"Outpost 13, this is Manta AM-610. Requesting permission to land, over."
From the central terminal, a human in white armor and yellow markings tuned into the communications channel. "Receiving you, Manta. You're not listed on the arrival schedule, please state your business."
"Roger, outpost. We found something the general might want to look at. A Faunus… and a highly dangerous one at that." The tone of the pilot's voice would've brought concern to the soldier's voice, but he was trained better than that. "A Faunus? Is it White Fang?"
"Uh… it doesn't appear so, but it's not out of the question. The thing killed ten men before we could detain it. It needs to be securely restrained before we can do anything else with it."
Ten men? Those freaks were getting more monstrous by the day. "If it's as high a threat as you say, a squad will be present on your arrival. Proceed to the hangar, Manta. Outpost out." The soldier switched channels and spoke in a tone filled with authority. "Tethys Squad, report to the hangar bay immediately. Repeat, Tethys Squad to the hangar b-"
A sharp pain in the man's back turned his announcement into a cry of agony, his body seizing up as something alien seeped into his bloodstream. "I do hate to drop in unannounced…" whispered a voice. "But your men are… what is it that you say? On break? Because it didn't take too long to break them into pieces." Whatever it was that pierced him retreated, allowing the soldier to slump forward with a gasp before something spun him around. All the man's terrified eyes could see beneath his visor was a long, sharp appendage jabbing at him… then all was black.
The man collapsed with a hole through his helmet, a pair of golden heels striding past his lifeless form. The assassin's eyes turned to the terminal's communication module, a clawed finger switching the channel back to the incoming aircraft's frequency. The assassin could already see the aircraft inbound for landing. Knowing him, it wouldn't be too long now.
"Hey, wha… what's going on back there? Nyx, what… oh, gods! Vender, secure the prisoner! Secure it, dammit! HEY! Get back in-GAAAAH!" The aircraft was jolting from its straight path and losing control, barreling straight for the hangar at dangerous speeds. The stranger made no move to flee, the appendage behind it swaying with anticipation. The craft dipped dangerously until it smashed nose-first against the floor, a terrible screech accompanying the flying sparks.
It came to a stop inches away from the figure, who calmly walked around to the ship's side. From within the doomed vessel, the figure could faintly hear the sounds of survivors coughing, gasping for air… and the final vocalizations of death as they either expired from their injuries or had their lives forcefully taken. Among them was a voice that belonged to none of them. Heavy breathing and animalistic growling followed by loud footsteps reached the figure's ears until they stopped at the craft's side door.
A golden blade pierced through the sliding door with a metal-rending crunch, the weapon carving a diagonal line through them and leaving a terrible scar behind. The damaged door was then bashed open with a forceful kick, sending the pieces clattering to the ground and sliding past the figure. From within the craft, a tall shadow loomed over the figure… whose lips curled with sadistic satisfaction.
"It's about time," the figure spoke to the heaving silhouette aboard. "Come. We have work to do. An empress to track down, a potential world to dominate… and some children to kill." The shadow within the crashed vessel leaped from its perch before landing before the figure, hard enough for the female stranger to feel the impact. The brutish character had only one question; one it spoke with blood-boiling fury.
"Where are they?"
"That's the spirit," hissed the woman. "Now let the hunt begin."
…
"So let me get this straight," Weiss reviewed. "This all-powerful sage… the one who trained you… is a giant floating head?" Spying the girl's confusion, Kimberly gave a sympathetic smile. "I know, right? I was weirded out, too!"
"Well, I did say Zordon was trapped in a time warp," Billy explained. "So, it's safe to assume that isn't what he really looks like." Jason hadn't expected his friends to get along with these people so quickly, but he wasn't complaining. He paid no heed to what further words were spoken between the Rangers and the Huntsmen, only their faces and gestures. Ever since they arrived at Beacon, they'd been chatting as if they were back in Angel Grove High's halls… Jason chased the thought away. He'd work out a plan to get back home later.
"So this is Beacon," he muttered to Ruby, although it was a statement directed at himself rather than the girl with the permanent smile. She looked proud of the place, and for good reason. Beacon Academy was more of a castle than a school, its proud tower overlooking all other campus buildings. According to Ruby, the tower was where the academy's headmaster had his office. The principal's office was the highest point of the campus… which was oddly fitting. The sight of Jason and the other Rangers had already caught the attention of various students wandering the campus grounds, students that had chosen to remain at the academy during semester break. When Jason inquired of this, Ruby had launched into a speech that Beacon was an idea rather than a place; an idea planted in each student to serve as a light of hope by protecting those who could not protect themselves.
He just knew she didn't rehearse any of that.
"Enjoying it so far?" she asked him, that smile now a grin. Jason nodded. "Yeah, kinda," He had to resist the question of whether this was Remnant's equivalent of a high school or a college. "So, this is where you learn to fight monsters, right? Are there any other schools like this?"
"Yup! Three others, each in the other kingdoms!"
"And these kingdoms…" Jason asked. "They're like countries, aren't they? Which one are we in now?"
