If somebody had told the Power Rangers that an amphitheater could double as a sparring ring, they wouldn't have believed them. And that was saying something, considering they fought monsters and aliens for a living. But here they were, on their second day in a world where the Morphin Grid could not reach, testing their skills with this world's defenders. It was like both their personal and secret lives had merged into one, which was a little surreal… but then again, they'd seen plenty of surreal stuff in both their world and this one.

Plus, they could tell they had another long day ahead of them. So what better way to start than with a warm-up? Well… not exactly a warm-up, but rather more explanation as to how Dust worked with their new weapons. The session lasted a full hour and a half before the Rangers realized that these Huntsmen were still students: students who needed further training.

They were happy to uphold their end of the bargain if the others could do the same for theirs.

Two blades connected in the middle of the ring, the owner of the red one giving his opponent an impressed look. "Alright, good so far! But try this!" Jason broke away from Jaune and took a few steps back, allowing the Huntsman-in-training to charge at him shield-first. The Red Ranger promptly gave the shield a hard kick, making Jaune stagger back. Capitalizing on this, Jason quickly inserted a red crystal into his sword and spun. The first thing Jaune saw upon recovery was the crimson blade igniting, the spinning swing sending a fiery arc into his form. The Huntsman-to-be fell onto his back, tiny wisps of smoke being the only remnants of the flames.

"Don't just charge in swinging," Jason advised, holding a hand for Jaune to take. "You leave yourself open that way. Study your opponent closely, watch for weaknesses, then pick your moment to strike." The blonde rolled back his shoulders with a groan, shaking off the last of the attack. "Noted… you're not doing too bad yourself."

"Well, I'm more of a hand-to-hand instructor rather than swords," Jason clarified. "But the Dust is something else. And I know somebody who's gonna want to experiment with it more than any of us." On cue, a command rang through the amphitheater.

"FREEZE! Ha ha! Man, that felt satisfying to say!"

"That makes one of us," retorted Weiss, her feet frozen in place as she pointed her rapier at a smiling Billy. The Blue Ranger's eyes widened before he dove into a roll, avoiding a hail of laser-like projectiles launched from bright glyphs surrounding the heiress. Strafing around the girl in white, Billy fired multiple shots in quick succession, his eyes darting for a better opening when the girl simply deflected each bullet. After cleanly slicing one of his bullets in half, Weiss pointed her weapon at the ground…

…and Billy came to an abrupt halt, his legs now refusing his mental command to move. Looking down, he noticed a black glyph under his feet that kept him lodged to the spot. "H-hey! No fair!"

Weiss smirked. "Now you freeze," she retorted, flicking her sword upward. Billy felt an invisible force launching himself into the air, a surprised cry leaving his throat as he tumbled. He barely had time to comprehend the world spinning around him before another force slammed into his side; a force that kept him from hitting the floor as it quickly-yet-gently set him down. All Billy needed to see was a yellow blur to recognize his savior, using his weapon's lance mode as a crutch while giving the figure a thankful nod.

Trini engaged Yang in a flurry of close-quarters movements, both girls matching each other step-for-step. Hooks, jabs, parries, counters… they were at a stalemate and they both knew it. A coy smirk crossed Yang's face and she drew her left arm back, cocking her gauntlet. Trini instinctively veered away from the coming punch-

BLAM! Her right ear all but exploded from the sudden burst until all she heard in it was a high ringing. Yelping in slight pain and clasping that side of her face, the Yellow Ranger cursed the fact that her newfound Semblance had a sensitivity issue. Yang took this moment to press the attack, with Trini doing the best she could to defend herself with half her hearing intact. But she could only do so much with one arm, and a barrage of jabs to her midsection was enough to bring her to her knees.

Yang swung both arms over her head and brought them onto Trini's head, but the girl raised her own limbs to block the hard blow. Fighting through the pounding in her head, Trini swung a leg out, knocking Yang's from under her and landing the blonde on her back. Recalling an earlier lesson from the morning, Trini tossed a pair of yellow crystals from her belt and caught them in her daggers, the short blades lighting up with crackling electricity. Yang rolled away the second she stabbed them into the floor, the blonde continuing to somersault from the current flooding the surface. Trini crouched low, ready to pursue…

…when the ringing in her ear faded, replaced with the almost-indistinguishable sound of footsteps behind her. At a speed that reached the edge of the naked eye's tracking ability, Trini whirled around and hurled one dagger through the air, the projectile embedding into the wall an inch from Ren's angled face. His position compromised, the green Huntsman sprinted for the Yellow Ranger while Yang charged in from Trini's opposite side. Sheathing her other dagger, Trini met them both with lightning-quick counterblows and weaved away from fists and knife-pistol hybrids. Nailing Yang in the gut with one leg and smacking Ren in the upper torso with that same leg, Trini jumped in place before split-kicking them both in the face. With her opponents down, she made a break for her dagger and wrenched it from the wall, spinning back to Yang for another round.

A familiar broad figure in black collapsed at her feet, who Trini barely managed to avoid tripping over. Zack righted himself in a stylish breakdancing move, striking a flashy pose with his ax held outward. His opponent rolled a pair of golden eyes before running towards him, a small blade and its sheath held at her sides. Zack held firm against Blake's flurry of slashes, his ax barely taking a scratch during the assault. The Faunus jumped over a low swing, her blades held high. Zack answered with an uppercut that hit the catgirl in the chin, the Faunus flipping in midair to land on her feet.

Taking advantage of the brief pause, Zack fished around in his belt before taking out a tiny black crystal, admiring it in what brief lighting the amphitheater painted it in. "You better do something good," he whispered, inserting it into his ax and giving it a good twirl while Blake came at him again. This time, a duplicate of the girl appeared alongside her, both of them rushing at the Black Ranger from two sides at once. With no time to identify the real Blake, Zack threw his weapon outward just as a purple glint lit up the hilt. The ax spun like a circular saw while orbiting the Black Ranger, connecting with one of the Blakes about to slash him across the face. But instead of being cut in half, the girl vanished into thin air upon being hit. Spotting the second girl from his peripheral vision, Zack ducked beneath another slash before socking Blake in the gut and kicking her away. His ax immediately returned to him and he pointed it at Blake, temporarily holding her in place. With a sharp swing, the Faunus was flung to the side and collided with a wall.

Zack felt somebody at his back and he peered over his shoulder to see Trini pressed up against him. Yang was approaching the Yellow Ranger while Blake was shaking off the impact, both girls converging on the Rangers. Making eye contact for a moment and forming a silent plan, Trini and Zack simultaneously nodded before waiting for the girls to get in close. The moment they did, Zack ducked low and Trini vaulted over him, smacking her heel into Blake's surprised face. Likewise, Yang barely blocked Zack's swipe with her gauntlets and stumbled from the sudden force. Holstering his ax, the Black Ranger proceeded to engage Yang hand-to-hand while Trini and Blake partook in a deadly dance of blades.

Elsewhere in the makeshift ring, Kimberly cartwheeled and flipped away from a frantic Nora, who was smashing her oversized hammer on the floor in an attempt to squash her. Backflipping over a horizontal swipe, Kimberly kicked herself off Nora and rolled into a crouch, bow at the ready. Every arrow she fired was deflected and batted away by Nora's hammer, the girl wearing a taunting grin. Thinking fast for a new strategy, Kim hurriedly pulled out another arrow and rotated its tip instead of nocking it. She understood a few of what each color- each type of Dust- was capable of, but there were a few she still needed to figure out. After scrolling through all available colors (What? No pink?) Kimberly settled on a pale green color and forced all thoughts of her missing friend out of her head. Drawing back just as Nora leaped for another crushing smash, Kim fired that arrow at the girl's midsection…

…and the arrow's tip burst in mid-flight, a sudden gust of white air propelling the Huntress away. She landed half a football field's length away from the Pink Ranger while her hammer tumbled along the floor. Despite groaning in pain or possible dizziness, Nora gave the archer a thumbs-up. Whether it was to congratulate Kim on her defense or to let her know she was okay, the Pink Ranger could only guess.

Weaving around Pyrrha's javelin, Jason slammed his elbow into the back of her skull and delivered a hard kick to her back. The Huntress spun around with another sweep, the Red Ranger barely avoiding contact with the weapon's tip. Dodging a shield bash and parrying a thrust with his blade, Jason closed the distance by rolling and punching the Huntress in the stomach. Lastly, he delivered a high spin kick to Pyrrha's head, nearly knocking the wannabe Spartan out.

The Red Ranger was just about to choose his next opponent when he heard the sound of something unfurling behind him. Turning around, Jason spied Ruby ready for him in the center of the arena, her massive scythe's blade appearing to shine in the provided light. Nervousness flashed across the faces of Rangers who spotted this, but Jason wasn't one of them. He'd need to be quick to avoid that thing and take advantage of blind spots.

Ruby charged at him before he could plan any further, prompting Jason into action. Steel clashed against steel while the Huntress tried to land a good hit on the Ranger. Jason stayed on the move, somersaulting over Ruby and doing everything he could to keep that curved blade from touching him while Ruby spun, slashed, and darted around like a trained assassin. Needing a breather from their own battles, everybody else paused to spectate both leaders going at it. Amidst the clashing weapons and shouts of effort, their faces were a mix of either positive support or outright worry.

A swipe. A spin. A jab and a twirl. Both red figures searched for an opening while going back and forth. Eventually, Ruby caught Jason's sword with her weapon's curved blade and sharply spun the scythe, swiftly disarming the Ranger and kicking him in the chest before he realized what happened. The instant Jason fell, Ruby pounced on top of him and placed a boot on his torso while pointing the tip of her scythe at the boy's throat.

