by the words and the looks directed towards him. He vanished in a sudden burst of light and, when the people of Remnant's eyes recovered, he was sat a few seats behind the students and between Ozpin and Salem. Crossing his legs, he pulled out a mobile phone from his robes, and pressed on an app's icon. Soon as he did, the screen at the front of the auditorium turned and the words 'WELCOME' appeared on it.

"Mister Alaric, might I ask what exactly are you?" Glynda chose to ask their host. Understanding who or what he was might be useful in better understanding how and why they were here, as well as how to get out.

"What am I? I am Alaric," said individual unsatisfactorily responded.

"I mean what race or species are you?" She continued to press the issue, although she, and all the other audience members, were now just as intrigued by the phone in his hand as much as they were with Alaric himself. The antlers suggested he was a Faunus, but what they had seen so far made them think he could be something more.

"I am Alaric." He said again.

"We are asking if you are Human, Faunus, or something else entirely." Ironwood was now the one to ask, taking a more insistent tone when addressing their host.

"I. Am. Alaric." The robed individual said with a tone of finality, an indication of how they would get no other answers from him. Now they could have pushed further, but seeing as how he could transport them from one space to another, not many felt like pushing their luck right now.

Since asking what their host was appeared to be a subject best not approached, the audience figured they should ask why they were there. They knew what Alaric wanted to do with them, but hearing the why was important. Who knows, maybe it could help them get back to Remnant somehow.

"Um, okay. Different question, then. You said you wanted us to watch these 'stories'. What for?" Weiss questioned the hooded man, wanting to understand his motivations.

"Ooh, is it because there is some sort of multiversal threat that requires us all to come together and fight? And this is meant to prepare us for the craziness we'll see?" Said Nora enthusiastically, having completely turned around on her seat and resting her arms on the back of her chair.

"Oddly specific, and no." Alaric replied.

"You're a part of a clandestine group of people similar to you who watch the Multiverse and document all that happens? And-And you've brought us here as part of this super secret plan that you will definitely not tell us until the last minute?" Again Nora was the one to speak, now standing atop her chair and pointing a finger at Alaric as she did. To this, those unfamiliar with Nora were bewildered by her, although they who were treated it like it was a regular Tuesday.

"Boy you are imaginative. But no to that as well. Honestly, that one is ridiculous in my mind. Dumb, even." Alaric dismissed Nora's idea with a wave, causing the girl to pout and cross her arms.

"You're a secret eldritch god that wants to brainwash us to help you launch an invasion of Remnant?" Sun posed, earning a perplexed look from everyone else. "What? I saw it in a movie once. Can't rule out any possibilities."

"That would be fun," Alaric confessed, "but no. I am not a god, and invading Remnant is not on my bucket list. My motives are far more simpler than any of those ideas you've come up with. No, I... desire how you all react to the what I intend to show you. Nothing more."

Silence dominated the room for a good few seconds as the guests processed that information. It was hard enough to believe Alaric had brought them this place, but the idea he was doing this just to fulfil his boredom was mindboggling.

"You want to see us... watch the multiverse? It sounds as though you are doing this out of boredom." Ren was the one to break the silence as everyone else gave Alaric looks of disbelief and indignation. That could not possibly be his reason for all this, could it?

"'Boredom'." Alaric rolled the word in his mouth, if he had one behind that mask. "I suppose that is not inaccurate, but not the whole truth. All of you play important roles in your universe and several others. I want to see what you will make of the life and struggles of not just other versions of yourselves, but people from different universes. If you somehow take something out of this and use it to influence your own universe, that is up to you."

They were important in their universe? Important in multiple universes? That was one heck of a statement to drop on them. The idea made a little sense to the likes of Ozpin and Salem, only a little mind you, but when it came to everyone else in the auditorium they struggled with the notion. This was the universe after all. How could individual people like them be deemed important in the vastness of the universe?

"That is enough exposition I think. Let me start things off with a few short clips to get you all warmed up for the stuff I am about to show you. If you require refreshments, please notify me."

And so, with a press on a button on his phone, the insanity began.

Metal Gear Revengeance - STANDING HERE, I REALISE Meme: RWBY Edition

When the screen came to live, it showed a sight familiar to the majority of the audience. Beacon Academy. From the look of the surrounding area and the airships docked at the Academy, it was the beginning of the new school year. In fact, it was the start of the year Team RWBY would first attend.

Moving to the long avenue that lead from the docks to the Academy proper, the audience saw two girls. One; the young, weapon obsessed, and red hood wearing Ruby Rose of Patch. The other; the graceful, kind of bratty, asymmetrical ponytail toting Weiss Schnee from Atlas. From the way things looked, it appeared this to be when Ruby and Weiss first met. After Ruby had blown them both up with a sneeze.

At first things looked as though it would play out as it had in their universe, but then some very peculiar happened.

Ruby, the socially awkward but nice girl, ran up at Weiss and proceeded to rain a flurry of punches at Weiss' chest. What was more shocking than the sheer speed Ruby was able to throw a punch, but the fact Weiss seemed unaffected by them and just stood there without so much as batting an eyelid. All the while, a song was being played in the background. It went something like this:

STANDING HERE, I REALISE

YOU ARE JUST LIKE ME, TRYING TO MAKE HISTORY

BUT WHO'S TO JUDGE

THE RIGHT FROM WRONG

WHEN OUR GUARD IS DOWN, I THINK WE'LL BOTH AGREE

VIOLENCE BREEDS VIOLENCE

BUT IN THE END IT HAS TO BE THIS WAY

"This... is not how you two first met," Winter glanced over at Weiss. Her sister had written of how she and her team leader had met, and this was most definitely not how Weiss had described their first interaction to have gone.

"Of-Of course not!" Weiss cried out, a hand covering the area where the Weiss onscreen was being struck. She assumed Aura was helping her take the blows, but she should still react or flinch at them at the very least. How she was able to just stand there and take it was admirable, but highly confusing.

At the front of the auditorium, Neo nudged Roman's arm and pointed to an image she had brought up on her Scroll. It was an image of a cutting board. Roman immediately caught onto what Neo was telling him, so to speak, and laughed at it.

"Why... exactly is Ruby punching Weiss?" Blake questioned their masked host. Having been a witness to part of the two's initial exchange, she was taken aback by what she was seeing. If this was truly a scene taken from another universe, she was both curious and cautious of what else they might see.

"Memes. The DNA of the soul," Alaric cryptically replied. It did absolutely nothing to explain what was going on, and they hoped this would not be a regular occurrence with their bizarre host. Just to get it out of the way, yes, this will happen again.

The screen transitioned, this time to Beacon's amphitheatre in its sparring configuration. In it stood Jaune and Cardin.

Jaune looked away from the screen and rubbed the back of his neck anxiously. He hoped this was not one of the early sparring sessions he had with the larger Huntsman-in-Training. Those were undeniably one-sided, and Jaune was not comfortable with people seeing how he initially performed in his time at Beacon.

The same music that played with the prior scene began, and Jaune started to rapidly punch Cardin's torso. Much to the surprise of the audience watching.

"Go fearless leader! Mess him up!" Nora cheered her team leader on. He wasn't doing anything to Cardin and there was no way she could be heard through the screen, but Nora did not care and thought what was going on to be awesome.

"This is... something," Ren remarked. He glanced over to Jaune, and saw his team leader was struck dumb by the scene on the screen.

"Jaune? Are you alright?" Pyrrha asked her team leader out of concern for him.