"Vale. Oh! And that reminds me! We gotta show you around the city sometime!" That sounded like a nice offer… for a later time, that is. But for now, the Rangers needed to get their bearings and learn more about this world: starting with what they were up against.
"Hey, Ruby, let's pause the tour for a second," Jason spoke up. "What can you tell us about these 'Grimm' creatures?" That question made everyone stop. From what Jason could see on his friends' faces, they were asking themselves the same thing. Yang took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair. "Oof, those things. Man, I don't know where to start with that question."
"The Grimm are soulless creatures," Ruby began, the joy in her voice replaced by a strict seriousness. "They've been terrorizing people for as long as we can remember. You can't underestimate them. Sure, we all saw how you and your friends fought them earlier, but if you think they're a pushover, think again."
"The Grimm only have one reason for existing," Blake spoke up. "To kill. To destroy us, humans and Faunus alike. The Huntsmen are all that stand between them and total destruction. And they're no ordinary animals. They don't tire, they don't rest, they don't stop… they don't act like anything else in this world."
"They're drawn to negative emotions," Weiss added. "Anger, fear, sadness… they focus on that like a moth to a flame. Long ago, we were powerless to stop them. We all would've died, but we found Dust."
"Your energy source," Zack reminded himself.
"That's right," Yang said. "The Dust allowed us to fight the Grimm and push them back. And ever since then, they've learned we're no easy prey. Sure, they attack anything on sight and some are easy to kill, but they're still dangerous. And if not for us, they'd be ruling the world."
"But the people of Remnant can rest easy knowing we Huntsmen and Huntresses can keep them safe!" Ruby finished with another smile. "And with how great you are at fighting monsters, your world should be lucky to have you guys and other heroes like you!"
Jason was seconds away from thanking Ruby when he suddenly fell silent. The others didn't say a word, their eyes only looking at both Huntsmen teams and the students that surrounded them. Then they looked at each other… and Jason sighed. Trini and Kim took an awkward step back, Billy put a hand to the bridge of his nose, and Zack hung his head low. It wasn't long before the Huntsmen noticed their reactions, with a confused-yet-saddened Ruby turning to Jason. "Uh… is something wrong?"
"Ruby…" Jason began quietly. "There are no others."
The girl stepped back as if she had been struck. "Wh-what?"
"There are no other Power Rangers," Trini deplorably declared. "It… it's just us."
"Yeah," Billy added somberly. "Six ordinary teenagers against an evil alien army with the fate of the world at stake."
"Oh…" Ruby deflated. "I… I didn't mean… i-it's just so…"
"Overwhelming," Zack finished for her. "A few of us may have bombed a test because we were fighting a monster instead of studying. That's a secret identity for you."
"It's just you?" Yang whispered. "And nobody else? That's… I don't… how do you do it?"
"Well, for one…" Kimberly spoke up. "Most of Rita's minions are dumb goons that get taken out easily. Others are… a little more of a challenge. Like when we first met Tommy."
"Like we said, Tommy is our best friend," Jason explained. "But he didn't start that way. Rita was fed up with us defeating her monsters, so she had an idea. If she was to destroy the Power Rangers…"
"...she needed a Power Ranger of her own," Billy continued. "She kidnapped Tommy, brainwashed him to serve her, then gave him the power of the Green Ranger. After that, he was given one simple task: destroy Zordon… and us."
"And the scary part?" Trini said. "He almost did it. He trashed our command center, cut off Zordon's connection to Earth, beat us like we were nothing, and captured Jason." She paused for a moment before turning her eyes to the Red Ranger. "We were at our lowest point… but we didn't give up. It wasn't what Jason would want. And it wasn't what Zordon would want." This was enough to bring a smile to the boy's face.
"Because the smallest chance of victory is all that you need to keep fighting," he said proudly. "That chance was why my friends rescued me. That chance was why we brought Zordon back. And that chance was why we broke Rita's hold over Tommy… and he became one of us."
"And am I glad he took it," Zack chuckled. "I don't even wanna think about what would've happened if he didn't."
"It's because of that chance," Jason finished. "The smallest, bleakest hope against overwhelming and impossible odds is why we keep fighting. I'll admit, there are times when we feel like we're not enough. Then… I remember. My friends remember. We're proud of our hometown and its people… and we'll do anything to protect them. Not just because it's our duty as Power Rangers, but because it's what a real hero would do."
"That's… amazing," Jaune whispered in awe. Jason had to agree with him. Underneath the helmets were just ordinary teenagers that had the will and drive to stand up to evil. Powers or no powers, that would be what would define them in the end.
"Quite so," a new humble-sounding voice reached the group's ears, turning their attention to a statue of two hooded warriors standing triumphant on a rocky outcropping, a wolf-like monster beneath them. Standing before that statue was a middle-aged man with tousled silver hair and thin brown eyes that scanned the Rangers with the curiosity of a scientist examining a new discovery. He wore a pair of spectacles, dark green pants with black trouser shoes, and a dark green vest and shirt over a black undershirt. The man's sharp facial features told Jason that he was not to be trifled with, like a pair of muggers mistaking a wise sensei for a withered old man. All that green wasn't helping either, as it served as the obvious reminder that he was still down a man.