For a moment, Jason's face froze in alarm before looking at Ruby as calmly as he could. "Just so you know, I could've beaten you if I was morphed!" A giggle was all he got from the girl, who positioned her weapon upright and planted it on the floor like a flag. The massive scythe dwarfed her easily. "No, you got lucky! I'm not used to fighting people that well. You kept your head in the game, right?"

Jason brushed himself off as he stood. "No offense, but I'd prefer to keep my head on my body." He gave the scythe a wary look while Ruby just brushed him off. "Oh, you would've been fine! Your Aura protects you from strong blows, remember?"

"Yeah, but I don't think it's gonna protect me from decapitation."

Ruby blinked. "Wait… were you all scared of fighting me because of my sweetheart?"

"Duh!" Kimberly called from the sidelines. "And how do you avoid slicing yourself to pieces with that thing?" The silver-eyed girl gave the Pink Ranger a comfortable smile. "Oh, please! I built Crescent Rose myself! I know every inch of this baby as if she's a part of me, just like every other Huntsman or Huntress' weapon!"

"Hold on… you named it?" Trini asked, causing Ruby's eyes to pop back open. "And you all do that here?" The realization made the red-tipped brunette chuckle in slight embarrassment. "Whoops, heh heh… guess we forgot to mention it with all this excitement, huh?"

"And on the subject of weapon names," Weiss spoke up. "I couldn't help but overhear yours during our first encounter, and I've gotta say: they are devoid of any imagination whatsoever. Power Sword, Power Bow, Power Axe…"

"Hey!" Zack shouted. "Zordon named our weapons, not us! Take it up with him!" Billy, meanwhile, had an inquisitive glint in his eye. "In a world where a gigantic scythe is called Crescent Rose and every Huntsman has a weapon named to their liking… I will admit, our current ones sound a little unorthodox in comparison. What are yours capable of?"

"Well, hers is part sniper rifle," Jason gestured to Ruby's scythe. "You could learn a thing or two from her, Billy." Ruby was quick to agree with him there. "Uh-huh! But yours probably doesn't have as much recoil…"

"My weapon, Myrtenaster, is a multi-action dust rapier and highly durable," Weiss explained next. "It uses raw, powdered Dust that can cycle through six chambers for easy selection."

"I wield Gambol Shroud," Blake went next. "It's primarily a blade, but it can also become a pistol-sickle hybrid with a ribbon to attack at long range. Also, its sheath doubles as a cleaver."

Yang stepped forth without hesitation and pounded her fists together. "Any Huntress is fine with a blade, but I prefer a more up-close-and-personal approach! I call these babies Ember Celica, and they've got built-in shotguns to add a little more boom to every blow I land!"

"Every weapon is special to its owner," Jaune continued, holding out his sword and shield. "And mine's no exception. Crocea Mors was once my great-great-grandfather's sword. He fought in the Great War with it. It may be old, but it's still effective."

"Yawn!" Nora dramatically exclaimed, much to her leader's surprise and offense. "Who needs a boring old sword and shield when you've got something like this!" Her hammer was out in a flash, the weapon's front slamming against the floor while its wielder posed proudly. "Magnhild's all about smashing things or blowing stuff up! Just how I like it!"

"Which says everything you need to know about Nora," Pyrrha added. "But like Jaune, I have a knack for something more… traditional, so to speak. Milo and Akouo may look like an ordinary javelin and shield, but Milo can also function as both a short Xiphos blade and a semi-auto rifle."

"And StormFlower allows me to get things done quickly," concluded Ren. "Low stopping power and blades strong enough to puncture bone make them lethal armaments." He chose not to elaborate further on his weapons' capabilities, which Ruby took as her cue to address the Rangers. "Like Semblances, a Huntsman's weapon represents who they are at heart. They're a part of you… so what do you think you should name them? Or re-name, in this case… until you get back."

Kimberly looked uncertain. "And I thought naming our new powers was complicated," she muttered to herself, examining her bow closely while her friends did the same. Their eyes took in every new detail and their minds searched for an appropriate title. Jason ran a finger down the length of his blade, watching the steel glisten in the light. This sword… he felt like it contained a primal power of its own. A thunderous force of nature waiting to be unleashed; a bold and unstoppable statement dominating all that stood before it like a-

"Tyrant," announced the Red Ranger, feeling that power resonate through his body from that single word. "Yeah… it's perfect." He gave the sword a few test swings before smoothly sliding it into its sheath. A few meters away, Billy scanned his lance from top to bottom, his attention focused on the spikes at the end. The outward spikes dwarfed the center blade, something he took notice of while glancing down the lance's length.

Before long, his lips lifted in approval. "Tri-Pole."

Zack blinked, confusion dawning on his face. "Triple?"

"Try-pole," corrected the Blue Ranger. "Not as fancy, but it still fits." Yang wore a smile of approval. "I really don't give you guys enough credit for your wordplay." Zack returned his attention to his ax, turning it over in his palms. Nothing stood out to him there; Elephant Ax didn't fit the bill. Hoping he'd have better luck with his weapon's alternate form, he switched to its shotgun mode and studied it closely. The shotgun fired like a cannon despite its size, giving it a "mini-but-mighty" feel to it. If Zack took the Mastodon's strength into account with the fact that his ranged weapon packed a powerful punch.

"Aha!" he triumphantly exclaimed. "Masto Blasto! How's that?" A sharp burst of laughter from Ruby and Kimberly, as well as suppressed snickers from Trini and Blake, cut him off on the spot. "That's the best you could come up with?" Kimberly managed with shaky breaths, causing Zack to shoot her a look. "Hey, it's heavy duty! And Billy's not the only one who can use wordplay!"

"I could've thought of something better!" Trini jabbed teasingly. "Like 'Mammoth Maul'?"

"My thing is a Mastodon and you know it!" the Black Ranger shot back. "And I've got an axe, not a hammer or a mace."

"Although that would suit you nicely."

"Not helping, Billy," Zack snapped, turning back to Trini on a beat. "I'm sticking with it, end of story. Next?"

Clearing her throat to calm herself down, Trini glanced down at her daggers with careful eyes. A pair of simple blades rather than ones resembling sai, Trini watched the light reflect from the sharpened metal. She must've stabbed several Grimm with these things and they showed no signs of wear and tear. The daggers were pristine, poised, and ready to sink into their next victim like a predator pouncing on its prey. If what Ruby said was true, then these may as well be her claws. Or better yet, her teeth.

Bingo.

"Fierce Fangs," she proudly proclaimed, twirling the daggers and slipping them into her hip holsters flawlessly. She was met with accepting smiles and a few nods, one of them from Kimberly before the Pink Ranger turned to the bow in her hands and separated both halves into curved blades. Blades that were not only sharp but sleek and aerodynamic… like a pterodactyl's wings. Kim gave them a few twirls, noticing how they danced in her grip so well they split the very air around them. So quick, so punctual, so elegant and deadly she'd give her enemies…

"Winged Woe," she finished that thought aloud, rejoining the blades and stashing the bow. "That was… actually better than naming our Semblances."

"Told you!" Ruby cheered. "Our weapons are extensions of ourselves!"

"Which explains why you're so proud of yours," Jason said. "So, I guess that concludes our morning warm-up. What now, Rose?"

"I'm sure you wanna get back to finding your friend," Ruby's tone dropped to a more serious tone, yet that youthful optimism remained. "We didn't have much luck last time, but I've got a great idea: the CCTS."

Billy was already hooked. "And this would be…?"

"The Cross Continental Transit System," Weiss told him. "It's our wireless communication network that spans all of Remnant." The Blue Ranger's eyes went wide. "Did… did you say wireless communication network?"

"Oh boy…" grumbled Zack. "Geek out alert."

"Of course," Weiss continued, oblivious to the Black Ranger's opinion. "You don't have anything like that, do you?" Billy stumbled on his words for a moment. "O-only the World Wide Web, but we only have various websites for everyday use! How did you- what kind of- I have so many questions!"

"And I'll be happy to answer them," Weiss promised with a smile. "In time."

"Oh, uh, of course," Billy mumbled, regathering himself in seconds. "I'm a patient soul, after all." Smiling at the Blue Ranger's enthusiasm, Ruby turned and headed out with her friends slowly following her. "Meet us on the main avenue when you're ready, guys! Your brand new day is just beginning!" Once she and the other Huntsmen-in-training were gone, Jason shook his head with a sigh.

"Man, one time I'm juggling student life and Ranger life on Earth… and the next I'm hanging out with Little Red Riding Hood with a giant scythe? How much weirder can this place be?" The Red Ranger took a few steps forward…

"Jason, wait," Trini's voice called out, stopping him in his tracks. "...What did you just say?"

The boy met her with a curious look. "Um… I asked how much weirder this place could be?" Kimberly shook her head, her expression one of slight realization. "No, before that."

He didn't understand what she was getting at. "What, that we're now friends of Little Red Riding Hood with a big scythe?" Each of the other Rangers was silently looking at one another with stupefied eyes, almost as if in disbelief. Jason had no clue where this was going. The last time any of them were like that was the first time they saw Zordon.

"Um… guys? Am I missing something?"

"I knew something about her was familiar!" Trini all but yelled. "She looked just like the girl from the fairy tale!" Zack scratched the back of his head. "But… Red Riding Hood didn't have silver eyes…"

"Doesn't matter!" She abruptly shouted. "Her name's a shade of red! And Jason, you said she was fighting wolves!"

"I did," he corrected. "But what's this about fairy tales?"

"I know this may sound crazy, Jason…" Kimberly spoke up. "But I think this world is based on one."

The Red Ranger raised a brow. "Are you saying Rita dumped us into a book?"