"Yeah, yeah. Just, uh... Just caught off guard by seeing another version of myself, I guess, do some thing like that. Especially during that part of my time in Beacon." Jaune answered, pulling himself out from the short trance. He was not alone in such thoughts, and plenty wondered what Jaune would be like if he were capable of just what they saw.

Not to say the Jaune they were currently sat with was not capable or skilled. They just wondered how things could have gone if Jaune started off the year with a skill level on par with the other students. If only they knew.

"You're really going to make us watch this?" Roman questioned their host, not at all amused by what they were seeing. The only ways this place was better than his cell in the Atlesian warship was that Neo sat with him, and his seat felt pretty comfortable.

"Not for long. There's more to the Multiverse than people beating the snot out of each other," Alaric replied.

After watching that for a few seconds, another transition came along. This was a bit more concerning than the previous two. How so?

What the audience were seeing was Amity Colosseum and there were Grimm flying around it and on the Colosseum itself. One such Grimm, an Alpha Beowolf, charged at General Ironwood, who stood stoically and completely unarmed. You know what happens next. The Beowolf reached Ironwood and punched him repeatedly in the chest, with no damage being done to the Atlesian General in the slightest.

"I was hoping that Beowolf would crush him like a tin can," Adam grumbled to himself. This had not been interesting to him so far, but he had to admit the music was pretty great. If it was something he could get on his Scroll, maybe this bizarre situation would not be a waste of time.

"Why are there Grimm on Amity Colosseum?" Ironwood questioned, so alarmed by what he was seeing he had stood up from his chair and gripped the back of the one in front of him.

Now that he did mention it, what in the world were Grimm doing on Amity Colosseum? They could all see flying Grimm in the background, but how was it possible for a Beowolf to get aboard the world-renowned arena?

"Maybe the land-based Grimm rode on the flying types? Or maybe they became smart enough to build a giant trebuchet and launched themselves at Amity?" Alaric put forth to the audience, not sharing the concerns the more moral members had. You know which ones do not care.

"Mister Alaric, if this is... a possible event in the Multiverse, then there is a likelihood the Grimm could attack Amity Colosseum in out own universe. Correct?" Goodwitch was the one to pose this question, and, to the alarm of all, Alaric nodded affirmatively. "Then will you please tell us when and how exactly this can occur? Lives can be saved with such foreknowledge."

"This event is quite often a seminal moment in your world's history, and your lives a great deal of the time. The day when the Vytal Festival went to, ahem, pardon my Mistralian, shit." Alaric pulled small miniature replica of Amity Colosseum from a sleeve and, after waving it around the air a little, let it fall on the floor with a long whistle followed by mimicking a crashing sound.

"Mister Alaric! This is a serious matter!" Ozpin was the one to speak this time, rising from his seat a casting a hard look Alaric's way.

"It's not a guarantee in your universe and you have a chance at stopping it, or at least making it less of a nightmare than how it can be. That is if you are smart enough to see how it may happen." To the frustration of all, Alaric continued to be evasive with the details for plenty while being too revealing for others.

After hearing Alaric's words, two kinds of thoughts were running through the minds of the audience members. The first and foremost thought was that Alaric was a being a dick. It was a thought shared by all, though for different reasons based on who you looked at. The second was how the Vytal Festival was going to play out now they heard that bit of information from Alaric. The good guys in the audience were attempting to figure out how to prevent such a possibility from happening, while the bad guys were thinking of ways to counter the good guys' efforts and keep their plan on track.

So concerned were the audience with this knowledge that Alaric had to give them a good long break to absorb and think on it. That does not need writing about, so, after they were all done speculating, worrying, and arguing their host resumed what they had been watching.

Soon as the screen started off again, it transitioned from the Ironwood and Beowolf scene, to one of unclear importance to everyone except a certain reincarnating man. It was a massive cave, and in it was a large portal and two women stood before it. One in red and the other in black. The woman in black came as a shock to those who were aware of who she was, as it was none other than Raven Branwen. Facing her was Cinder, but she wore a different dress, her hair had been shortened, some form of scarring was around her left eye, and her left arm had a very Grimm-like quality to it.

Needless to say, many had questions as to what was going on.

As had been the case with all the other scenes prior to this, Cinder started hammering blow after blow against Raven's chest with very little effect on her target.

"Okay... Now I really have some questions as to what is going on here." Neptune said as he looked on in confusion. He, alongside the students in the audience, were wondering why a woman who looked similar to Yang was taking punches from Cinder in so strange a place.

Calm though he appeared, Ozpin's mind was a storm of panicked thoughts at the moment. That cave was the Haven Vault and Raven was not a person he wanted in there. In fact, what the absolute hell were any of the two doing in there?

Raven he knew was aware of the vaults, and, considering how she parted from his clandestine organisation, he was not convinced she was there out of any want to help them protect it. What Cinder was in the Haven vault was another can of worms. He wished to not jump to conclusions too quickly, but in his long life, he learnt never to just discount even the least likely possibility.

Just a few seats away from him, Salem watched the screen with keen interest. Everything in the cave, and even the cave itself, stank of Ozpin. While she could not be one-hundred percent certain, Salem believed that location to be one of the vaults Ozpin kept his precious Relics. If it was not a vault, than it could be a place he kept something of great importance that he did not want her to find.

It looks as though this strange affair would be worth something after all

"Right. That should be enough of those," Alaric announced. Taking up his phone again, he started tapping away at the device's screen as he spoke. "Let us venture somewhere outside the RWBYverse side of the Multiverse and to something less familiar to you. I have a few in mind that I am sure you might enjoy."

"Wait, why did you call it the RWBYverse?" Ruby asked, curious why Alaric would use such a term. The others in the audience wondered the same thing, too.

"Because they're the main characters," Alaric stated, before seemingly to realise something and explain further. "The main characters of the series of events that are currently happening. Yes, that's it."

The answer provided raised more questions than answers. Such as what events were RWBY the 'main characters' of? Why did it have to be Team RWBY? What else was Alaric holding back from them?

BELLE - Opening Scene

The screen was dark again, except for a horizontal grey line that cut across the middle of the screen. In a matter of seconds that line became brighter and wider as it seemed to grow bigger. It quickly became apparent that the line was not growing bigger, the screen was going closer to it.

"Welcome to the world of U." A female voice suddenly said, startling the audience a little.

"Just a little notification, but some of these stories have been narrated. Partly thanks to me, and partly by the local powers of the universes they come from. So this can pop up every now and then," Alaric informed the audience.

The audience were curious as to why such a thing would be done, but decided to going along with it. Now, what was 'U' and was that more music being played in the background, again?

As the screen drew closer, the audience saw the line was a mass of innumerable floating constructs of varying shape, size, and colouration. For those knowledgeable in computers, it looked like a large circuit board. It was not even the only one, as similar lines ran parallel to it, though the brightest and most central of these were what the screen was taking them to

"U is the ultimate virtual community. Created and governed by its wise architects known as, the Voices. With over five billion registered users it is the largest Internet society in history, and it is still growing." The female voice continued as the screen entered the line, passed several packed together constructs, and emerged into an open space that looked straight out of a sci-fi movie.

It was hard for any of the audience to describe, as they knew no analogue to directly compare a sight such as this to. It was as though someone had built a city, its every structure inspired by a soundboard. Not only that, but, with no need to concern themselves with gravity, the structures were above, below, and to the sides of the screen.

"Whoa! This place looks pretty sick," Sun commented on the sight before him. Plenty others shared the same thoughts, each amazed at the possibility something such as this place could exist out in the Multiverse.

"Wait, a 'virtual community'? Is this 'U' like the CCT system, or a part of it?" As Penny asked this, she was in the middle of analysing every single pixel she could manage. In the middle of her analysis, she spotted multiple individuals of various shapes and sizes gliding through the air.