"Greetings, new friends of Team RWBY," he said. "You appear to be a rather… curious bunch. I am Professor Ozpin, the headmaster of this academy. And from what I can understand… you are no Huntsmen, is that correct?"
Kimberly did a double take. "Hang on, Ozpin?" she muttered to Zack. "Like the wizard?" The Black Ranger shrugged in reply. "Maybe a coincidence?"
"That's right, professor!" Ruby jumped in with a sheepish smile. "So, uh… this may be difficult for you to wrap your head around, but these people… aren't from here." The girl's slight hesitation brought a smirk to the older man's face. "Do enlighten me, Miss Rose. Few concepts about this world escape my knowledge."
"That's the thing, sir," Ruby continued. "They're… they're not from this world."
The professor cocked a brow. "Is that right? Hmm… worlds beyond our own have been difficult to uncover thanks to the limitations of Dust. Where do these fine young men and women hail from?"
"They call themselves the Power Rangers," Ruby answered. "And they come from a planet called Dirt."
"Dirt?!" Trini sneered, smacking the silver-eyed girl on the arm. "Ouch, Ruby!"
"Wh-what?! But I-" The girl winced in pain while confusion broke out across her face. Billy stepped forth before she could ask what she did wrong. "It's Earth, actually. But you were pretty close."
"Angel Grove, to be more specific," Kim quickly added. "Which probably means nothing to you guys…"
"I'm with Trini on this one," Zack groaned. "I'm a little offended, but then again, you call this place Remnant. What kind of name is that for a planet?"
The Red Ranger cleared his throat before turning to the man. "Mister Ozpin, sir? My name is Jason, and these are my best friends: Billy, Zack, Trini, and Kimberly." He didn't know how much he was supposed to tell him for fear of overwhelming the professor. "We've been through… a lot recently, so we need somewhere to catch our breath. I'd appreciate it if you would grant us hospitality."
The man nodded in approval. "Any friend of my students can consider themselves a friend of mine. After all, what better way to appreciate my thanks for fending off those Grimm?"
Zack blinked. "How did you-?"
"I witnessed your battle from my office," the professor replied. "And for warriors not from this world, you would have made excellent Huntsmen thanks to how efficiently you fight together. For in Remnant, unity is a greater power than you can imagine; one needed now more than ever with the Grimm running wild."
"Um… thanks," Trini ran a hand through her hair with an uncertain expression. "So does that mean we can stay here for now?" Billy already had a comfortable smile. "Pretty sure we can! Besides, I'm excited! I've never seen an educational institution quite like this!" Ozpin appeared to approve of the Blue Ranger's enthusiasm as he gestured toward the school. "Then you are free to explore Beacon Academy at your leisure. In the meantime, I will allow Teams RWBY and JNPR to show you around."
"Now we're getting somewhere!" Yang piped up. "We gotta show you guys our dorm room! Oh, and the armory because weapons aren't allowed outside of the training rings, FYI."
"Looking forward to it," Jason thanked her. "But first… which way to your cafeteria? You have one, right?"
…
There were a lot of things Jason didn't expect about Remnant… at least not yet. One was the black and white monsters running around. Another was the new powers everybody had. But the third was how Remnant's food was so… Earth-like. The cafeteria had the exact same food Jason could find back home, from the cookies Ruby had scarfed down (much to Weiss' chagrin) to the large stack of pancakes Nora had got for herself. There were a few slight differences to the menu, as Yang had gotten both Blake and Trini a sunflower-themed soda drink. But as the Yellow Ranger voiced aloud, sustenance wasn't the only thing on the Rangers' minds.
"I don't know if any of you have noticed this, but we don't just have new powers here. I was fighting one of those bear things earlier and there was this… force that kept me from being torn to bits. It was…" she sighed. "I don't know how to explain this, but… it was a yellow light, surrounding my whole body. And it felt… warm, I guess? Ruby, Yang, do any of you know anything?"
"As a matter of fact, I do!" Ruby happily replied. "That was your Aura, a manifestation of your very soul! Everyone and everything here has one!"
"There's only one kind of creature that doesn't have Aura," Blake added. "The Grimm, because they have no soul. You've seen how deadly they are, so don't think they're easy to eliminate."
"So, you all have natural shields?" Zack asked. "Does that mean you're invincible?"
"Far from it, actually," Pyrrha corrected. "Our Auras keep us safe from harm, but they can be broken with time or heavy use. Once it breaks, we're vulnerable. Fortunately, protection isn't the only thing Aura can grant us. With enough training, our Aura can develop a power that is unique and special to each of us. And right now, each of your Auras has tapped into your previous experiences and has given you a new ability perfectly tailored to you. We call these abilities Semblances."
"Whoa…" Billy breathed before a realization struck him. "Wait, so… if everybody has an Aura, does that mean everybody has a Semblance, too?"
"Not everyone," Jaune admitted. "Semblances need to be unlocked, and it's not an easy process. I'm… still figuring out what mine is."
"And these 'Semblances'..." Jason murmured. "I take it they're not your ordinary superpower? I mean, I've never heard of somebody who can fly around as a flower. What can you all do with them?"