"Not exactly," Billy whispered, his voice filled with amazement and bewilderment at the same time. "But there are so many relations! Like the Grimm… the Brothers Grimm, the famous storytellers!"

"And Ruby… had a hood," Jason muttered aloud, his eyes finally widening when it all clicked. "I stand corrected. This world can get weirder. Everything here is based on fairy tales." Billy gave the Red Ranger a sympathetic nod. "Tell me about it. I think Weiss is basically Snow White with a sword."

"And Yang's Goldilocks," Trini added. "If Goldilocks was also a Super Saiyan."

"And Blake is… is…" Zack paused. "Actually, I'm not getting it. The only thing I can come up with is 'Teenage Semi-Mutant Ninja Cat'. Which doesn't fit the theme at all."

Kimberly stepped forward. "Uh, isn't she supposed to be Beauty and the Beast? From the movie that came out two years ago? Blake looks like she could fit both of them." Zack took this consideration into thought. "Okay… and Ozpin is definitely the Wizard of Oz. But who are the rest?"

"Jaune Arc…" Billy surmised. "That sounds awfully similar to Joan of Arc, don't you agree? And Pyrrha is definitely somebody of Greek nature."

"And Nora Valkyrie," Trini added. "Valkyrie's a Norse term, right? They're female warriors who would escort fallen souls to the afterlife. And then there's Lie Ren… I think that's a Chinese name, like Yang. Maybe Team JNPR represents different cultures?"

This debate was gonna last for an hour at a minimum if they got too far off-track. "Guys, as much as I would like to discuss this further," Jason butted in. "We shouldn't keep our friends waiting. Let's see what they have for us." After quick nods all around, the Rangers took their leave from the amphitheater. Yet they agreed on one last thing: it would be best if both Huntsman teams remained unaware of the fictional characters they closely resembled.

"I dunno about you guys," Yang said as both teams strode down Beacon's halls. "But helping heroes from another world wasn't on my agenda." Ruby had to agree with her sister: it was unexpected but a task she couldn't bring herself to refuse. But she needed to remind herself that this was what she wanted to do as a Huntress. She wanted to help, and that wasn't limited to ordinary civilians. These kids- kids around her age- were protecting their home all by themselves. Ruby couldn't bear to imagine what that would feel like, but the optimism they all had was inspiring. Maybe one day, that would be an optimism every Huntsman and Huntress around the world would have. One day, that would be the thing that reached all across Rem-

A pair of voices from up ahead stopped Ruby from going too far down that train of thought. Good thing, too; once she was dug in, she could barely get out. Maybe there was such a thing as being too hopeful. Everybody else noticed the source of the conversation up ahead, and Ruby immediately recognized one of them: a woman with glasses and light-blonde hair was turning and walking down the hall, giving the other speaker some final words of clarification.

The other speaker politely nodded before turning around and spotting the teens, giving them a good look at his appearance. The man appeared middle-aged with tousled white hair and a pair of cerulean goggles nested within the mop. A pair of goggles rested over a pair of sapphire eyes and he wore a dark blue overcoat. Beneath that was a blue-white uniform befitting a scientist, complete with a white belt and azure laboratory boots while a strange Scroll-like gadget rested on his left wrist. After adjusting his glasses for a second, the man's face beamed with sheer joy.

"Ah, at last! Beacon's brightest!" he exclaimed gleefully. "What an honor to meet the academy's finest students in person!"

"Finest students?" Weiss repeated with a gasp before donning a proud smile. "I wasn't aware we had made such a name for ourselves… although I wouldn't disagree." Ruby didn't share in the heiress' pride, though. "But we haven't even graduated…?"

"But you are the young trainees that successfully repelled a horde of Grimm that had infiltrated the city," the man explained. "Is that correct?"

"Oh!" Ruby jolted in surprise before giving the man a smile. "Uh, right! Yeah, that's us! Th-the honor is all ours, mister… um…"

"Ah! Where are my manners?" The man chastised himself before straightening his posture, clearing his throat, and presenting an identification card. "Doctor Phineas Steff, from Atlas' Advanced Science Division. I was just discussing the upcoming Vytal Festival with Miss Goodwitch… mainly its security measures."

"Security?" Yang questioned. "Sorry to rain on your parade, doc, but doesn't the Atlesian Military have that covered?"

"Well, if the recent terrorist acts are anything to learn from," Steff explained. "Those masked lunatics will strike at any opportunity they find. No doubt the Festival could be an easy target for them. Well, I have a message for them: I'd like to see them try."

"Under normal circumstances, this sounds like going overboard," mused Weiss. "But we've seen firsthand what the White Fang is capable of. These extra measures would be greatly appreciated, Doctor." Pyrrha's eyes had a glint of curiosity. "If you don't mind me asking, just what kind of security measures do you plan to implement?"

The older man simply held out a palm. "I'm afraid that is strictly confidential, Miss Nikos. Courtesy of the general himself. Now, if you'll excuse me, there are other matters I must tend to." Ruby eagerly made way for Doctor Steff, giving the man the best polite smile she could make. "Ah, sorry to keep you waiting!"

"No need for apologies here, Miss Rose. As you were."

Dr. Steff strode down the hall without another word, silently giving the trainees a farewell nod. Some were kind enough to wave back while others ignored the gesture and resumed their journey. Once they had all vanished from his view, Steff's eyes turned to his wrist device as it resonated with a short ping. The man glanced around warily before ducking down a corner, inputting a few commands onto the gadget.

In response, a small white drone with blue detailing shimmered into view before him, a sapphire optic meeting Steff's eyes. The man proudly smiled at the hovering machine, hands clasped behind his back. "Excellent timing. What have you found?"

A series of quick buzzes and beeps left the drone, the man's eyes glued to his wrist screen. Upon reading the text that appeared, he raised a snow-white brow. "Already? Where?" More beeps followed. Phineas rolled his eyes upon scanning the next few lines that presented themselves. "Of course they are. Did anyone notice you coming in here?" Instead of beeps, the drone shook itself from side to side. "Good. The cloak's working perfectly. Find them and play the pre-recorded message. That will be all." Phineas adjusted his coat and strode down the open hallway, leaving the drone to silently hover away, slipping back into invisibility with an azure shimmer.

"Okay, so… what's with the little magnifying glass?"

"It's what we use to search for things. Just type in anything and it'll give you results in seconds!"

"I… yeah, I think I got that. How about the house?"

"That's just the home page."

"Uh… home page?"

"It's self-explanatory."

"...No, it's not. I-I don't see what the word 'home' has to do with this."

Ruby sighed. "You realize you sound like an old man, right?"

"Well, excuse me!" Jason shot back with an exasperated groan. "I told you, we don't have anything like these things back home!"

"Not yet."

"Oh, come- seriously, Billy?!" Ruby and Jason turned to Billy and Weiss, the Blue Ranger looking at his newly-acquired Scroll like it was the greatest thing he'd ever seen. Apparently, Ruby had insisted that the Rangers have a proper means of communication during their time on Remnant, despite Jason believing otherwise. Now, she and Weiss had taken him and Billy onto Beacon's main avenue for a "test run" on their new equipment… and he couldn't figure the thing out if his life depended on it. Most of the silver-eyed girl's explanations were falling on deaf ears: data storage, wi-fi, too many folders for him to keep track… he was already missing the World Wide Web and how simple it was.

And of course, Billy was absorbing the knowledge like a sponge.

"Jason, I don't believe this!" The boy wore a giddy grin. The Red Ranger was thinking the same thing, but not in the way Billy phrased it. "This thing can play recorded voice messages and doubles as a room key! Incredible!"

"Scrolls are also great combat partners," Weiss added, to which Jason rolled his eyes. "Let me guess, it becomes a gun, too?" The heiress looked at him funny. "No, it displays your Aura levels and warns you if you're running low."

"So it connects to your very soul?" He shook his head in disgust. "Hard pass."

"Oh, don't be such a downer!" Ruby pouted. "They're handy devices and they do not connect to your soul! Super creepy, by the way. Weiss has been using hers to find your friend! What if you needed to check your Aura?"

"I don't need some gizmo to tell me that," Jason replied with a groan. "Can't I just feel it within me or something?" Ruby rolled her eyes this time. "First of all, it doesn't work like that! And second, what if you needed to contact somebody?"

"I'd call. That's what they're for, right? I don't see the point for all of this other-"

"Or you could do this!" Before Jason could react, Ruby reached over and pressed down on a button resembling a comic book's text box. The screen became a list of people and she immediately tapped an image of her face. The screen changed again and Ruby tapped on a long white bar, bringing up a keypad. "You can text me something!"

Jason sighed again. "And that is…?"

"It's like writing each other letters! Only with no pen or paper! Super easy!"

Jason would've preferred the pen and paper.

"Why don't we start at square one? Type in 'hello' or something along those lines." Jason just stared at the device's keyboard. "You expect me to type with one hand? That's lame."

"No, not one hand!" Ruby interjected. "Just use your finger or your thumbs."

He blinked. "My thumbs? They're as big as the keys, maybe bigger!"

"Jason, please," Billy spoke up. "You're looking at the greatest piece of tech this world has to offer. Can't you just appreciate it a little bit? Please?" Jason turned to face Billy, his Scroll arm dropping. "I'd appreciate it if it wasn't complicated."

"You only believe it's complicated because you're not used to it," retorted the Blue Ranger, the heiress beside him nodding in agreement. "And besides, at the rate of technological advancement Earth is at right now, I wouldn't be surprised if one day, we would have devices just like this!"

Another sigh. "Billy, please…"

"Can you imagine it? All of mankind's accumulated knowledge is in the palm of a person's hand! Everything they'd need to know would be right there in front of them. Time, weather, scheduled events, we're looking at an all-out digital age, Jace!"