"It's a virtual reality platform on this universe's equivalent of the CCT system. Highly popular as you heard. Most systems in other universes do so when people make it stable, convenient, good quality, and easy enough to access." Explained Alaric, manifesting a few VR headsets of differing designs and a couple other devices before dispersing them in a puff of smoke.

"With five billion people using it. Huh, it better be good if it can rope in that many people," Coco remarked. All of this was pretty sweet to look at, but she wanted to see something up her alley.

Five billion people. That was a large portion of Remnant's global populace according to their world's last census records. What they saw truly did look incredible, but for so many people to invest their time on a platform like U was mindboggling. Just what could they do in U? And, for some, how could they get their hands on something like it in Remnant?

As they watched, another woman's voice came through the speaker. She was not spouting exposition, however. No, she was singing.

Lalalai

When our heartbeats collide

I won't mind,

In a place we've never been before

I'm reaching for the moon and stars beyond it

"More music?" Yang remarked. It was not the intense kind played in the last clips, which, funnily enough, sounded good for listening to while punching something in her opinion. But it was still something Yang would like to listen to, regardless.

"Who is the singer? She has a marvellous voice?" Weiss asked, having to personally admit the singer's capabilities could be a match for her own.

Lalalai

Is it you I will find?

Though I feel left behind sometimes,

When you close the door

I wanna know who you are

I wanna know it all

Blackness encompassed everything suddenly, before a screen like the one of Alaric's mobile phone appeared in the centre. A black and white app icon displaying a white 'U' being present, and the only thing to remain as the phone faded and the narrator from before returned.

"Launching the U app employs the latest body sharing technology. Which allows its users to come together, relax, or just have fun."

To the left of the U icon, symbols depicting people of all ages, shapes, and sizes appeared. Meanwhile, U's of differing styles appeared to its right. All faded away as a jumble of hundreds of Us swirled into the screen.

"I... This is a lot to take in." Velvet breathed, finding it hard to keep track of all that was going on here.

"'Body-sharing technology'. Do we have anything like that in Remnant? I imagine if we did, we'd know about it." Ren reflected, he and others in the audience wondering what exactly it was and how it worked.

At the back of the room, Salem shot Ozpin upon hearing the student's words. Ozpin ignored her, and took a fresh sip from his mug. Yes, he and his fellows were hiding certain technologies from the world, and the words 'body-sharing' struck a cord in him, but he refused to let Salem of all people judge him for it. Besides, as far as he was aware, virtual reality systems in their world was not as complex or developed as the people in this universe had take them.

As those thoughts played through his mind, another sprang up and quickly blossomed in the minds of all in the auditorium. How could so many people, billions in fact, devote so much time to being in this world? Yes, in their current age, many people spent a lot of time on their Scrolls and the various applications available on them, but the threat of Grimm meant they always had to be mindful of their leisure time. Even in the regions people considered safe, like the major protected cities.

A U spun toward the audience, and another transition occurred. They appeared to be back in the virtual world of U and face to face with a young woman with bunny ears in a blue witch-like outfit and an accompanying white hat. Panning backwards from her revealed she, and several people of varying appearances, some not even human, were freefalling down a grey tunnel lined with white portals with pink frames around them.

The moment that life hits you

You can't avoid the issue

You're disconnected from the world

You thought you were part of

"Your avatar in U is called an A.S, and is automatically generated based on your personal biometric information."

Looking down the tunnel, the audience saw the people, or their A.S as they guessed they should be called, were falling towards layers of pure white clouds. Following after them, when at last they broke through the clouds, the audience were treated to quite a sight. They were amidst a city layered one on top of the other and populated by tall skyscrapers pointing up or down, depending on the perspective, its air filled with lights and countless people. In fact, the people were no longer falling, but flying through the air.

But if you close your eyes and let go

Of the mirage you haven't met

Nobody else decides the words you see in your heart

"So those people are the avatars for the people using U?" Mercury asked for confirmation. This did not look half bad, and he wonder what he could his A.S in U look like and what things he might do in the platform. It was a virtual world that seemed to outstrip what Remnant had today, so the restrictions on what they could do might not be as plentiful.

"Yes, those are the users' virtual avatars. 'Another Self' is what AS means. Pretty neat, yeah? Like you heard, their appearance is based on the users' biometric data, which means they're actual real-life selves have been used to determine their virtual appearance. No take backs if I'm correct, so what you're given is what you get." Alaric went on to explain, furthering people's interest in U.

"Wow. Could we, like, replicate this U thing in Remnant? Looks super cool if you ask me." Jaune asked, voicing a thought plenty in the audience shared. He was thoroughly impressed by not just the avatars and the means of their creation, but the environment which they populated.

"Ooh, my father could try! However, without the necessary specifications as to how U was developed in the first place, it might take quite a while and the finished product may not immediately live up to the standards which we are seeing right now." Penny surprised everyone when she spoke up and rose her hand.

Penny was already a odd girl to those who knew of her, but were not particularly familiar with her as a person. So to hear her blurt out how her father might create a version of U in their world added to her status as an oddity. For who in the world could her father be? She did not resemble anyone extremely famous, and, while her surname may come close to ringing a bell, it remained elusive to them. For those who did know what she was or who her father was, they mentally sighed at her actions and let her be.

Apart from what Penny had said, other curious thoughts sprouted in the minds of the audience. A certain raven-haired Faunus being the one to give one particular thought voice.

"In this other world, are there Faunus? Was that girl in blue one?" Blake asked their host. If the AS were created using biometric information, did it take account Faunus features and give the blue girl rabbit ears because she had them? How were Faunus treated in other worlds?

"Funnily enough, no. This world is devoid of Faunus or anything akin to them. It's just humans as far as the eye can see," Alaric answered her. To hammer it in, he took his phone, fiddled with it for a couple seconds, and showed it to Blake. What she saw was a picture of a place called the 'Spanish Steps, Rome' in an accompanying caption, and, sure enough, there was nothing but humans everywhere. "I mean, the concept of animal people exists in this world and others. They are in all forms of media, people can dress up like animal people, and make illustrations of them."

This drew all sorts of reactions from people. The notion of a world populated by humans felt strange to many, for, while not an incredibly common sight everywhere on Remnant, they would notice the lack of their presence. The idea of people with animal traits being present did sound interesting, for the people of Remnant wondered how these other people might have come up with it. People 'dressing up' and doing 'illustrations' caught the audience a little of guard, for, while it happened on their world, they did not expect people from other worlds to want such things.

Also, the thought of a world made up entirely of humans sounded absolutely abhorrent to a certain someone, but he would receive a quick kick in the balls if he said it aloud.

So line up

The party's over here

Come one, come all, jump on the fire

Step up

We are whatever we wanna be

We are free, that's all we desire

When you pass through the veil of fantasy

There's a world with a rhythm for you and me

Flying through a long street down the virtual city, the bunny witch girl paused and searched around her. Her mouth agape in wonder, but not because of the world of U. She was not alone, as a couple shots showed not just a few, but perhaps the entire city ceased what they were doing and looking towards a single direction. No sound was present apart from the voice that kept on singing.

Lalalai

How can I find a love

Lost in time, there's an answer in the stars for me

All the way across the galaxy, go on forever

Flying gracefully through the multitude of skyscrapers, transparent blue and pink ribbons fluttering behind it in the artificial wind and a mass of speakers decorating its back, was a gargantuan blue whale. If that was not spectacular enough for those watching, those keen of eye swiftly noticed a figure dressed in red standing atop its flat head.