Ruby leaped from her seat so quickly she inadvertently startled the Rangers. "My Semblance is called Petal Burst, and I use it to move around the battlefield quickly to confuse my enemies!"
"As flowers," Jason added in confusion while Kimberly perked up. "Wait, you name your superpowers?" Nobody had the chance to elaborate when Weiss spoke up next. "My Semblance is a rather unique one, as it is an ability everyone in my family possesses. I can summon glyphs that can alter movement as I see fit, and I can also summon lifelike images of Grimm to aid me."
"You can?" Billy asked curiously… to which Weiss' stance fell. "Well… in theory. I'm still learning."
"My Semblance is called Shadow," Blake went next. "I can leave an afterimage in my wake to distract my foes while I slip away unharmed, giving me opportunities to follow through."
"And mine is called Burn!" Yang eagerly explained. "Whenever I get hit, I absorb the impact and give it back twice as hard! Also, it gives my hair a sweet fiery glow!"
"And that means if it looks like your hair's on fire," Kim said. "We shouldn't spray you with an extinguisher, right?" The Pink Ranger's question made Yang whirl on her with a surprised look that quickly became an aggressive snarl. "You wouldn't dare."
"Okay, okay!" Kim stammered, holding up her hands in surrender. "J-just saying!"
"She's sensitive about her hair," Ruby quickly added. "Moving on!"
"As Jaune has said previously, his Semblance is still a work in progress," Pyrrha spoke up. "My Semblance, Polarity, allows me to magnetically manipulate objects."
"And mine, High Voltage?" Nora butted in. "Woo, this one's a real shocker! Literally! I can channel electricity into strength, and then I can pack a real punch! So, don't freak out if you accidentally hit me with Lightning Dust, okay? Okay!"
"My Semblance is called Tranquility," Ren finished. "I can mask the negative emotions of others, making them undetectable by Grimm." Zack raised a brow at him. "Can you also mask your emotions?"
"Yes. Why?"
"No reason."
"So," Ruby eagerly eyed each of the Rangers. "What do you guys think your Semblances should be called?" A silent response came, with each of the Rangers contemplating the question and recalling what each of them could now do in this world: the substitution to their inability to morph. Jason made a mental note: ask Billy for possible theories on that. He was undoubtedly coming up with possible scenarios, for the possibility of damaged morphers was out of the question.
"Well…" the Red Ranger began. "My Semblance… I guess that's what's making me roar like a T-Rex so loud it can sweep these Grimm off their feet." He gave it careful thought for a moment, paying close attention to the legendary animal the power originally belonged to. "How about… 'King's Call'? The extinct creature who could do that back home is well-renowned."
"A fitting title, Jason," Billy congratulated before diving into his own thoughts. "Hmm… you said that Aura provided protection, but what I experienced back there was nothing as Trini had described. The beasts were repulsed instead of landing a blow that this Aura would have shielded me from. So…" There was a long pause, a silence the other Rangers knew better than to interrupt. Before long, the corner of the Blue Ranger's mouth lifted. "Is 'Thick Hide' an acceptable designation? Consider it an upgrade to my defensive capabilities."
Zack drummed his fingers against the table. "Mine's a tough one. Usually, I'm strong after I morph, but not this strong. I don't know how strong mastodons are off the top of my head, but… will 'Pachyderm Power' work? Is there a rule for naming these things or can you keep it simple?"
"As long as it fits you, it doesn't matter," Weiss told him.
"We tend to be faster after we morph, too," Trini said. "But what I felt was nothing like that. I'm not just moving fast now, but it feels like my reflexes are heightened. I heard that bear thing coming before Yang did, and… and I could smell it, too." She wrinkled her nose at the thought. "Ugh. The one thing about those things I'm not looking forward to."
Blake eyed the Yellow Ranger quizzically. "Your Semblance sounds like… animal-based instincts? Only Faunus tend to have those naturally, not as a Semblance." The ravenette's words prompted Trini to do a quick self-examination. "I-I didn't sprout a tail or anything, right?"
"Trini, I would've noticed if you had any sabertooth features," Jason told her. "You're good." Trini quickly extracted her finger from her mouth with a sheepish chuckle before snapping back into thought. "Okay, so… does 'Feline Focus' work for anybody? Blake?" The Faunus just gave her an appreciative nod.
"Um… I guess I can jump super high?" Kimberly recalled. "And I think I have increased aerial maneuverability? What do you call a superpower like that?"
Billy raised a brow. "Is it safe to assume you can also fly?" Kimberly shrugged upon registering the words. "I haven't experienced anything like that so far. But it doesn't feel out of the question. Ideas, ladies?" Weiss was the one to come forward this time. "When somebody learns to properly harness their Semblance and gain experience with it, there is a chance that Semblance can evolve, allowing further possibilities with it. Unfortunately, we're all novices, so if you're looking for more advice on that, I'm afraid to disappoint you."
Kim blinked. "So… I can fly?"