"A time when everybody is glued to a tiny screen 24/7?" he spat back, annoyed. "More like a distracted age, if you ask me." Something flashed in Billy's eyes and he shrank back, scratching his head. "Okay, so there may be a few drawbacks…"

"A few doesn't begin to cover it," Jason muttered under his breath before tapping the little house icon to undo what Ruby had done. "I've got some ground rules," he told the girl. "If I'm gonna use this thing, I'm gonna use it to check my Aura-" It took a lot of effort to keep the regret out of his voice. "-and for contacting you and others. Nothing else. Is that clear?"

"Sure, Mister Grumpy," Ruby replied in a tone that sounded like she was mocking him. "But contacting means both calling and texting." Jason kicked himself at that; he should've seen that one coming. One more sigh left his throat. "Fine. Let's get this over with…"

He needed to focus on the bright side. The sooner he got the hang of this stupid thing, the sooner he could set out to find Tommy. And the next time Ruby had a great idea, he was going to see just how "great" it was beforehand.

For a city that was supposed to be a "light" to other kingdoms, Trini didn't know how old European-style architecture was supposed to be inspiring. Yang and Blake had given her and Zack the lowdown on Vale, hoping to kill time while everybody else kept searching for Tommy. And by searching, she meant research in the form of those scrolls-that-weren't-actually-scrolls, scanning through their version of the Web: a version that put Earth's to shame.

Nora was the one who happily introduced the Rangers to Scrolls of their own. The Rangers' reactions were mixed. Jason felt it was unnecessary until he was reminded that they needed to stay in contact, and with their communicators not working he was left with no other choice. Billy was all too happy to accept his, eager to explore the thing like it was a new gizmo for him to crack open. Zack looked like he couldn't care less, Kimberly had asked if it was a music player, and Trini had chosen to stick to the basics…

…which she dedicated to even more when Yang flashed the thing's built-in camera at her face. Her eyes still stung from the memory of the so-called "selfie", but she didn't know if it was either her now-sensitive sight (thanks a lot, soul superpowers) or if she turned its brightness all the way up. Regardless, Trini's Scroll rested on her belt, and she intended to use it for emergencies only.

"She'll be here, right?" she heard Zack ask beside her. "Yang said she'd meet us here?" Trini turned to see Blake giving a quiet nod. "She usually needs a few minutes." The Yellow Ranger turned her eyes to the city street, noting the many differences in… the commercial district, Blake had said. It looked normal enough, but the city also resembled a mix of Earth's past and a potential future. Buildings with well-kept brick foundations, various cars straight from the 50s or early 60s, and holographic streetlamps courtesy of what the Faunus referred to as "Hard-Light Dust". Zack was about to ask about the name's concept, namely about how something could be both hard and light at the same time, but Blake had gone on to say that this part of Vale was lucky compared to other areas low in income.

Looking at the area made something pour into Trini's gut: homesickness. So far, the only keepsakes of home she had were her communicator and morpher, which were now nothing but trinkets. Her thoughts from last night frequently bubbled to the surface, doubt of finding a way back to Earth. Again and again, she would dispel them, remembering that emotions like that were Grimm magnets… but the more she rid herself of those worries, the more Trini thought that sounded like a parent's means of ensuring their kids behaved.

A low rumble and the faint scent of exhaust filled her senses. Not from any of the cars, the smell was different. More like a-

Whoa.

Trini had to keep her jaw from hitting the floor as the coolest sports bike she'd ever seen rumbled down the road, its bright yellow paint gleaming in the sunlight. It was sleek and aerodynamic, built for pure speed… and given what she knew of its apparent driver, shared the same need for adrenaline. The vehicle came to a stop next to the sidewalk, its driver removing a yellow helmet and bringing freedom to a wave of golden hair.

"Sorry for the wait!" Yang called, vaulting off the bike. "My girl needed a little tuning this morning." Zack eyed the bike with childlike wonder while letting out a low whistle of awe. "Sweet ride, Xiao Long!" The girl flashed Zack a smile. "Thanks! Her name's Bumblebee." Zack caught a glimpse of Trini perking up at the name, but he dismissed it. "And we make quite the entrance if I do say so myself!"

"I'll say," Zack replied. "All we've got is that one car Billy fixed up a while back. Honestly… I'd keep him away from this if I were you."

"Aw, let him try!" Yang said with a wave of her hand. "I've been working on Bumblebee for years, I'm sure I can fix anything he messes with. Is it too much if I threaten to break the arm he touches her with?"

"Uh, kinda," came the Black Ranger's reply before his eyes darted back to the bike. "But good luck trying to break hers." Curious, Yang turned around to see what he was getting at… and chuckled when she saw Trini examining the motorcycle up close, the Yellow Ranger giving slight taps on the chassis with her knuckles. "Yo, yellow! She may be your color, but that doesn't make her your plaything!"

Trini bolted from the bike and went stiff, mumbling a quick apology while absentmindedly running a hand through her hand. "S-sorry, just… it's nice." Regardless, her eyes darted back to the vehicle… and Zack swore he noticed a suspicious look in the Yellow Ranger's gaze. Shrugging it off, he turned to Blake and Yang. "So, what's this? Another tour?"

"You could say that," Yang answered. "Since you're gonna be here for a while, we may as well show you around."

"Plus," added Blake. "You'll have something to do while everyone else looks for any more signs of your friend. But make no mistake… Vale's home to lots of criminal activity." Zack was barely fazed by that. "Please. I fight monsters on a weekly basis. Ordinary people should be a cakewalk!"

"Perhaps, but underestimate them at your peril," the Faunus warned. "We've had to deal with a lot of criminals who've been known to work with the White Fang. They're led by Roman Torchwick, who's at the top of the most wanted list." Zack could tell Blake was all-out serious (when was she not?) about this dude, so he decided it would be best to take her word for it.

"Alrighty then!" Yang interjected, throwing an arm around the Black Ranger's shoulder. "How about we worry about the bad guys another time, yeah? For now, let's show you around the place! Yours truly knows the best spots in town!"

"One of which," Blake emphasized. "...is a bar she trashed whose owner has it out for her." The blonde smacked her on the arm without taking her eyes off Zack. "Some people don't know how to have fun, that's all! That guy just needs to loosen up!"

"I bet you're a real blast at parties, huh?"

"Oh, I'm not the kinda girl who goes to parties, Blackie," Yang said with a wink. "I'm the kinda girl who makes them." She and Blake started walking down the street, prompting Zack to snap Trini out of her inspection and follow them. He doubted they'd see any lowlifes here, but he wasn't too worried if anybody tried to rob him. If they tried that, he'd be the one who would rob them… of a few teeth, that is.

"AHA!"

The loud cry from the Yellow Ranger startled Zack from his thoughts and drew the girls' attention. From behind Zack, Trini had spun on her heel and was jabbing an accusing finger at Yang's motorbike… that was still parked against the sidewalk. Trini stood like that for a little bit before realizing that nothing was happening and lowered her arm with a defeated sigh. "Dang it…"

Zack rolled his eyes and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Trini, just because their weapons turn into guns doesn't mean their cars- and bikes- can turn into robots." Yang blinked in confusion. "What? Of course not! What kind of crazy idea is that?"

"Nothing…" Trini dejectedly muttered, walking past the girls with a disappointed expression. Upon catching the girls' perplexed faces, Zack immediately thought of another way to pass the time. "I'm guessing your TVs don't show the same stuff as ours, huh?"

"I guess not," Blake answered, still glancing at Trini while a golden eye looked in Zack's direction. "I know you don't have Dust… but what else is your world like, anyway?" Yang's own gaze was asking a similar question, and a smile donned Zack's face. "Where to start on Earth? Well… there's this place where my friends and I hang out after school…"

Trini knew Zack would do anything to lighten a mood, she just wasn't sure if diving into details on Earth was the best way to go here. Sure, it helped with her homesickness, but what would Yang and Blake think? Would they be impressed by how Earth varied from Remnant? Would they be confused about how Earth had multiple energy sources instead of just one? Or would they be overwhelmed if Zack poured almost everything he knew of the planet on their heads all at once? Well, everything he could remember from all those classes…

No, not everything. He was talking about Angel Grove, and the girls were taking it rather well. The high school, the Youth Center, Trini wouldn't be surprised if he brought up the Command Center. She had to admit, she was tempted to join in and get a load off her system. Besides, each of the girls had various reactions to what the Black Ranger told them: Blake's face was equally fascinated and curious while Yang tried her best to stay impressed and keep her confusion suppressed. Honestly, Trini didn't blame her. If they had come to Earth and talked about Remnant to the Rangers, she'd be acting the same way.

Trini ran multiple statements through her head, debating her favorite part of her hometown that she could add to the discussion. It took her a while to choose one and a while longer to watch for a verbal opening to avoid interruption. Yang was approaching the end of a statement that was sure to end in a pun of some kind…

Shouting. Distant shouting.

Trini's words evaporated in her throat, instinctively jerking her head towards a small alley. She saw no shadows, but her enhanced hearing was picking up faint traces of aggressive voices. She was also getting a whiff of… it wasn't a smell she consciously recognized, but the primal parts of her brain were flashing one word.

Fear.

Normally, she would have bothered herself to know just how she knew this. Instead, the Yellow Ranger took off down the alley at a full sprint, getting only the first bits of Zack's next surprised sentence before the sound of her pounding footsteps matched her heartbeat. The smell was stronger by the second, almost like an invisible trail that led Trini down a turn. The voices grew, too, becoming louder and louder until Trini could hear them clear as day.