The audience were, well, struck dumb by the sight before them. U and the world it was created in already astounded the people of Remnant, yet, the visual of a giant whale serenely swimming through a virtual metropolis was enough to silence even the most boisterous of those present. What else could be achieved in U, they asked? What else could be done in other virtual realities like this one?

Lalalai

I will follow the signs 'cause I know

When I reach the end it's you I'll see

Though we can't waste our time here

It's now or never

"U is another reality. And A.S is another you. You may not be able to start over in the real world, but you can start over in the world of U."

The relentless force of nature

The visage of our future

Sometimes I know it feels as though fate is never on our side

But as I stand inside the vortex

I wanna have you here beside me

You're all I need to leap into a perfect sky!

The screen took the audience close to the whale, panning around the colossal sea mammal before stopping and focusing on its front. More specifically the figure stood on it. Getting closer the audience took in the person's features, and they were certainly striking.

She was a tall woman with pale skin, long thin limbs, flowing pink hair, and bluish-grey eyes. White stylised markings decorated her face, accompanied by two lines of freckles that went from the edges of her face to the bridge of her nose. Her manner of dress was no less eye-catching, for the deep-red dress she wore had a skirt designed to look as though it were made of flower petals while its top was made almost entirely of red-hued flowers. To add to the look she also had red opera gloves, a large ribbon behind her waist, two petal-like accessories behind her shoulders, a second longer skirt trailing behind her, and a collection of more flowers in her hair.

Needless to say, she left one hell of an impression on the audience. Oh, and did I forget to mention she was the vocalist of the song playing throughout the viewing?

"Whoa," was the immediate response from the audience at the introduction of the woman in red.

"Talk about an entrance. I think I need to take some notes after this," Yang commented. Her mind already apace with eyes on making even more dramatic entrances to fights, or even any of the other places she went. Of course she could not go into Juniors atop a whale, but there were other ways to make all jaws drop in a nightclub.

"Way ahead of you!" Nora said as she took out her Scroll and began rapidly typing down all the ideas that came to her mind. The pages of a notetaking app becoming black in a matter of seconds from all the ideas Nora was typing down. Beside her, Ren was nervously sweating as he began to imagine the trouble they might get into if she tried to attempt any of the ideas she was putting into her Scroll.

"Never mind her entrance, just look at her. She's quite a looker, am I right?" Mercury added his voice to the others, his tone complimentary.

"Yeah, she looks amazing. Really makes you wonder what she looks like in real-life if this is this her AS." Coco said in agreement, admiring Belle and the outfit she was rocking. Both were marvellous, and had her wondering about what other kinds of outfits could be made in U. If creativity was the only limit in U when it came to outfit creation, then Coco would not mind trying it out and spending hours on creating one after another. Her teammates were aware of this, and feared they would need to forcefully pull her away from U every now and then if it were ever recreated on Remnant.

"Who is she?" Jaune asked Alaric, fascinated by what she seeing. For some weird reason he could not place, he was imagining how Pyrrha might look in the singer's outfit, which did remind him of the one she wore to the Beacon Dance.

"She is the latest musical sensation to dominate U and the world. Bell, or, as she is more commonly know to her fanbase, Belle. For those who do not know that means 'beautiful' in a language known as French." Alaric explained, and the audience could not deny the appropriateness of the name given to her.

Stand up,

The party's over here

Come one, come all, jump into the fire

Keep up,

Let go of your fears

Stand proud and tall, we will never grow tired

Line up,

The party's right right here

Come one, come all, let's follow the north star

Step in,

You are whatever you wanna be

You are free just like all of us are

The majority of the audience were positively spellbound by Belle and her amazing voice. They hummed in tune to the song, tapped their feet, or bobbed their heads. Even Salem in her position in the very back of the audience could not help herself, and rhythmically tapped a finger on an arm of her seat. Yes she was an ancient woman living a damned existence with a desire to destroy the world or something, but where did it say she could not enjoy music?

Dance away a world you never loved from the start

It's our ride to the future, are you ready to depart?

Transitioning from Belle, the screen showed the massed crowds of avatars looking up to the red singer. It was though characters from all manner of cartoons, video games, and other media had come to a music concert and just enjoying themselves. Try as one might, it was impossible to find anyone who did not seem to like Belle.

Lalalai

When our heartbeats collide

I won't mind,

In a place we've never been before

I'm reaching for the moon and stars beyond it

Back to Belle, she flung her arms out wide in a spread eagle fashion. Hundreds of red and pink flower heads seemingly bursting from her from her arms, even though none had been there, and trailed behind Belle. In fact, joining the confetti flying through the air were flowers petals. Jubilant applause from the onlookers at this display joined Belle's voice.

"Okay, that is just showing off now." Roman rolled his eyes at what Belle did, although he was immediately met with derision from the others.

"Hey, shut up! Some of us are enjoying ourselves!" Qrow called to Roman. Sure he was not as taken in by what he was seeing like the rest were, but he saw his nieces were happy, and he did not want Roman ruining it for them with his negative comments.

"What? Can't a guy express his-ow! What the... Neo? What was that for?" Roman attempted to respond, but received an elbow to his side from none other than his partner-in-crime. Upon realising it was her, Vale's most wanted criminal gave her a perplexed look as he questioned her on her reasons.

Neo just sat back in her seat and silently enjoyed the song they were all watching.

Lalalai

Is it you I will find?

Though I feel left behind sometimes

When you close the door

I wanna know who you are

I wanna know it all

"Come, it's time to live as another you."

Maybe it's a dream, I don't wanna wake

Even if a light goes out, I don't wanna know reality

"Come, it's time to start another life. Come, it's time to change the world."

We didn't waste our time here

It's now or never

With a final shot focusing on Belle's face, the screen faded to black.

Seeing that it was finally over, many of the audience gave it a standing ovation.

"So, you're thoughts?" Alaric asked the audience members, although, from their reactions, he may not have needed to.

"The only bad thing about that was that it ended." Fox was the first to respond. He had been largely silent up until this moment, whispering to his teammates instead of speaking aloud, so plenty were surprised to hear him raise his voice now. Not that many were complaining, for those words summed up what plenty thought.

"Can we watch it again? There was so much to see and to think about, a second watch would be great." Pyrrha requested, a few added their voices in agreement and making similar such calls to watch Belle again.

"If it is alright, would you mind telling us who is the person behind Belle? The AS is fine and all, but who is the real Belle? Is she like how she is in U?" Glynda asked, having wondered since first laying eyes on U what kind of person was behind the AS. While a digital avatar, she seemed to radiate genuine warmth and joy while singing, and she had to know if it was real.

"While I too am impressed by what we witnessed, and what could be achieved in U, I do have concerns. The potential abuses present are immense. For what if a virus were to infect the platform and the personal information of all five billion users' were accessed? Have the necessary countermeasures and means of protection been established to guard against any such malicious actions?" Ironwood questioned Alaric, his brow furrowing as the possibilities with U, both good and ill, ran through his mind.

Unbeknownst to him, Cinder stifled a laugh at his words. Ironwood speaking of potential viruses and the dangers of virtual platforms, while at the same time being unaware of how the Vale CCT system was itself infected, was just laughable to her.

"I am sure such measures have been taken by U's developers, James. Something such as U could not have grown without its hiccups, but that it stands and remains popular is testament to how well they have handled whatever problems have arisen." Ozpin sagely spoke, raising a fair point in the eyes of many. Privately, such fears propped up in his mind too, and he also thought of the ways the platform's users might abuse each other.