"...presumably," Weiss finished after a pause. "In the meantime, is there anything you wish to name your Semblance?" The question made Kim jolt in realization. "Oh! Right! A name! Um…" The Pink Ranger scrambled into thought, fingertips drumming against the table. "Airtime? No, too simple! Uh, Super Leap- ugh! Too lame! Uh… wait, I got it! Skybound! What do you guys think?"
"Nice choice," Zack complimented. "So what now?"
"A different lesson," Jason explained. "If we're going to find Tommy and Rita, we need to know two things: how this world works and what its geography is like. Ruby…" he turned to the silver-eyed girl. "You said Remnant had four 'kingdoms'. Care to elaborate?"
"Of course!" came her eager reply. "There are four kingdoms, each with its own Huntsman Academy. Beacon is the academy in Vale, a kingdom well-known for its reputation as a safe haven from the Grimm."
"Across the continent of Sanus, which is where you are right now…" Yang continued. "... is the kingdom of Vacuo off in the desert. That place can be summarized in one sentence: if you survive there, you're welcome there. It's tough, but the people are tougher."
"Off to the east is the kingdom of Mistral, on the continent we call Anima," Blake said. "It's a diverse kingdom with various cultures and lifestyles, but it's divided into two distinct classes: the wealthy upper class who live a life of luxury and the criminal lower class who'd bury a blade in your back if you looked at them funny."
"And to the north is the kingdom of Atlas, which was where I was raised," Weiss concluded. "It's the most technologically-advanced nation on Remnant, as Billy saw for himself."
"It's nothing like we've seen before!" the Blue Ranger butted in, unable to contain his excitement. "If you guys thought the Command Center was something, wait until you see that! I mentioned it was a floating city, right? Their energy source did that!"
"That covers the primary nations, then," Jason noted. "Anything else?"
"Just several islands," Yang told him. "There's Patch, where Ruby and I grew up…"
"And Menagerie, an island to the southeast that the Faunus have claimed for themselves," Blake finished. "And that's pretty much it."
"All of that, and Tommy could be anywhere," Trini muttered. "We need a lead, somewhere to get started. Do you have newspapers on Remnant? Or news channels on TV? Anything that would, I dunno, have reports of a lone green Huntsman?"
"I've got a faster solution," Weiss said, pulling out and activating a device only two of the Rangers recognized. Jason and Trini immediately noticed the Scroll in Weiss' hands, the heiress quickly getting to work. "Some Huntsmen have been known to go rogue, but they're always in teams. If there have been sightings of a single Huntsman wandering around by himself, people will be all over it. I'll see if I can find anything." The Remnantians silently allowed Weiss to do her research, but their attention soon turned to the other perplexed humans all staring at the white-haired girl. A full ten seconds passed until she noticed the number of eyes on her.
"Is there a problem?"
"Um…" Kimberly began. "What's that?"
"Oooooh, right," Yang remembered, directing her gaze on her friends. "They don't have Scrolls."
"Scrolls?" a stunned Zack repeated. "That's not a scroll! That's a… that's a… actually, I don't know what that's supposed to be. A tiny TV or something? A palm-sized computer?"
"Simply astounding…" Billy whispered, his expression more of amazement rather than bewilderment. "Will the wonders of this world's technology never cease? What is it capable of? Instant communication? Is it Remnant's equivalent of a telephone?"
"Well, it's a lot of things," Ruby piped up. "They act as room keys, they track Aura levels, they can be a video game controller… and more that I can't list from the top of my head."
"Lucky," Zack said. "On Earth, scrolls are nothing more than rolled-up pieces of paper. And… you said you could call people on them, right?"
"Yep!" Ruby nodded. "You can text them, too!"
Trini blinked once. "Wh-what's texting?"
Nora let out an over-dramatic gasp and slumped downwards. "Oh, you poor things… we need to get you your Scrolls right away!" Kim perked up at her words. "Uh, we don't really need-"
"We're just fine with our communica-" Zack cut himself off before hanging his head. "Our communicators, which are no longer working. Crap." Taking notice of the Black Ranger's lamenting, Jason creased his brow in thought. "Yeah, that reminds me. We got new powers, which is sweet… but we can't get the powers we usually wield. Billy, any ideas about our morphers?"
The Blue Ranger nodded. "I took a moment to look over mine on the way here," he began as if he was doing a class presentation. "As each of you has already noticed, our morphers are perfectly intact. You believed they may be damaged, but my research suggests that attempting to morph with a broken morpher would be fatal. When we tried it, there was no response of any kind. Thus… I've reached a definitive conclusion." Taking a moment to adjust his glasses, Billy leaned forward. "I believe we have lost our connection to the Morphin Grid."
"Lost our connection?" Kim echoed. "But… that's not possible. Zordon said the Grid stretched to all corners of the universe!"
"Which leads me to point two," Billy continued. "Impossible as it may seem, I believe Rita encountered a means to breach the boundaries of the Grid. Seeing as to how our efforts of outright destroying us have proven futile, I think she has devised an alternative approach to eliminating us."
"Like with Tommy," Trini realized. "What do you think was this approach to destroying us, Billy?"