"You mangy, no-good…"

"Sticking your nose where it doesn't belong…"

"Please… I just wanted to-"

There it was again. Fear. Trini picked up the pace and slid around another corner, facing down a pathway that led to a dead end. She instantly spied two figures at the fence, each one kicking at a small lump. No, wait, that wasn't a lump. It was the source of the smell. The Yellow Ranger paused for a moment, allowing her eyes to adjust to the light… and her body seized.

It was a kid with red fox ears slumped over in a panic. His closed eyes were brimming with tears and his body rocked from each blow the men landed. The attackers were spouting words Trini wouldn't dare repeat, leaving the Yellow Ranger stunned where she stood. But with each yell of hatred, each yelp of pain, each thump of physical impact, the girl felt something brewing in her gut. Seeing this kid suffering like this… calling his very existence a mistake wasn't a mistake. This was.

Jason wasn't the only one who despised bullies.

Trini's body moved on its own as she marched past the corner, her face tightened in rage and her fists clenched so hard she might lose feeling in them. "HEY!" Her voice was a roar the Red Ranger would be astonished by, the sound echoing through the small space and causing the men to freeze on the spot. They turned, looking more annoyed than afraid of being caught. Both men looked nothing more than lowlife thugs, but it was something Trini overlooked. She remembered Blake saying that the Faunus- her own people- suffered abuse and discrimination daily. A part of it didn't make sense to Trini, as the Faunus looked human enough…

…but at the same time, a part of her also understood.

"Somethin' you need, missy?" one of the men spat. He sounded like he was hoping to get this over with so he could go back to belittling the quivering child at his feet. It was a pleasure that would be denied. "Leave the kid alone," Trini all but growled. "Now."

The other man blinked before taking a step forward, his teeth bared in irritation. "What did you just say?" The girl stood her ground, refusing to fall for his intimidation trick. "You heard me. Leave him alone."

Both men shared a baffled expression before the first one jabbed an accusing finger at the young Faunus. "This freak thought he could weasel his way into a place that doesn't serve animals! The stupid thing needs to be taught a lesson!"

"I-I was just hungry…"

"Shut up!" the second man roared, booting the Faunus again to ensure he stayed quiet. He turned back to Trini. "You look like a Huntress. Aren't you supposed to be sticking to the rules?"

"I'm not going to ask you again," Trini warned stoically. "Leave. The kid. Alone."

"Wha… you…" the first man looked from her to the Faunus with a baffled face. "You're supposed to be defending humanity, not freaks!" If these guys wanted to spout words, then it seemed only fair that Trini do the same. The Yellow Ranger readied herself before finding her counterstatement.

"You're right. I don't defend freaks like you."

"Wh… why you little-!" The first man charged at her like a raging bull. Trini released the tension within her body and smoothly vaulted over his sprinting form, nailing him in the back with a heel and making him eat concrete. Facing his partner in seconds, Trini took a fluid stance and crouched low, positioning her hands like a mantis' front legs. It was a style she remembered well… but not one her foe recognized, if she was correct.

The confused look on his face was the only answer Trini needed. He chose to attack nonetheless, but all of his attacks were predictable thanks to his movements. She grabbed the arm that was thrown at her and redirected the man's momentum, slamming him against a wall. The first man was back on his feet, a discarded pipe in one hand. He charged in blindly and swung like a madman, missing Trini by inches as she swiftly dodged each swing. Seizing the makeshift weapon, the Yellow Ranger yanked it from his grip and struck him in the face with a palm, earning a pained yelp from him.

Shrugging off the earlier impact, her second attacker unintentionally alerted Trini by roaring in anger and swinging at her again. The girl swiftly deflected each blow before delivering a barrage of jabs to his midsection, grabbing the sides of his hand, and bringing his face down on a knee. Soon enough, both men were writhing at her feet with agonized moans and weary coughs.

Trini said nothing; she only glared at the men while hoping they got the message. It took a full thirty seconds for any of them to climb back to their feet, one of them wiping blood from his mouth. The other stumbled as he stood, fighting to keep his balance and shake the dizziness from his system. Trini didn't know if his apparent persistence came from his willingness to continue beating down on that innocent Faunus or the refusal that he was getting his butt handed to him by a girl, but she had more than enough stamina. Sooner or later, she'd break through their Auras and they'd be faced with a difficult choice.

The man was in the middle of making a move when a finger tapped him on the shoulder. Pausing, he turned around… and got another fist to his face. The ensuing thump drew the attention of his partner, who noticed the commotion while Trini donned a satisfied smirk. "Starting a throwdown without me?" Yang asked in a feign of offense. "How could you, Kwan?"

Trini caught Zack throwing her a quizzical look with a hint of annoyance. Knowing what he was silently asking her, the Yellow Ranger stepped aside to show him the helpless child. The Black Ranger put two and two together in seconds, shooting Trini a grateful smile before grabbing both men by their napes. "Alright, bozos, show's over. I don't know what the Huntsman policy is for this, so we're just gonna let the cops take care of this…" He briefly locked eyes with Yang, who was sharing Blake's disgusted glare. "You've got cops here, right?" The blonde broke from her gaze and nodded at him. Leaving the brawlers to handle the wannabe supremacists, Trini turned back to the child… who was still a quivering mess.

"D-don't hurt me."

"Hey, whoa, it's okay," Trini quietly began, holding out her hands in a peaceful gesture. Blake was cautious beside her, golden eyes full of worry. "I'm not gonna hurt you," the Yellow Ranger soothed, gently kneeling before the young Faunus. "What's your name?"

She was met with a dull brown eye and a raised fox ear. "M-my name?" Trini nodded, making sure her calming smile was enough to comfort the child. "It's… it's Rupert."

"Mine's Trini. Can you tell me what happened, Rupert?"

"I… got kicked out of a place that didn't serve Faunus," the child mumbled. "I didn't realize it at first, but… those people got madder the longer I stayed." There was a pause. "Why did you save me?" Trini could think of a billion ways to answer that question, but she chose to stick with the obvious choice. "Well… Huntresses help people, right?"

"But…" Rupert's eyes shifted between Trini and Blake. "But you're human… and humans don't like people like me. They don't…" he sniffled and wiped his face with a sleeve. "They don't even think we're people." Trini noticed Blake flinch from the corner of her eye… and an idea came to her. "You wanna know what I saw before I saved you? I didn't see a mangy stray or an animal out of its cage… I saw a frightened, helpless little kid. Those men thought you needed to know your place. But they were the ones who needed to learn theirs. So that's what I did."

"I…" Rupert mumbled. "Humans don't… I-I don't understand."

"You don't understand because there aren't enough people like me in the world," Trini explained. "They judge you and you judge them. But it doesn't have to be like that. In fact…" she shot Blake a knowing look. "She was a great inspiration." The raven-haired girl perked up curiously. "Because she thinks so, too."

"Trini, what-"

Rupert was more confused than she was, looking between the two girls again. "But… she's human, too?" The Yellow Ranger shook her head. "Not exactly." Blake froze when she registered the words and she went silent. Her golden eyes darted around the alley, searching for something amiss until they landed back on Trini, asking a silent question.

Are you sure?

Trini smiled at the other girl and nodded once. Blake took a deep breath and closed her eyes, carefully untying the bow atop her head. Once it fell and her black cat ears adjusted to freedom, Trini watched the boy's eyes widen. Again they darted back and forth between the two. "You're… not upset?"

"Why would I be upset?" Trini asked him before gesturing to Blake's ears. "Those don't change a thing. And that's the real problem: too many people are mad over the smallest difference. The slightest change. It's like the first leaf to change color when autumn comes. It stands out but is overshadowed by similarities. To the naked eye… it looks wrong."

"And you're… friends?" Rupert asked as if he wanted to make sure he was hearing things right. The smile on Trini's face grew. "That's right. We got to know each other on a personal level… and that's what people should strive towards. But instead, they just see in black and white, believing in 'this is better than that' and placing lines they say shouldn't be crossed. Maybe one day, when there are more like me willing to do something about it… people like you can live better lives."

The kid was speechless, but not from fear or paranoia this time. A smile of his own was plastered on his face as Trini helped him stand. "Then… thank you, I guess." The girl just playfully ruffled his hair. "No problem. Do you have family here, Rupert?"

"Um… just my mother. She lives in the Faunus Quarter with the rest."

Faunus Quarter? The fact that Faunus had to live in a separate zone of the city reminded Trini that her whole speech was nothing but a fantasy… for the moment. Speaking of speeches, Jason would have been proud to hear that. But she didn't let her irritation with the statement show itself. "You make your way back there now. And try to be aware of your surroundings if-"

"Actually, Trini…" Blake spoke up. "I can take care of this." The Yellow Ranger turned to give the Faunus a thankful smile… but it faded when she noticed something about the girl. Her bow was back on her head, obscuring her cat ears from sight. Blake must have noticed her change in emotion because she was already speaking again. "I'm sorry, but… I don't have a choice here. Not everybody in Vale is as kind as you are."

The Yellow Ranger was silent, but her eyes told Blake she understood. She gestured for Blake to take the child back home, allowing the Faunus to move past her. When she was near enough, though, Trini left her some parting words. "It's the small victories that matter."

Trini watched the Faunus pair leave and thought back to Blake's words. Something about her tone there was… off. She seemed all too eager to re-tie the bow, yet she sounded unhappy to do so. And the way she examined the alley… was she hiding her Faunus identity for a reason other than prejudice? Trini didn't want to pry and make Blake feel more uneasy, yet she knew the need to keep a secret. She did it every day of her life.

Something near her hips vibrated, snapping her out of her thoughts. Trini patted herself several times before locating the source of the buzzing: her Scroll. The screen was lit up with a display of an incoming call, and she immediately recognized the name sprawled across the screen. Trini pressed the green icon with her thumb and held the device to her ear. "Hello, Kim?"