"Well, I am glad most of you liked it. Now, let me ready the next one. We will revisit universes with VR tech in the future, but something different is in order." Alaric hummed as he took his phone and began tapping on its screen, not really answering any questions raised by his guests. That peeved them off, but let him be for the time being. Surely he was not going to be evasive about everything, right?

Spider Man (2002) - Green Goblin's Proposal

"Now, having shown you some fairly light stuff, I guess I ought to show you something a bit more serious." Alaric announced to his audience after a few minutes spent on his phone.

"It will not be something related to horror or be overly graphic, will it?" Winter said as she cautiously eyed him. The Specialist was not afraid to watch such material, but there were the students and Penny to consider. Sure almost all of them were on the cusp of adulthood, except Penny for obvious reasons, she did not want them to be unprepared in the event their host put one on. Especially if they were unaccustomed to disturbing sights.

"Hm? No no no, dear Specialist, nothing of the sort." Alaric assured Winter, and, concurrently, the other adults who shared Winter's concern. "But before we start? What do you think of superheroes? For what I have to show next involves them."

The question posed by the hooded man surprised and intrigued the guests. In fact, a bunch of the students perked up when they heard Alaric's announcement. Some were hyped to hear they might get something superhero related.

"'Superheroes'? Oh man, me and Ruby love 'em! Ain't I right sis?" Yang was thrilled to be hearing they might get to see an actual superhero. Her sister felt the same, and, after sharing a high-five, started to wonder aloud just what the superhero, or superheroes, might be like.

"So, superheroes are a real thing in other universes. I guess that makes sense," Jaune muttered. Also feeling excited by the thought of them seeing an actual super hero.

"Oh, are we going to watch something like the Wild Warrior? I liked those comics growing up." Velvet spoke up, a few surprised she would be into superheroes and even name one. The Wild Warrior was a superhero from a short-lived comic series printed by a big Vale-based comics publisher aimed at representing a Faunus in the genre while also bringing to light the struggles of all sorts of discriminated peoples, not just the Faunus. Problems arose because of the old racism, accusations of stereotyping and virtue signalling, and sales that fell below expectations led to the series being cancelled after six issues were released. There were still fans of the series and it appeared Velvet was one, yet she was not the sole fan among those seated.

"You like the Wild Warrior, too? Why didn't you say anything sooner?" Sun, rather abruptly, stood up from his seat and turned towards his fellow Faunus. To the surprise of anyone who looked, there appeared to be stars in Sun's eyes.

"Uh, well-" Before any more could be said by Velvet, Sun had left his seat beside Neptune, and climbed into the seat behind the Rabbit Faunus.

"What was your favourite part? Did you like the direction they were going to take the story? Do you think the rumours of an upcoming reboot are true?" It was honestly amusing to some to see how excited Sun had become, for many had not seen him act this way. Even Neptune, having had to get used to his team leader's often impulsive actions, had to admit he was caught off-guard by how much he was fanboying right now. Yatushashi stepped in and calmly, but firmly, told Sun to cool it and take a breath for both his and Velvet's sake.

They who disliked the genre just sighed and wondered how to pass the time while the superhero enjoyers did their thing. At the same time, those not familiar or just uninterested shrugged and waited for the rest to get settled so the viewing could begin.

'Hm, superheroes. I still cannot believe they have become so popular.' Ozpin mused to himself as he watched the teens in the auditorium react. Tales of people with extraordinary powers and qualities were replete across Remnant since ancient times, and could be a source of inspiration or entertainment. Superheroes in colourful costumes fighting crime and supervillains were the most recent iteration and he did not mind them, although he did prefer some of the older tales.

'Hm, superheroes. They're still... something it appears.' Salem thought to herself, unknowingly sharing similar thoughts as Ozpin. She recalled when her servants brought news of how the peoples of the Kingdoms began printing picture books of individuals with extraordinary powers and their endeavours. That was decades ago, and sounded like another soon to be short-lived fad these people loved to create, so she thought little of it. That there were still people following it, and with such open passion, meant it might have become more than she anticipated. Maybe she should have a look at one to see what appealed to them.

Having given the audience time to react to the news, Alaric pressed a button and let it start.

The first shot the audience saw was of just your average everyday people going about their business in a metropolis not too different from Mantle. No city or large airships flew overhead, and it appeared a couple or more decades behind the second most prominent city of Atlas. However, it appeared to be in a better state and was not without its charm.

One building in particular caught the eyes of the audience, for the camera was slowly putting it at the centre of the screen. A triangular building many storeys tall with the words 'Daily Bugle' going down the edge facing the camera. From the first sight of it, the audience guessed it to be some newspaper company, and they were proven right when the screen transitioned to inside one of the building's offices.

"Spider Man... and the Green Goblin." A man's voice spoke as the audience were shown the office. At its desk was a man in an office suit. sans the jacket, his feet on the desk, with a cigar in his right hand and a newspaper in his left.

The newspaper was of particular note to the audience. Displayed on the front page were the words 'TIMES SCARE!' and 'Spider Man, Green Goblin Attack City!'. Between the two headings was a black and white picture that the audience could just make out. It was the side of a building, and there was one man in a form-fitting suit seemingly battling another who stood atop some sort of glider.

"Spider Man. Spider Man. Huh, not a bad name." Fox muttered to himself as he rolled the name in his mouth a couple times. Most of the teens in the audience agreeing wholeheartedly with his opinion.

"It's simple, but should convey what he is. Does this Spider Man wear a spider themed appearance or have spider themed powers?" Ren added his voice to those expressing their thoughts, the image of a person in a suit with multiple spider-like appendages or just a half-man half-spider appearing in his mind.

"Ooh! I wonder what his powers will be!" Nora jumped in as well and threw her own questions into the pot. Not only was she imagining the same things as Ren, but Nora was thinking of a myriad of powers this Spider Man might have. From some manner of web production, venom use, or even camouflage.

"If he's the superhero of this story, does that make this 'Green Goblin' the villain? Sure sounds like he is." Emerald was the one to speak this time. She had never had too much time or interest in comics and stuff about superheroes, especially now. But, even without too much exposure to the genre, she had an understanding of naming conventions, and 'Green Goblin' sounded like the kind of name you give to a villain in a story.

"Why yes indeed. The friendly neighbourhood Spider Man is a vigilante who has just recently come into the scene to fight against crime in Queens, New York. The Green Goblin is one of the most pernicious villains to plague him." Alaric responded, fulfilling his role as host and source of exposition.

Glad though they were for all of that to be made clear, there was something bugging the audience members about Spider Man. If he was the hero in this tale, why was he being lumped together with this Green Goblin as having attacked the city? Surely if he was being a hero, the newspaper say otherwise and label the Goblin as the sole culprit of whatever incident happened. As they were contemplating this issue, it was not the only thing the audience members took notice of.

"Hold on. Who is this young man?" Ozpin asked, spotting another man in the office.

Sat opposite the man holding the newspaper was another man, who honestly looked no older than twenty at most. He had well kept brown hair, light skin, and blue eyes, but nothing else that made him really stand out. He wore a deep blue jacket, a grey sweater over a white shirt, and dark trousers. Overall he looked to be just another regular person that the audience would not pay much attention to if they were to cross paths.

"This young fellow is Mister Peter Parker. A former high school senior trying to carve out a life for himself in the world. It has not been smooth sailing, but he's found a job as a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle. He is actually one of the best photographers for anything related to Spider Man" Alaric explained to the audience. They had not expected him to into that much detail about him, thinking he would only share just a few words. Now plenty felt that should keep an eye on this Peter Parker, for he might be important somehow.

"You like that?" The man behind the desk asked Peter, throwing the newspaper down onto his desk.