"You misunderstand," the Blue Ranger simply said. "I said Rita had a plan to eliminate us. As in, to remove us from the equation. Her schemes to destroy us weren't as effective as she thought…"
"Yeah, if you can call them that," Zack quipped. "First, throw a monster at the problem. If that fails, throw more monsters at the problem. If that fails, throw a bigger monster at the problem. Repeat as necessary."
Billy shot him a glare that immediately silenced the Black Ranger, doing his best to ignore some giggles from the girls. "...so she found another way. I won't bore you with the exact details, so allow me to summarize: I believe Rita Repulsa didn't mean to kill us with that spell. I think she intended to banish us to another universe; one where the Morphin Grid does not exist."
Jason could feel the recoil in his very soul. "Billy, back up. You're saying we're not just in another world… but another universe? That… that sounds crazy, man."
"Perhaps, but the multiverse theory is considered ancient, with the idea being traced back to Greek philosophy," Billy countered. "Regardless, I strongly believe we've been transported to a universe where there is no Morphin Grid… thus making the morphing process impossible."
"So we're literally off the grid," Trini spoke, earning an amused smirk from Yang. "Ooh, nice one!" She winked, giving the Yellow Ranger a friendly elbow. Her smile didn't last long, though, as she looked upon the Rangers with an intrigued look. "But, uh… what is this 'grid' you're all talking about?"
"The Morphin Grid," Jason explained, rising from his seat. "It's an energy field that spans the entire universe," His eyes glanced toward Billy. "Well, our universe, if what Billy says is true. It gives us our powers, and we access it every time we morph. If it doesn't reach here, that would be enough of an explanation. But… what that doesn't explain is how we got new powers in place of our old ones."
"And why we look like… this," Kim added, gesturing to the new Remnant-esque outfits each of the Rangers wore. Billy leaned forward again, clearing his throat as he did so. "If I may, Kimberly… in the slight chance that my theory is real, I think our cellular makeup has adjusted to this world's 'rules of reality', to put it simply. There may not be a Morphin Grid, but there is something else: Auras and Semblances. I believe each of our bodies has adapted to this world immediately upon arrival, hence why we have them."
"And the outfits?" Trini asked him. Billy just shrugged at her. "Call it fitting in with the natives."
Jason sighed. "All this and Tommy… wherever he is, he's got no clue. Weiss, any luck on… whatever it is you're doing on that thing?" The heiress shook her head. "No. I'm not seeing news reports or social media posts on a green Huntsman by himself. Any distinguishing features about your friend?"
"Well, he has a dagger that he can play like a flute," Zack explained, to which Blake looked at him quizzically. "A weapon that doubles as a musical instrument? What good would that be?"
"Oh, nothing much," Trini said smugly. "It just allows him to call forth a robotic dragon from the sea and-" her face lit up. "And we can't call in the Zords here, can we, Billy?" The Blue Ranger shook his head. "Highly unlikely, Trini."
"Great."
"Uh, but only one of you has a sword?" Ruby spoke up only to be corrected by Jason. "Zords. They're highly advanced combat machines modeled after the greatest creatures on our planet. Each one is powerful in its own right, but they can combine into a massive mech we call the Megazord."
Yang whistled. "Six ordinary teens that can become superheroes, saving the world from evil aliens by combining robots? If Trini didn't clarify, I would've thought it would sound appropriate for a show."
Weiss raised a brow at her Scroll. "Still nothing on your friend… but this seems equally interesting." Each of the Rangers stood up, eager to know just what Weiss had uncovered. "The local SDC headquarters has ceased Dust production. Officials say it's a malfunction, but these details don't add up. These machines on the inside look… deliberately damaged."
"Sabotage?" Blake guessed. "The White Fang would stoop to such a level, especially now."
"That's good enough for us," Jason said. "Nothing attracts a Power Ranger quite like trouble or a suspicious event. If Tommy's there, we'll find him."
Trini wasn't so sure. "And if we don't?"
"Then we keep looking. We keep helping and find more clues on the way," Jason stated. "This isn't Earth, Rangers, but we can't just let these people sit idly by while those Grimm monsters and whatever else is out there terrorize them. Until we find Tommy, Rita, or anybody else, this is what we do."
"I don't know, Jace," Zack muttered. "Helping people while showing our faces? It doesn't sit right with me."
"This is the norm around here, Zack. New world, new rules," Jason told him. "The sooner we get accustomed to them, the better our chances." The Red Ranger turned to the Remnantians. "Everyone, meet us outside. You're going to need to show us the way to this place." Ruby gave Jason a cheerful nod, an ecstatic grin on her face. "Alright! Team RWBY, Team JNPR, and their new friends, the Pow-"
"Wait, wait, wait!" Zack interrupted her, throwing off the girl's seemingly-heroic speech before looking at his friends. "Guys, since we're in another world… do we need a name? Y'know, fitting in and all that?"
"A new-?" Trini shook her head with a groan. "Zack, how would that even work? Their team names are, what, the first initials of their names?" Billy was having similar thoughts, counting off his fingers. "I concur. J, B, Z, T, K… and another T… not much we can go off."
"I can't think of a color to correspond with that," Jaune awkwardly stated. "Are you gonna need something else or-?"