"Hey, Trini," said the familiar voice on the other end. "Team JNPR found something you're gonna wanna hear. There's been a massive surge of Grimm activity over in Animal… sorry, Anima."

The Yellow Ranger frowned. "Okay… can the local Huntsmen deal with it?"

"That's the thing," Kimberly continued. "They're not heading for any towns or villages. They're out in the open and just… depleting, I think? Some people are reporting lesser numbers as time passes."

This sounded suspicious. "Do you think someone's picking them off?"

"It's on the table, though Ren tells me some Grimm have been known to fight amongst themselves. Creatures born only to destroy can do that, I guess."

"I'll let Jason know and we'll meet up back at Beacon. See you soon."

"You too, Yellow," Trini started walking down the alley, trying to remember the route back to the open street while… hold on, what was-

"Nora, she said we'll meet at Beacon. This hunch better be worth it, I don't want a repeat of last time."

"Uh… Kimberly?" Trini spoke up. "I can still hear you."

"What? Trini? I-" There was another voice in the background, one Trini couldn't make out. "I did hang up! I pressed the button and ev… hold it? Why do I have to hold it?"

"Oh, just give me the-! Hi, Trini! Bye, Trini!" The cheerful voice was gone as quickly as it arrived, a quick beep signaling the end of the call. Rolling her eyes, Trini found solace in the fact that she wasn't the only one struggling with Scrolls. Sure, it was different, but… no, she wouldn't let that deter her. She said it herself, differences weren't dangerous. They were unique. Just like the first autumn leaf.

On normal days, this was a pristine corridor resembling the beauty and splendor of the Schnee Dust Company, one of many buildings that marked the corporation's fame and renown. But this was no normal day, as the brilliant whites and blues were shrouded with repeating red flashes, high whines of alarms, and bright bursts of thundering gunfire. What stood out the most, though, were the voices that stood out on multiple levels. One was the barking of orders or cries of death threats. The second was the screams of those with mere milliseconds to live. And the third were vengeful roars of both human and animalistic intent.

Goldar barreled through the guards and stampeded down the hall, bashing aside everyone he came across like a bulldozer. One guard unloaded his rifle only for his bullets to connect with the Faunus' armor. Grabbing the human's face with a massive hand, Goldar smashed him against the wall hard enough to leave a dent. Descending on his next target with a thunderous roar, Goldar seized the next guard by the throat. His victim only had time to let loose a strangled gasp before Goldar brutally slammed him against the floor. Hoisting the barely-conscious body, the Faunus threw a rib-cracking blow before drop-kicking the man down the hall.

Further gunfire against the side of his armor drew the snarling beast's attention to further foes for him to crush. Humans and robots alike stormed down the corridor, opening fire on both Goldar and the masked Faunus by his side. Goldar cared little for the bloody masks that collapsed alongside bodies, as the Faunus drew his broadsword and gave his enemies a challenging bellow. Those who dared come close were immediately cut down with savage sweeps. Goldar smashed his weapon's hilt over one man's head, leaving him howling in agony while clutching his skull. The Faunus punched him to the ground and stomped down on his throat, crushing his windpipe and ending him on the spot.

After grabbing one of the approaching robots and wrenching its head from its body, Goldar noticed his remaining targets were all machines. Albeit disappointed that his bloodshed had paused, he planned to resume it momentarily. But for now, he recalled what Adam Taurus had unintentionally taught him at the raid's beginning. The bull Faunus' blade was capable of reconfiguring into a rifle, which made Goldar wonder if his own was capable of such a thing in this world.

He would be delighted to show the automatons what he had discovered.

All it took was the flip of a tiny switch for the golden sword to transform into a powerful cannon-like firearm he easily held in one hand. Bright yellow incendiary ammo blasted the Atlesian Knights to burning metal bits, leaving Goldar to laugh ecstatically. "Ha ha! Who's next?!"

Backed by White Fang soldiers, Scorpina sprinted down the hall and weaved between streams of gunfire. Twirling between bullets, the scorpion Faunus landed in a crowd of guards and set to work with a wicked smile. Lashing out with curved sword and golden tail alike, she made short work of the guards. Only a few remained to challenge her in no time, some of them willing to kill the Faunus by any means necessary as their anger guided them.

That dedication either made them brave or foolish. Preferably foolish.

While swiftly moving her blade to block incoming fire, Scorpina stabbed another guard with her tail multiple times. After one last impalement, Scorpina lifted that guard over herself and slammed it into the other one. A quick spinning slash cleaved another's rifle in two, and before the guard could reach for his sidearm she grasped his throat with a clawed hand. The tips broke skin easily, bypassing that irritating natural defense of theirs. Scorpina felt something rush through the veins in her arm and into her victim. In seconds, he went from struggling for air to writhing as his skin turned sickly pale. He succumbed to the poison before long and Scorpina tossed him aside like a broken doll.

It had been eons since she had partaken in a slaughter of this scale. If she could witness this now, her empress would be pleased. Plus, she hadn't been this entertained since she did such horrible things to Baboo… although the dimwitted fool had whined for three weeks straight about her sting.

Mechanical clanking drew her attention to a charging android with a rifle in hand. Closing the distance, Scorpina cleanly decapitated the robot and speared its head in midair with her tail. Spinning around, the Faunus used her momentum to fling the severed head into the back of a human's skull, downing him and alerting the next squad to her position. With a wicked grin, Scorpina allowed that group to surround her…

…and snapped her curved sword open, revealing a barbed whip that unnerved some of her enemies. Chuckling in amusement, Scorpina beckoned the humans with her free hand. "Who wants to go first?"

They all fired at once, propelling Scorpina skyward to avoid the barrage. Throwing her whip downward, Scorpina lashed a guard across the face and struck another's rifle from his hands. Another lash disrupted another guard's aim, resulting in him accidentally shooting a comrade in the knee. A crack against that man's face put an end to the sudden wail. A sharp spin sent several more sailing through the air, leaving only one remaining. The fear in his system got to him and he dropped his weapon with a scream, making a break for it. Scorpina wrapped her whip across his throat and intertwined her leg with the strand, yanking the helpless human towards her…

…and impaling him on her positioned tail. The strangled gasps turned to gurgling noises before he went limp, prompting Scorpina to dislodge the body from her appendage. She stared at her blood-stained tail with pride, sighing in satisfaction. Now if only that had been a Ranger on the other end…

"While I appreciate your dedication, you and your partner should leave some for the rest of us." The scorpion Faunus glanced to the side, where one Faunus stood out amongst a group of White Fang soldiers. She wore a mask like the rest of them, yet she was easily identifiable thanks to a dark stealth suit, brown hair tied into a curled ponytail, and dark skin. Scorpina gave the woman an apologetic smile. "Interesting. Normally, people are repulsed at my handiwork, not impressed."

"Humans only understand one language," the woman said. "Violence. And you're fluent in it." It took everything Scorpina had to keep from cringing. Praise was a waste from somebody aside from her empress, but this was necessary. She wouldn't have gone through with this plan if she didn't believe in the advantages. "Then perhaps I shall see how fluent you are, Amitola. That is if Goldar doesn't cease his mindless rampage. Once he charges into battle, it is difficult for him to stop."

"RRAAAAAARRG!" came a booming voice from further down the hall. "Beg for my nonexistent mercy, feeble humans!"

"My point stands. How much further to the control room?"

"Not much," the chameleon Faunus replied. "Although… you're not worried?"

Scorpina frowned. "About what?"

"You and your partner refused to wear masks for this mission. What if-"

"Obscuring my identity is not a concern," the scorpion Faunus bluntly stated. "For two reasons. First, I prefer to look my enemies in the eye during their final moments. Second… nobody will remember my face if all those who see it perish."

Ilia paused with a look of consideration. "Fair enough. You remember your orders?"

"Yes. Now leave me." Ilia took the lead while Scorpina followed close behind, her tail absentmindedly stabbing a weakened guard reaching for a discarded pistol. By the time she met with Goldar, the gorilla Faunus was bellowing down the hallway, daring for more security forces to attack.

"I'm glad to see you enjoying yourself."

Goldar huffed while loosening his shoulders. "If only it wasn't on his orders. Why did you think allying with these…" He carefully scanned his surroundings. "...these lowlifes was a good idea? They are a waste of time! We should be-"

"Hush!" hissed Scorpina. "I am very much aware. Come." Her destination was in sight: a small door marked with a sign that read "Surveillance". She ushered Goldar into the room and closed the door behind her, her full attention on the many monitors displaying camera feeds. Scorpina immediately set to work, fingers flying over the terminal's controls.

If she was correct… no, no she was not. She saw empty hallways, corridors scattered with bodies, and masked Faunus freeing their brethren from captivity. Another camera showed Adam Taurus in the control room, executing a human whose apparent pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. The bull Faunus silently turned to the camera before shooting it out, resulting in the screen showing only static.

None of this was what she was looking for.

A low growl escaped Scorpina's throat, her tail puncturing another monitor. "She's not here." Goldar stepped forth in bewilderment. "Scorpina… I do not understand. Are you talking about the empress?"

"Of course, I'm talking about the empress!" snarled the Faunus. "Rita Repulsa is all about conquest. Unlike these masked idiots, she does not utilize secrecy. And we've found no trace of her activities so far. Do you know what that means, Goldar?"

The gorilla Faunus tilted his head. "You believe she is captured."

"Yes… but not here in this facility," she stepped away. "My work here is done. Destroy the rest. Taurus will get suspicious otherwise." Goldar had no qualms as he drew his blade and began hacking at the remaining monitors, sparks flying with each strike.