"Mister Jameson-" Peter tried to answer him, but the man in front of just continued.

"Came up with it myself. Weirdos all gotta have a name now." The audience were now given a clear view of the man behind the desk. He was an older man, grey hairs prominent among the brown hair which he kept in a flattop hairstyle, and a toothbrush moustache.

"Mister Jameson, Spider Man-" Peter attempt at interjecting at to get some point across was, again, interrupted by the man he was facing when he picked up the telephone on his desk.

"Hoffman!" Turns out he did not need the telephone, for said Hoffman walked right in as he was done saying his name. After he put the phone back down he got down to business and, in a fast pace, told Hoffman what he wanted him for. "Tell the patent office, 'copyright the name Green Goblin.' I want a quarter every time somebody says it."

"How about, 'Green Meanie'?" Hoffman suggested, prompting his obvious superior to wordless gesture for him to get out of the office.

"First of all, the name that Hoffman guy proposed just downright sucks. Second, this Jameson's a piece of work." Coco shook her head at the way the seated man conducted himself, but also the ridiculousness of Hoffman's idea.

"I cannot help but agree on that last statement." Adam grumbled from where he was sat, eyeing the moustached man with contempt. His attitudes with newspapers were negative, for those he was familiar with villainised Faunus, downplayed their plight, or ignored them completely.

"That is J. Jonah Jameson. Editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle. The man is, after his worst archenemies, the most constant pain in Spider Man's side throughout the Multiverse for the smear campaigns Jameson launches against him." Alaric told his guests, drawing a little confusion and concern.

Throughout the Multiverse. It took a second for the words to sink in, but, if they were interpreting his words correctly, did Alaric mean to say that Spider Men across the Multiverse had to deal with this man? Surely not, for the nature of the Multiverse should mean that certain aspects or almost everything would be different. That should mean not every Spider Man had to deal with a Jameson slapping dirt on their names. Right?

Also, if Spider Man was hero, what compelled Jameson to lead smear campaigns against him?

Peter, who had let Jameson talk over and ignore him, did not let go of what he wanted to say. As Hoffman was leaving the room, he finally found the opportunity to speak without being ignored repeatedly.

"Spider Man wasn't attacking the city, he was trying to save it. That's slander," Peter said defensively.

"It is not! I resent that," Jameson shot back at Peter. Although, maybe not for what the audience would expect. "Slander is spoken. In print it's libel."

"Yeah. He is most definitely a jerk," Qrow sighed as he crossed his arms.

"But he isn't wrong. Trust me, I should know." Roman spoke up, earning a few questioning looks his way. Did he mean he knew its definition as well, had experience employing it, or believed he was victim of it?

Regardless, the audience kept on watching and wondering where this would lead.

"You don't trust anyone, that's your problem." Peter said, which was a ballsy/dumb thing to say to what was essentially his boss.

"I trust my barber." Jameson casually responded, not sounding offended by Peter's words, which was a good thing. Tossing his cigar out the window behind him, he raised his voice and dismissed Peter. "What are you, his lawyer? Get out of here! Let him sue me, get rich like a normal person. That's what made this country-"

Before Jameson could complete his sentence, the cigar flew right back through the window and landed on top of the newspaper he had set down. Immediately upon seeing it fall right on his desk Jameson sat up straight and wore a perplexed expression. He had only a scant couple of seconds to puzzle over what it was doing back in his office when the window of his office smashed inwards with a loud shattering of glass, shards going everywhere, as a figure atop a glider flew into the office.

It was the Green Goblin.

Now they had a better view of him, the audience saw the glider he was on the Green Goblin was on had a bat-like design to it. Surely a terrifying sight to see if viewed from below, although plenty were wondering just how it operated. Of the Goblin himself, he wore a green suit with metallic pieces of armour, and a helmet designed to resemble his namesake. Its eye lenses were a yellow and the mouth of the wearer could be seen behind the helmet's open mouth, which looked set in a malicious jeering expression.

"Holy... Shoot!" Velvet yelped at the Green Goblin's entrance, almost leaping out of her seat.

"Good grief! Attacking a news company in broad daylight," Winter frowned at the Green Goblin's decision to attack a civilian building. These people were defenceless and, while their work was not one she was too fond of, breaking in like this was something she disapproved of greatly.

"What is he after? Why attack a newspaper of all places?" Neptune pondered, trying to think of what would motivate the Green Goblin into attacking the Daily Bugle. Did he just do it because he was evil, or was there a real motive behind this attack?

"If this guy wasn't attacking innocent people, I'd be gushing over his ride. But since he is, well, I hope Spider Man comes along and beats his ass!" Yang said, earning a quick call of her name from Ruby and Weiss for using a vulgar word. She was not alone in her feelings though, and most were waiting for Spider Man to swoop in and fight the Green Goblin.

"A powered glider that can bear an adult man. Hm, we should take note of this." Ironwood quietly remarked to himself, his mind already thinking of ways in which it could be applied in the Atlesian Military. He was not sure if it would be better than the modes of transport already available, but maybe the likes of the Specialists could find a use for them. Perhaps even the Ace Ops could find a way to improve their performance with such contraptions.

Regardless of any of their thoughts, the audience could agree that the Green Goblin looked like a villainous character. Although not as much as some thought he would be. He was still a fierce looking individual, particularly because of that nasty looking helmet, but they thought the Goblin would do more to make himself more intimidating. The suit looked fairly plain to most, and yes, they knew adding more stuff would most likely be impractical, but he would look a lot more dangerous if he added stuff that played into his Goblin name.

The Goblin's entrance was heard by all, any anyone near Jameson's office were thrown into panic. Hoffman turned and ran, dropping the stack of newspapers he had been holding. Jameson's female secretary held a telephone in both hands and slowly backing away from the office. Peter Parker, however, was a different story. Green Goblin's arrival did shock him, but he did not seem to be panicking, instead he wore a look of steely resolve.

"Jameson, you slime!" The Goblin snarled as he effortlessly picked Jameson up by the neck, off the ground and into the air. "Who's the photographer who takes the pictures of Spider Man?"

"I don't know who he is! His stuff comes in the mail!" Jameson struggled to say, both hands gripping the Goblin's forearm.

"You're lying!" The Goblin yelled angrily.

"I swear." Jameson was obviously terrified of the Goblin, but what he was doing was remarkable to the audience. For the person who had taken the pictures of Spider Man for the Daily Bugle was only a couple steps outside that very office.

"Is he... covering for Peter?" Penny looked on in curiosity and confusion, for, in her mind, Jameson had been mean to the young man but was now trying to keep him out of trouble.

"I thought he would just cave in and spill the beans on Peter at the drop of a hat. You never know with some people," Yatushashi remarked. He had not rushed ahead to think he was a completely bad person like most, but was willing to give him a chance to prove he could be a good one. Well, here he was showing he could be.

"Take this as a lesson students. You will encounter people who you will find difficult to be or work with, but always keep in mind any redeeming qualities they might have. It can be hard to admit at times, but it is true. They might even save your life as Mr Jameson here is trying with Mr Parker." Goodwitch said to the students in the audience, having had to learn this lesson herself. Shooting a quick look over to Ozpin, or, as she was calling him in her head right now, 'Headmaster Calls-Her-At-3am-To-Fix-A-Mess'.

"Yeah, I guess you are right." Qrow and Emerald said at the same time as they cast a look towards Ironwood and Mercury, respectively. In response to them, Ironwood gave Qrow an icy glare while Mercury sent a rude hand gesture at Emerald.