"Go Go Remnant Rangers!" Kimberly suddenly cheered while punching the air… only for her limb to fall when she noticed everyone's surprised expressions. "Ugh… it's not the same, is it?"
"I dunno," Yang gave her opinion. "That sounds kinda catchy." Beside her, Ruby tilted her head. "Is that seriously your catchphrase?"
"But we're not Rangers here, are we?" Billy pondered, but Jason was quick to shut those thoughts down. "On the outside, we're Huntsmen and Huntresses now. But inside? It's not the morphers, the Grid, or the suits that make a Ranger; it's what makes them worthy enough to have the power. So I say we're worthy enough to have these powers."
"You know what?" Zack sighed in defeat. "We can talk names later. Right now, we've got a facility to investigate and a friend to find. Like Jason said… the sooner the better." The other Rangers silently nodded in agreement, the debate quickly a forgotten manner as they were reminded of their next goal.
"Great!" Ruby cheered. "Meet us on the main avenue and Weiss will take us!" The Huntsmen then left the table, with Ruby all but rushing from the cafeteria. The Rangers trailed behind with a better understanding of the world they now found themselves in… and with it, an advantage.
…
For somebody who detested her own family, Weiss didn't deny explaining the SDC's Dust production, namely how both mining and distributing the stuff earned the company its reputation. It was a reputation she claimed her father had soiled thanks to unethical practices, a statement Blake reinforced by bringing up Faunus manual labor. From what the Power Rangers understood of their backgrounds, it sounded like the two girls didn't have a rough start. According to Ruby, it was "two sworn enemies stuffed into a box and learning to cooperate".
The company's Vale headquarters was a symbol of radiance, its trademark coloring of brilliant white impressing the Rangers to a point. Weiss' credentials allowed them easy access… something that sounded too easy. From what she had described, the Rangers almost expected high security: people who wouldn't be too keen on untrained students just waltzing into what Jason and Billy had believed to be a restricted area. The good news was that security was nowhere to be seen upon entry.
And the bad news was that everybody else was nowhere to be seen. No workers, no guards, not even the mechanical Atlesian Knights- automated sentries programmed for security measures, as Weiss had explained- lined the facility's hallways. At least… nobody who was still breathing. It was Blake that had found the dead body of a security guard slumped along a wall, his windpipe crushed like an empty soda can.
The situation was bizarre even for her. She had said that the White Fang wanted to make "big statements", which meant a significant amount of destruction and casualties. Yet everyone saw none of that, just monitors that flashed warning signs amongst destroyed equipment, sword marks in the wall large enough to be mistaken for Grimm claws, and more bodies with puncture wounds in them. Even the alarms were busted, casting the facility in an eerie silence.
"They're not quiet anymore," Blake had told them. "And neither are the Grimm."
The Dust production line was just as abandoned, with scattered bodies and robotic forms torn to pieces amidst sorting machines and inactive conveyor belts filled with colored powder and crystals. One machine had a large diagonal gash on its torso, a wound that would've appeared grisly on a human. Billy suspected the Grimm… but it was too precise. Too coordinated.
None of them liked this. Jason noticed Jaune was looking nervous. It made sense, they were all just students. No doubt they had as much field experience as the Rangers. Trini and Blake offered to warn the group of any sudden movements, a tactic Jason and Ruby had no problems with. The Yellow Ranger's Semblance and the cat Faunus' senses would be the most efficient warning system the teens had.
It was when they reached the center of the production line that Jason felt a check-in was needed. "Anything?" he whispered, his voice fading into the stillness. There was a pause from Trini… until she shook her head. "No. Nothing yet."
"Likewise," reported Blake. "Something's not right, it's too…" She trailed off, ears twitching beneath her bow. When she resumed speaking, her voice was low, almost like a predator about to lunge at prey. "Wait… the doors."
Jason heard it the minute he looked in the indicated direction. A pair of automatic doors leading to another corridor ahead of them was filled with nothing but shadows… but everyone could hear footsteps coming from the dark. The Red Ranger slowly drew his sword while everyone else reached for their own weapons, waiting for whoever or whatever emerged from the darkness.
It was what they least expected: a wounded security guard stumbled from the shadows and almost collapsed to his knees. His white uniform was covered in grime and his breaths left him in exhausted gasps. His weary eyes were filled with fear, the sight of them sending a slight shiver up Jason's spine.
"Sir, what happened here?! Are you alright?"
The man opened his mouth… but all that came out was a weakened groan when his body jolted in pain. It was quick, but some of the teens swore they heard something burying itself into his back.
"Come here, little human!" hissed a venomous voice. Without warning, the guard was yanked back into the shadows. The Rangers were ready to pursue, but a sharp crunching noise froze them where they stood. There was silence yet again… followed by an amused chuckle. The sinister laughter, minuscule in volume, reverberated through the entire chamber like a ripple traveling through a pond. The voice was somewhat familiar to the Rangers, but none of them could place where.
"Hello, Power Rangers…" The voice whispered. "How wondrous it is to see you here… I trust your new accommodations are meeting your approval."