"If the people of this world realize Rita is a threat," Scorpina continued to explain. "Their strongest government and military systems should have captured her. We are merely climbing the ladder. Lowering ourselves to serve one other than the empress is an arduous task, but we must be patient." Goldar finally retreated from the wall, torn monitors and smashed equipment in his wake. "A sound strategy indeed… Adam can bask in his so-called sense of justice and the 'liberation' of his people, but once we find our queen, he-"

"Greetings, compatriots."

The sudden voice sent both Faunus into high alert with weapons drawn and teeth bared. "What?! Who's there?!" Goldar snarled before whispering to Scorpina. "How did they get in here? And how much did they hear?"

"It doesn't matter," Scorpina hissed back. "Once they show themselves, eliminate them before they report to Adam. We cannot allow ourselves to be compromised."

"I trust this message finds you well. If all else, you are quite baffled about your current situation… as well as your appearance." A sleek drone with white and blue colors appeared from thin air before the duo, a sapphire optic studying them closely. "There is no need for alarm. What you see before you is a confidante I have recently acquired. It is just as useful for you as it has been for me… and I have been very resourceful in the time I have spent here."

Scorpina paused. That voice… Why did part of it sound familiar? Goldar was having similar thoughts, his sword arm already lowered in curiosity.

"My sincerest apologies for the discretion, but a personal meeting would have been… violent. Particularly for you, Goldar. After all, you are still coping with your new body by the time this message reaches you. Allow me to put it this way: you still retain some features of the form you remember while I… have been less fortunate."

Goldar's eyes widened and Scorpina took a step towards the machine. "Is that… Finster?"

"We are all asking the same question: what has happened to our beloved queen, and where is she now in this strange-yet-fascinating world?"

"It is," Goldar finished for Scorpina. "Only he would call a situation like this fascinating."

"But there is another matter. Given your impulsive nature, perhaps you have already encountered them. But the Power Rangers are in this world as well, undoubtedly suffering the same alteration as we have. Wandering aimlessly will be useless to us, and we must not be hasty. When you are able, task this drone to deliver you to my location. Once we meet in person, we will formulate our next step. Safe travels, my friends."

Goldar shook his head in disgust. "I am already dreading what has become of Finster…" Scorpina ignored her partner's muttering and approached the hovering machine. "Machine. We will rendezvous with you outside a camp not far from this location. Make your way there unseen and wait for our return. Only then will we acknowledge Finster's request."

There was a beep of confirmation before the drone hovered towards the door. Once Scorpina opened it, it silently slipped out into the hallway before disappearing in a blue shimmer. The Faunus turned down the opposite end while her ally followed suit. "How will we deal with Adam Taurus?" he asked in a manner a soldier might ask their superior.

"We will volunteer to patrol the perimeter," Scorpina readily responded. "And if we are delayed… well, we shall work that out should it prove to be a problem." There was an annoyed grunt behind her and Goldar didn't hesitate to voice his concerns. "This alliance may have its advantages, Scorpina… but there are also disadvantages."

"All the more reason to act quickly," she whispered with a wicked glint. "And once we have achieved our goal… the humans and Faunus alike will bow."

Getting transportation to Anima wasn't easy, especially for student Huntsmen that weren't licensed. All it took was a cover story concocted by Jason and Zack- claiming the Rangers were upperclassmen from Shade- and quick thinking from Weiss and Billy that convinced the airship pilot to deliver the group to the continent. Jason was glad he chose to inform the pilot of the situation about the Grimm horde: if two teams were required to investigate, then it had to be a serious matter. The return trip was something for them to discuss later, but right now all everybody could think about was the Grimm that were just wandering aimlessly.

According to Ruby and Yang, there were plenty of towns that lived separately from the kingdom of Mistral. So why weren't they attacked? Were the Grimm focused on something that was the cause of their unusual behavior? Regardless of the questions, the group was approaching the last-known sighting of Grimm activity within the Forest of Hinoki.

"Rita enjoys a good spectacle," Billy theorized. "If she stirred something up thanks to that negativity inside her, the Grimm must be going crazy." Blake looked like she was doubting that claim. "Surely one person can't have so much hatred and anger, right?"

"Evil is Rita's whole deal," Zack told her. "And given what you say about that, the Grimm are like moths to a wildfire." A part of him was wishing that many Grimm would ultimately do the witch in, but he knew Rita far better than that. If anything, Rita would find the Grimm and their destructive nature interesting… and that could go from bad to worse for the Rangers.

Kimberly glanced in Pyrrha's direction. "You said there was no pattern?"

"Right," answered the champion. "It was difficult for Jaune and me to track the horde's movements and position. At the rate they've been going, they could be anywhere within miles."

Trini stopped in her tracks, her posture fully alert. Her pause caught the others' attention, with the Yellow Ranger's eyes slowly turning to the horizon. "I don't think it's a matter of us finding them anymore." Yang tensed up at Trini's words. "That doesn't sound comforting. Are you saying they-"

"Already found us," Ruby finished, her eyes focused on tiny black figures emerging from the shadows of trees and over hilltops. A vast swath was approaching on foot, but others were coming in from the air. They bounded towards the teens with predatorial ferocity, with the Rangers quickly identifying the various types. The usual Beowolves and Ursai took up the brunt, but backing them up was a swarm of insectoid Grimm and hulking gorilla-like beasts that pounded their chests while emitting deep bellows.

"Bugs!" Zack shouted in annoyance. "Of course you would have bugs!" Jason, meanwhile, had his eyes focused on the ape beasts. "All of a sudden, I'm starting to miss Goldar…"

Weapons were drawn in a flash and everyone gathered around in defensive postures. Billy was already calculating his odds while examining the horde. "Thirteen of us, dozens of them… it's an unlucky number for a reason, right?"

"That means two things right now!" Jaune shot back nervously. "And I'm really hoping we're not the unlucky ones!" Trini didn't share his worry. "What's the call, Reds?" Ruby and Jason stared down the approaching darkness, the former replying with a stern voice.

"We fight."

Teams RWBY and JNPR charged toward their enemy and met them head-on, cutting and beating down the first Grimm they could find. They moved with practiced precision and honed skill, meeting the Grimm's aggression with their own.

"You heard her, Rangers!" Jason called. "Let's get in there!"

The defenders of Earth followed their leader into battle and picked their targets while staying close to each other, fending off their attackers as if they were nothing more than the usual clay rabble they dealt with. Jason cut down monster after monster with each swing of Tyrant, lopping off the arm of a Beowolf that swiped at him. Ducking beneath another lunging Beowolf, the Red Ranger downed that monster with a few shots from his weapon's rifle mode. Swinging back around, he flawlessly sliced another Beowolf's throat with its bayonet before firing into the wound, killing it quickly.

Another Beowolf leaped at its target only to get skewered by one of Tri-Pole's twin ends. Tossing that beast to the ground, Billy twirled the polearm and sliced at an Ursa's rear leg, toppling it backward. Catching and piercing the head with the weapon's other end, the Blue Ranger hefted the large mass aside before shifting it into its sniper mode…

…and blasted off the head of a Beowolf sneaking up on Zack. Although startled, Zack gave his friend a thumbs-up before taking off at a sprint. He cut down several Beowolves that came at him before delivering a mighty swing, releasing Gravity Dust that suspended a flailing Ursa in midair. The Black Ranger flipped the ax into its shotgun state, pointed Masto Blasto directly at the beast's face…

"Hasta la vista, baby."

…and blew it to smithereens. Blowing smoke from the barrel, Zack pumped the chamber and kept on the move. He ran past Trini, who was in the process of slicing up any Grimm that dared approach her. After stabbing one Beowolf in the chin and the top of its skull, the Yellow Ranger somersaulted away from a charging gorilla beast- a Beringel, given what she picked up from Yang's distant call to Ruby- and sidestepped a massive arm. The girl hopped on top of the limb and sprinted up its length, switching arms when the monster brought its other fist down on her. Sticking one dagger into its nape, Trini swung herself skyward and took the opportunity to shoot down a few of the bugs. Diving back down, she drove both Fierce Fangs into the Beringel's brain (did it even have one?), which let out a dying moan as it collapsed face-first with a thud. As soon as she landed, more insects had noticed her attack and were now giving chase, forcing the girl to maintain distance while she returned fire.

While some of her bullets made their mark, pink arrows lodged into their skulls and took care of several pursuers. Waiting until Trini passed her, Kim split her bow into their blades and jumped for the insects. Spinning around in midair, the Pink Ranger diced the bugs like a drill and landed amidst a shower of black ash-like particles. Never letting her guard down, Kimberly made short work of two nearby Beowolves, removing them of limbs and slicing off one's head before separating the remaining beast's legs. Once it fell, she buried both of Winged Woe's blades into its head and yanked them out, kicking the creature down while it disintegrated away.

"Nice work with those Lancers!" Nora shouted while she used her hammer as a makeshift fly swatter and squashed one of the bugs beneath it. "But I like my way better!" She downed three more with grenades, blasting them out of the sky. Ruby dashed through the crowd as a furry of rose petals, unfurling just in time to bisect a Beowolf and slice an Ursa's leg before burying Crescent Rose's blade in its back.

"Jason! Remember the team attacks I told you about?"

An upward strike from Billy knocked another Ursa onto its back, where Jason swiftly decapitated it. "Good idea!" The Red Ranger took off towards another of his friends. "Trini! Predator!"

Pausing from peppering an upright Ursa with bullets, the Yellow Ranger acknowledged her leader and switched her pistols back to daggers. "Right! Let's do this!" Both she and Jason charged at the Ursa from separate angles, going high and low respectively. Jason cut across the monster's belly while Trini slashed at its neck, both strikes covering the beast with gash-like markings. The two teens pounced at their wounded prey and delivered a flurry of sharp strikes reminiscent of swinging claws. Finally, Jason dashed behind the groaning Grimm and lunged while Trini leaped at it with a roar. The daggers and sword punctured it from both sides like a carnivore biting down, finishing the beast for good.