Nice though it was for Jameson to stand up to the Green Goblin, most did not want him to die. Considering this was a supervillain, it was very likely he was going to just kill the editor-in-chief if he remained defiant towards him. Yes, Jameson was trying to sway public opinion against Spider Man, but he was a relatively innocent man. So now was a really good time for Spider Man to pop up and do this thing.

"He's the one who can bring me to him," the Goblin growled as he leaned closer to Jameson's face. He was close enough that Jameson, and the audience, could the Goblin's mouth behind his mask.

"I don't know who he is!" Jameson wheezed, still defying the Goblin despite the villain's rising anger.

"You are useless, you-" Goblin pulled his free hand back and balled his fist for a punch. However, before he could finish his sentence, a figure dropped into view at the ruined window. Upside down I must add.

"Set him down, tough guy!" He called in defiant tone. He wore a skin-tight red and blue suit, with a dark-silvery spider web design on the red parts of it. On his mask he had distinct grey eye-lenses with a black outline, a stylised black spider design over his chest, and a larger red one on his back.

This was none other than the Spider Man.

"Wow! He looks just like a superhero from our comics!" Ruby squealed at the sight of the Spider Man, her eyes twinkling as she took in his appearance. There was no character that looked exactly like Spider Man in the comics she read, but he would not have looked out of place in them. Blue and red spandex suit and all.

"How is he hanging upside down like that? Does it have to do with his powers?" Blake was the one to ask. The view was not great, but it looked as though Spider Man was holding onto something to keep himself suspended in the air.

"Who wears a blue and red suit? That is such a colour clash," Neo typed on her Scroll.

"At least his mask covers his entire face. That way his identity is properly hidden. Wearing a mask that covers only the area around the eyes does absolutely nothing to hide a person's identity." Roman was the one to speak, to the surprise of a few who heard him. Despite it being, well, Roman Torchwick, his words about domino style masks were right.

"So... that is a superhero," Salem uttered to herself. She found the sight of this Spider Man peculiar, and wondered why he chose to wear a skin-tight suit that very likely offered little to no protection. It may offer a lot of freedom of movement, that much she was willing to admit, but one wrong move and he would end up with a bullet or blade in his gut.

"Speak of the devil!" The Goblin said as he threw Jameson down and spun his glider around so he could face his enemy. Evidently pleased that the Spider Man had shown up, less so Jameson.

"Spider Man! I knew you two were in this together!" The editor-in-chief, despite the situation he was in, shot to his feet and point an accusing finger at Spider Man.

Here he was, a regular man. Standing by a faceoff between the Green Goblin and Spider Man. The former ready to either knock his lights out or straight up kill him just seconds earlier. Most would have just run out of the room and put as much distance between themselves and what was going on. Not Jameson though, and the audience were not sure whether to congratulate him for the sheer size of his balls or how dumb his choice was.

"Hey kiddo! Let mom and dad talk for a minute, will ya?" Spider interrupted as Jameson tried to get another sentence out. Not just by speaking over him mind you, but by shoot a spider-like webbing over Jameson's mouth.

Seeing Jameson get shut up was enjoyable to some of the audience members, though an equal amount of them wanted him to just get out of that office. He was in danger so long as he was in there, and might get in the way if Spider Man had to fight the Green Goblin then and there. Speaking of Spider Man, the audience members were quick in taking note of just how exactly he shut Jameson up.

"Did-Did he just shoot some kind of webbing at Jameson?" Weiss exclaimed in surprise, startled by what she had witnessed.

"Was there some manner of web shooting device attached to his wrists?" Ironwood asked, believing that to be the only way Spider Man could have done what he did. It would be fascinating if true.

"In most cases you would be right. Spider Man is a smart and highly skilled person and usually makes devices called 'web-shooters' capable of shooting out webs to attack opponents or create long webbing which he uses to swing across the city. In this universe, however, he can shoot webs out of his wrists." While he had their attention during his explanation, the audience's eyes went wide upon hearing the last sentence Alaric said. "Alongside that, he can cling onto and climb almost any surface, possesses superhuman strength and agility, and has a precognitive sixth-sense called 'Spider-Sense' that alerts him of incoming danger."

"So that is how he can keep himself in the air." Blake muttered, imagining how useful web-shooters might be. The ribbon on Gambol Shroud was useful in helping her swing around when used correctly, and could even be used offensively, which she assumed could be done with the webs.

"Webs. Climbing any surface. Yup, those are the kind of abilities I imagined he would have." Pyrrha mused, those two being among those she guessed to be among Spider Man's abilities. Using the webs to swing around the city sounded ingenious to her, although maybe a little messy, while a sixth sense had not been one she predicted. It was an incredibly rare ability to have as a Semblance, precognition, and she wanted to see him use it.

"That is quite a repertoire of abilities he has in his pocket. A courageous young man, even if he was without them I'm sure." Ozpin smiled a little, thinking of not only Spider and his abilities, but also the heroes in his own universe. Both regular and Aura-enhanced. In the countless years of his existence, he had been exposed to the horrors Humanity and Faunus could inflict on each other and themselves, but their capacity to do good, be it simple kind gestures or extraordinary feats in the face of danger, shone through at times. He was glad such good could be found in other universes as well.

"After a little trail and error. But he learned a lesson about the powers he wielded. A very important one," Alaric spoke again. "'With great power, comes great responsibility.'"

Hearing those words stirred something within the hearts of most audience members. Those of a more righteous disposition were reminded of how their powers had to be used for more than themselves. The self-serving felt either something similar but more minute or nothing at all.

"What is the matter Qrow?" Glynda asked the veteran Huntsman, noticing that he was contemplating something and most occasions where he was doing just that were serious. Most times that is.

"There's something about Spider Man's voice. It's... We have heard it somewhere. I just cannot place who it belongs to." Qrow replied to the Huntress, rubbing his chin as he tried to place who exactly Spider Man was. When the audience thought about it, he was right, and they too felt there was something familiar in Spider Man's voice, yet they too could not figure out who exactly it belonged.

Perhaps, in time, they would find out Spider Man's identity.

The moment Spider Man spent shutting Jameson up left him open to the Green Goblin. Instead of throwing a punch, the Goblin pointed his arms at him, and a grey mist began to shoot from rubber snake heads at the Goblin's wrists directly at Spider Man's face.

"Sleep," the Goblin hissed. Whatever the mist was turned out to be highly effective and fast acting, for it seemed to immediately affect Spider Man the second he inhaled it through his mask. After only a couple seconds of exposure, Spider Man went limp and began to fall. As Spider Man began to fall, the Goblin went after him and caught him mid-air, then soared off while people could only helplessly watch. As the glider passed over the crowd and flew off-screen, the trail of smoke left by the glider's engine covered the screen and it faded to black.

Now the audience were pretty excited to see Spider Man in action. They really were. Alaric sounded as though he were hyping Spider Man up to be some super badass that would enter into a dynamic fight with the Green Goblin as soon as he entered the scene. What they got was Spider Man falling unconscious after doing nothing to dodge whatever gas the glider-riding villain had used against him.

"That was... underwhelming." Emerald flatly stated, not at all impressed by how easily the Goblin just knocked Spider Man out.

"Wouldn't his Spider Sense tell him to evade? Surely it would have alerted him to what the Green Goblin was about to do. Right?" Pyrrha noted, voicing the thoughts of plenty others in the audience just as Emerald had.

"Spider Sense allows him to sense danger and its severity, not see what the danger is or how to avoid it. It's ultimately up to him how to react," Alaric explained further. That appeased some of the feelings the audience had about what they saw, but many still felt as though Spider Man could have done something to avoid the gas. Maybe get out of the way or held his breath. Anything to stop himself looking so weak at that moment. Alongside this, there was another thought running through the minds of the audience.