Jason's retort was interrupted when Ruby stomped forward like a little girl about to scold a man for being rude. "Who are you?! And why did you kill these people?!"
"Aww… how cute. You've already made friends," the voice cooed. "I almost feel sorry for them. But don't worry, children… you won't be separated for long."
"Is that supposed to mean something?" Kim shot, earning another chuckle from the stranger. "Ah, my dear Kimberly. Always so protective, like the rest of you pathetic Rangers. It would be adorable if it wasn't so sickening. Even in a world far from Earth, you still retain those annoying habits. You can put up a fine act of bravery and heroism… but you are still children deep down."
A clicking of heels echoed from the darkness, a sound that grew ever closer. Soon enough, a pair of yellow high-heeled shoes made themselves known, resting at the end of a pair of dark yellow leggings adorned with golden armor. The armor reached up the legs until halting at a bronze-gold corset ending in a bustier the color of desert sand. More shiny plating dotted a pair of bare arms, the hands covered in clawed gauntlets while one held a crescent-shaped blade. A feminine face lifted her lips in a sadistic smirk while a pair of dark eyes glared at the Rangers. Lastly, a wave of black hair rolled down her shoulders with no helmet to hide them, and a lengthy golden tail swayed behind her legs with a deadly stinger at its tip.
"And children…" she hissed. "...must be punished."
"Scorpina," Jason growled. The other Rangers quickly drew their weapons and stared down the general. Trini narrowed her eyes at their enemy's new feature. "And you have a tail now. Perfect."
"It is perfect, is it not?" Scorpina mused, lifting the appendage to her side and running her free hand down its length. "Once I noticed, I just had to test it out. In the end, it went better than I anticipated. I had questions, of course… but these men gave me my answer. 'Faunus', they said." She paused as if relishing the title. "A rather fitting name… for a more superior species."
Blake bared her teeth at the woman while Billy pointed his lance at Scorpina's face. "Where is Rita?" he asked as fiercely as he could. Scorpina just scoffed at him. "Intimidation is not your strong suit, Blue Ranger. But that is a question I am asking myself. And… we cannot allow you to impede our search."
Kim lowered her bow. "We?" The answer didn't come from Scorpina, but instead from a window high above the production line. The sound of shattering glass filled the room and startled the teens, who whirled in its direction just in time to see a large mass thud next to Scorpina: a bulky figure donned in gold armor with broad ape-like muscles and a large golden broadsword in one gold gauntlet. The figure rose with heavy breaths, a golden faceplate depicting an angry gorilla shrouding his identity.
Jason didn't need to see his face anyway. "Goldar."
Rita's general had undergone some changes as well, the most notable being the absence of his wings. Goldar's body shook with fury as he stood before the Rangers. His unarmed hand went to his faceplate and shoved it upwards, revealing something Jason was both expecting and not expecting at the same time. A male human-like face with bright red eyes glared at the Rangers in fury, a pair of canine teeth front and center. Trini and Zack looked on in shock, with the Black Ranger chuckling. "What's up, Goldy? You look-"
"I look HIDEOUS!" roared the alien-turned-Faunus. "Because of your interference, I'm a freak! You stupid Rangers interrupted the banishing spell, and because of that I'm HUMAN!"
"Not entirely," Scorpina sternly reminded him, showing him her newly-gained scorpion tail. Goldar paid her no mind, instead pointing his blade at the teens. "I will ask you only once. I seek the traitor who is responsible for this mess! Now tell me, where is the Green Ranger?!"
Trini did a double take. "You mean he's not here?"
"Banishing spell?" Billy repeated. "So you did mean to send us away!"
"And only you, you weak-willed imbecile!" Goldar snarled in a booming voice. "But that traitor Tommy intervened at the last instant! And because of him, Empress Rita, myself, and her loyal minions are trapped here as well! And now there is no way back!"
"That's not true!" Kimberly shouted, drawing an arrow. "We'll find one, and we're going home!" Team RWBY stepped forward with their sister team right behind them, finally drawing the generals' attention. "And just who might you be?" Goldar growled.
"We're their new friends," Ruby answered. "And if you want them, you're gonna have to go through us, too!" Reaching behind her cloak, the girl whipped out her sniper-scythe and unfolded it before snapping into a ready pose, taking both Faunus and some of the Rangers by surprise. The color in Kimberly's face just about drained from her face. "All of a sudden, I am so glad you're a friend."
"Th-that thing's twice your size!" Zack stammered. "How do you not cut yourself in half with that thing?"
"SILENCE!" Goldar roared before turning his crimson eyes to the Remnantians. "You all just made your last mistake aiding these inept fools. We were not supposed to be here, Rangers, but now that we are…"
Scorpina hissed and flicked her tail. "...we'll make sure you never leave!" Nora wore a giddy grin. "Finally, skull-cracking time!"
Both Faunus snarled and lunged at the teens that outnumbered them, who charged to meet them head-on with weapons drawn. The Rangers could tell their foes were overconfident already as if the humans (and a catgirl) would be easy pickings. If Jason had to guess, he'd say it was because these two thought they were powerless.
Needless to say… he was looking forward to proving them wrong.