The roar of a Beringel alerted the two to another attack, the Grimm's pillar-like arms ready to smash. Before it could bring its limbs down, a black heel smacked the Beringel's face and a midnight-shaped blade sunk into its throat. Blake bounded off before the beast hit the ground, turning her golden eyes to the red and yellow fighters before her.

"Nice job," she said before shooting directly between them and nailing a Beowolf in the skull. "But don't celebrate too early." All three of them ran off to rejoin the others, where Billy was downing scores of Grimm with a special attachment: a muzzle that broke each shot into three bits, the fractured bullet pieces just as effective as a full one.

The Grimm were still coming, though, and he could only keep using this tactic for so long. He needed to slow them down…

Billy shifted his weapon back into a lance, loading up a blue Dust crystal. "Zack! Tri-cicle!"

"Iced Grimm, coming right up!" came the eager response. Giving his weapon a good spin, Billy jabbed the lance into the ground, creating a sheet of ice that split up into three directions. It washed over the Grimm's feet, freezing them where they stood and turning them into cold statues. A loud roar erupted from an airborne Zack, who brought his ax down onto the exact same spot Billy did with a mighty slam. A purple shockwave traveled through the ice like water through a stream, shattering all traces of it… including the petrified Grimm.

"Woo!" The Black Ranger cheered with a pumped fist. "How's that for revenge being a dish best served cold?!" Billy searched through his belt to select another Dust crystal, only to pause when he noticed the additional devices he had initially spotted after he had woken up in Solitas. He still didn't know what they were for… but what better time to find out than right now?

Taking what he believed to be a grenade from the belt, Billy pressed a button on the top and hurled the device at a crowd of Beowolves converging on Weiss and Ruby. The object sailed past the Huntresses and went off in an electric burst of blue lightning, shocking the nearby Grimm and leaving them open for a red blur to slice them to pieces like a farmer in a field.

Next, Billy took out a triangular device and spied a tiny hook in its center. Guessing what it could be already, the Blue Ranger sprinted for a Beringel that had just swatted Ren away and was now keeping Jaune and Pyrrha on their toes. Tossing the device behind the Beringel, Billy watched as the device rooted into the ground, aimed its hook at the Grimm, and fired a long cable that stuck in the Grimm's arm. The harpoon halted the monster's punch, making it howl in anger and wrestle against the heavy-duty strand. Billy tossed another device on its opposite side, with that harpoon pinning the other arm.

The harpoons made quick work of the Beringel's resistance by running an electric charge up the cables, shocking the Grimm where it stood. Kimberly ran full speed towards the scene and sharply whistled, gaining Pyrrha's attention. The bronze-clad Huntress readied her shield, propelling the Pink Ranger off when Kimberly jumped atop it. Shooting for the Beringel like a missile, Kimberly shot through its torso blades first like a bullet, leaving a gaping hole in its torso. While she rolled into a landing and dashed away, the harpoons detached from their target and the Beringel collapsed, dissipating into nothingness.

A spinning shockwave of fire deterred Grimm from Jason, his sword alight with flame while he cut down those who remained close to him. Yang fired explosive blasts at others while standing back-to-back with Trini, the Yellow Ranger shooting bolts of lightning at chosen targets. Ruby darted through the horde until she reached them, Crescent Rose making short work of two more Beowolves. "How are we holding up?!"

"Oh, you know, they're a step up from Putties…" Jason paused, roaring at another pack of Beowolves and three Ursa to blow them back. "...but they're not an improvement!" Yang paused her ranged fisticuffs, shooting the Red Ranger a confused look. "Whaties?"

"Putties!" Trini shouted. "Goons Rita makes from clay and… y'know what? I'll explain later!" She halted a Beowolf's lunge by shooting it in the brain, the Grimm collapsing lifelessly at her feet. Everyone else rallied to their position, with Jaune shield-bashing a Grimm in the face before Zack buried his ax in it. "Yeah, that's right! What else you got?!"

Blake's ear twitched beneath her bow and her head leaned skyward. "Heads up!" she cried, tackling Yang out of the way just in time for a massive black projectile to stab the ground. Several more circled around the group, pinning them in and taking them by surprise. Kimberly noticed something about them and blinked twice to make sure she was seeing it right. "Are those… are those feathers?"

Ruby froze when she overheard. "Oh no…"

SKREEEEEEE! A large shadow passed over the group, prompting everyone to look to the sky. A gigantic winged shape glided over their heads before tucking in its wings and diving down like a missile. Breaking free from their trance, Jason, Billy, and Trini all raised their weapons and opened fire on the creature with a storm of bullets.

"No, wait!" Ruby cried. "You won't-!"

SKRAAAAAAW! The humongous raven was unfazed by the projectiles and let out a high-pitched cry, diving for the team with outstretched talons. The three Rangers realized the folly of their assault in the nick of time and scattered in separate directions, hitting the grass as the shape soared over them. It began climbing back into the air, its fellow Grimm roaring and snarling outside the team's feathery cage.

"We didn't even scratch it?!" Billy exclaimed. "What is that thing?!"

"A giant Nevermore!" Ruby shouted. "We can't do anything if we're stuck here!"

"And it took both of our teams to take a single one down!" Jaune added. "Nobody saw a cliff on their way here, right?" High above them, the bird's blazing red eyes were like searchlights scanning the ground for helpless victims. While most of the group expressed unease about their limited options, Jason kept his eyes on the abnormally large avian. It may be immune to most attacks if Ruby was right, but it had to have a weak spot somewhere…

"Billy! Kim! Target the wings! We'll fight this thing on our le-"

THOOM! Something broadsided the Nevermore out of nowhere, knocking some of its feathers loose and driving the Grimm into the crowd of its brethren. Dust and dirt spewed high from the impact, screeches ringing out from within. If that wasn't perplexing enough, all of the remaining Grimm simply turned their attention away from the teams and converged on the dust, snarling as they approached.

"What was that? What hit it? I didn't see!" Nora cried over the Nevermore's screeching cries until a cracking noise brought an abrupt halt to them. Black and white dust rose from the dust cloud… and the only noise that came from it now was a low, menacing growl.

"Another Grimm?" Yang whispered. "They do tend to quarrel a lot. Maybe-" She was cut off by a shushing Weiss just as movement from within the cloud urged the Grimm to creep closer. Everyone clutched their weapons tightly, bracing for whatever lay hidden from view.

Instead of a black beast dead set on killing everything around it, a powerful blast of green flame erupted from the dust cloud and incinerated the closest Beowolves into ash. Those that did immediately perish howled in agony and flailed about like mad, resembling hellish demons through their movements before succumbing to the flames. The rest of the Grimm howled in anger and rage, converging on the shape.

The dust finally vanished, revealing a sight none of the teens expected. Instead of a Grimm, the translucent green shape of a massive dragon roared in response to the horde, bathing the approaching wave in another stream of emerald fire. The construct lashed out with huge talons and a powerful tail while burning the horde, swatting, smashing, and crushing all that neared it. Burning Lancers plummeted like meteors and Beringels were squashed underfoot beneath the beast.

"Ruby…" Zack whispered. "Please tell me you've always had things like that." Her stunned silence- shared by her friends- was the only answer the Ranger needed. Soon enough, the Grimm realized their folly and backed off from the glowing green dragon. Their aggression didn't cease as they continued to snarl and roar at the spiritual creature, who roared back just as loudly.

Suddenly, a new noise eclipsed all others until the roaring ceased, confusing the remaining Grimm and gaining the dragon's attention. The Huntsmen and Huntresses were also not sure what to make of the sound, which they identified as music rolling across the hills. Triumphant notes rang through the air in short bursts, suitable for a marching army or a call to action. Hearing the notes, the dragon relaxed and answered with its own call, taking flight with a pair of massive wings. Several of the Huntsmen watched the beast soar in awe, but Ruby was still confused.

"Who's playing music out here?" She turned to the Rangers for answers only to find them equally frozen. They were still, their faces alight with shock and… recognition? Ruby was just about to ask them what was wrong when Kimberly whispered with tears in her eyes.

"Oh my god… that's the…"

"Ruby, look!" Yang's call drew the Huntress back to the dragon, which was now doing something even more bizarre. The fantastical yet phantasmic creature was dissolving in midair, reducing itself to green particles with a final bellow that faded into the wind. Those particles settled at the top of a nearby hill… where a lone figure marched into view. It took a few seconds for Ruby's eyes to adjust until the stranger was in full view.

It was a young man around their age with long black hair reaching down to his shoulders, the tips dyed green much like Ruby's own hair. He was holding a strange-looking dagger-like weapon, blowing into its side like a flute (what kind of weapon doubled as a musical instrument?). The boy was dressed in a bright green jacket with winding flame decals over an emerald undershirt. Two shining gold pauldrons rested on his shoulders, their brilliance on full display thanks to the sun. The boy also wore a pair of jade pants with white detailing and green-white combat boots. The last of the green particles the dragon had dissipated into was being absorbed into his form, providing him with a glowing green Aura that soon faded from sight.

None of Ruby or her friends knew who this stranger was, but she had a feeling that the Rangers did. Case in point, Jason broke to the front of the pack with his friends in tow, all of their eyes glued on the green figure. Before long, the Red Ranger uttered a name, his voice full of shock.

"Tommy?"

The boy's gaze turned to the Grimm horde, who were now growling at the new arrival. Unfazed, the stranger brandished his dagger at the remaining beasts with a proclamation.

"I don't know who or what you are… but I'm gonna make you regret messing with my friends!"