What did the Green Goblin plan to do with Spider Man?

If he were smart, the villains and those with an ounce of practicality thought, the Green Goblin should immediately kill the Spider Man as soon as he could without any needless theatrics. Other villains, but possessed with a sadistic streak, thought the Goblin should kill Spider Man after he woke up and do so in a way that would either physically hurt or cause emotional damage before the end. Others, not caring for what the Goblin was thinking, just wanted Spider Man to wake up and kick his ass.

The screen slowly began to light up again, although everything was hazy. When at last things began to become clearer, the location was no longer at the Daily Bugle, but on a rooftop of some nondescript building at night. Spider Man was shown to be lying against a rooftop window without a scratch on him and with his suit still on. He began to awake from whatever that mist did to him and attempted to move, but all he could manage was move his head a little as the Goblin's voice spoke to him in a haunting manner.

"Wake up, little spider. Wake up. No, you're not dead... yet. Just paralysed temporarily."

"He's still alive." Salem remarked, feigning relief at how Spider Man was spared. The Green Goblin's enemy was vulnerable and at his mercy, but kept him alive for some reason. She was willing to tolerate his choice and see where this went, for she had spared enemies before and they became useful tools once sufficiently broken. Perhaps that was what the Green Goblin intended to do with Spider Man.

"You serious? If I were in the Green Goblin's shoes, I would have tied Spider Man's leg to something heavy and dropped him in the nearest river. Or just shoot the guy to be honest. Best to get the guy out of the way as soon as possible." Roman spoke, expressing his own thoughts.

"Then let us all be glad you are not." Goodwitch said in response after hearing Roman. The criminal simply rolled his eyes and ignored the Huntress, while Neo made a face at her.

"You're an amazing creature, Spider Man. You and I are not so different." The Goblin came into view now, dropping down into the screen and retracting his helmet's eye-lenses so he could look at Spider Man with his own eyes. There was nothing physically unique about them, but the audience could see a mix of demented cruelty, hunger, and ruthlessness in them.

"I'm not like you. You're a murderer," Spider Man groggily denied. The heroic boldness in his voice earlier gone, but he still had to courage to speak out against the Goblin.

"Well, to each his own." The Goblin's eyes narrowed as he began his evil monologue. "I chose my path, you chose the way of the hero. And they found you amusing for a while, the people of this city. But the one thing they love more than a hero, is to see a hero fail. Fall. Die trying. In spite of everything you've done for them, eventually they will hate you. Why bother? "

"Because... it's right." Spider Man responded as defiantly as his current state could manage.

Those well recited in the superhero genre or stories in general, could see what the Green Goblin was trying to do. He was attempting to break down Spider Man's belief in himself and others so he might manipulate the web slinger. Even those who were not could see what was happening.

Despite what the Green Goblin was trying to do, there were those who were glad Spider Man had the strength to reject what he was saying. To say no and keep standing up against the villain that was the Green Goblin, figuratively of course. To stick to his convictions despite being in a dangerous situation where his survival was uncertain. It was a trait that impressed a few of the adults, and made the hearts of the young swell with admiration for the hero.

"Here's the real truth. There are eight million people in this city. And those teeming masses exist for the sole purpose of lifting the few exceptional people onto their shoulders." The Goblin casually walked over to Spider Man and leaned against the roof window beside him, giving the hero an almost playful slap to the back of his head. "You, me. We're exceptional."

"That is a despicable way to view the world." Winter frowned, letting her distaste for the Green Goblin be known by all.

"Funny how you of all people would say that. Is your family not kept rich and allowed to be among the exceptional because of other peoples' hard work?" Adam sneered at Winter, causing the Specialist to rise from her seat with a dangerous look in her eyes. The White Fang cell leader seemed pleased by this and started to get up from his chair as well. A fight between the two seeming inevitable.

"Now is not the time for this, Winter. Stand down." Ironwood intervened by putting a hand on her shoulder. Winter looked at the General then back at Adam, before sitting back down with an icy glare directed at the red-haired Bull Faunus.

"Should have let them fight, Jimmy." Qrow muttered as he watched the two get back on their seats. Sure he might not like the Schnees, but he liked the White Fang's terrorist actions even less, and, despite himself, would have liked it if Winter beat Adam around a bit.

The Goblin dropped low so he was eye level with Spider Man, and, to the alarm of a few, he seemed to reach a hand for Spider Man's throat. Instead, he took hold of Spider Man's lower jaw and pulled his head so they were looking at each other.

"I could squash you like a bug right now!" The villain snarled at Spider Man, sounding awfully tempted to go through with his threat. After that he drew a little closer and half-whispered to the man at his mercy in a low voice. "But I'm offering you a choice. Join me, and imagine what we can accomplish together. What we could create."

"Or we could destroy! Cause the deaths of countless innocents in selfish battle again and again, until we're both dead! Is that what you want?" The Green Goblin roughly let go of Spider Man before swiftly rising up onto his feet. Turning, he walked a few steps away towards his vacant glider, then faced the hero again as spoke. His helmet's lenses covered his eyes again, and the Goblin leapt atop his glider. "Think about it, 'hero'!"

With those final words, the Green Goblin sped off into the night sky. Leaving Spider Man to sit and mince over his adversary's words.

The exchange between spider-themed hero and flying villain over, the screen faded to black.

"Awww! Is that it? I wanted to see they duking it out! Can't we see more of what happens with between Spider Man and the Green Goblin?" Nora pouted, hoping to see the two fight it out. She also wanted to see more of the Spider Man, and learn what made him into the hero Alaric claimed him to be.

"I do hope he comes out of that affair okay." Velvet said, hoping that the Spider Man was going to be fine. Like Nora she wished to see more of him in action, but what she saw of his personality made her think positively of him. She would like to see the man behind the mask, for one of the things she liked best about superheroes was the people they were when not being heroes.

"That was just some paralysis gas, remember? I am more worried about what the Green Goblin will do. That guy had the look of a maniac in his eyes," Sun spoke up and added his own thoughts to the mix. He was right, and now plenty of the other audience members felt concern for the people of New York. While they had seen little, what they saw informed them that the Green Goblin was a danger that needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.

"So you want to see more of the Spider Man, do you? This will not be the last you'll see of this iteration of him, or even Spider Man in general, if things go well that is. I might show you how that ends or show you something else if you hunger for something really heroic from the web-slinging hero." Alaric informed his guests, piquing the interests of those who wanted to see more.

"So when do you plan to return us to our Remnant?" Ozpin posed to Alaric, hoping for a definite answer from their host. It surprised the Headmaster to find that he also wanted to see more of not just the Spider Man, but the Multiverse in general. Despite how his students and colleagues could be in danger.

"Huh? Oh right. You may be here for a while, although that depends on how amusing this all turns out to be. Before you ask, no time will pass back in Remnant while you are here. So no, you will not find Remnant has turned into some wasteland where humans ride around in modified cars and fight each other for resources or whatever." The audience's host responded, his assurance still drawing some concern despite how sure he sounded. That and the fact he did not have a set time to send them back which did not help matters either.

With that Alaric began to scroll through his phone in preparation for what he planned to show them next.

There we are. The first chapter of this rewrite.

How was it? Good? Bad? Meh?

I have ideas for this fanfiction. For example; the RWBY crew might sometimes view stuff like how Jinn showed them the ancient past of Remnant or, when situations allow, make choices that will affect the stories they watch. Please note, it will not be as though they are influencing events as they are happening, just going through prearranged events like a choose your own adventure game or any game that has player choice in its story.

I will see you all when I next see you.