(WARNING: This chapter contains themes which might be distressing for some readers.)

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!"

Tommy's enraged voice echoed through the office, yet the man in the chair was left unfazed. Not only was the professor finally present when Tommy emerged from the elevator, but he also appeared to be rather curious and had beckoned the Green Ranger forth despite his "unexpected arrival". Needless to say, Tommy was glad to do so. The man wasn't even intimidated by the shout, as he simply adjusted his glasses before speaking. "I am afraid you need to be more specific, Mister Oliver."

"More specific?!" Tommy spat back. "How much more specific can I be?!" He jabbed a finger at the elevator. "She is down there! She's been down there all this time and you said nothing! WHY?!"

"From what I understand of this woman…" Ozpin explained. "She is a terrifying force that must be contained. It is an evil I thought I would never see in a being other than a Grimm, a soul dedicated to chaos and malice. She is not to be trusted, Tommy."

"Really?" the Green Ranger growled. "Because I was just thinking the same thing about you. Rita told me everything, Ozpin." The professor raised a brow. "Humor me."

"With pleasure. It all started when you were down in that secret chamber doing I-don't-care-what…"

Time was running out.

She had barely survived the attack, and he was no closer to finding a suitable candidate. A suitable successor. A Huntsman or Huntress he could rely upon to join the fight kept hidden from public eyes. Somebody who he needed to keep safe from her.

But he had no such luck. He needed to find somebody before the Vytal Festival. And he needed to make sure the others were kept a secret, unable to be tracked down by the queen's pawns. And if they were to find this place…

The air crackled behind Ozpin, turning the headmaster's attention away from the girl kept on life support. Not too far down the corridor, something was sparking into existence. Something bright. Something ethereal. The headmaster was on immediate high alert, a tight grip on his cane.

Impossible. Had she found her so easily? Was this one of her followers sent to kill him and take the girl's power? A grave mistake on her part. Ozpin took a step forward, stoically bracing himself for whatever was about to occur and narrowing his eyes at the rapidly-expanding orb of light surrounded by electricity…

It vanished instantly, leaving behind a woman that dropped to the floor breathlessly. Ozpin raised a brow at the sight of her. This didn't look like one of her pawns. It was a young woman donned in tan robes with blue detailing, a brown hood, a pair of black-brown heels, a red eye necklace, black spiked wrist cuffs, and black fingernails with a peculiar gold ring on one hand. A wave of auburn hair cascaded down her back as a low groan escaped her mouth… but what caught Ozpin's attention was an odd-looking staff, its end shaped like a crescent moon with a red orb placed within it.

"Where… am I?" croaked the woman. Ozpin had to be cautious, for he knew nothing about this stranger. Detain first, then interrogate. He needed to know if this one was one of hers. The stranger grasped the staff and used it to pull herself to her feet, a pair of shocked eyes looking around the hallway.

"No…" she whispered. "No, no, no, no, NO!" A loud cry tore its way from her throat and she slammed her staff against the ground in anger. "Curse you, Green Ranger! Curse you all! Why must you troublesome teenagers always make things-" That was when her eyes landed on the curious Ozpin… and she pointed her staff at him with a menacing growl.

"Who are you?! And just where in all of existence am I?!"

Ozpin merely frowned as he marched towards the woman. "I am Professor Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon Academy. I may not recognize you, stranger… but I recognize a threat. I cannot allow you to leave."

"Leave?!" the woman screeched. "I'm stuck here, you buffoon! And it's all HIS FAULT!" The stranger thrust her staff forward, sending forth a beam of red energy toward Ozpin. The headmaster slammed the Long Memory into the floor, generating an emerald spherical forcefield that absorbed the beam's power. The stream died down immediately, the silver-haired man giving the woman a curious look. "Hmm…"

"And you dare to threaten me?!" the woman howled. "None threatens Rita Repulsa, the Mistress of Magic, and lives to tell the tale! I'm in a destructive mood, old man, and you're the one unfortunate enough to face my wrath!"

Magic?! Impossible! Ozpin had to suppress the sudden surprise threatening to escape him as he readied himself for a duel. Whoever this woman was, she was going to tell him everything. But before that, she needed to learn that underestimating oneself was among the foulest of mistakes. His face turned stern while the woman's expression was twisted in anger.

"RAH!" The woman's staff erupted with red orbs that zeroed in on Ozpin, the headmaster deflecting each of them with breathtaking speed. He rushed forward before the woman could react, rapidly stabbing at her with The Long Memory. His last strike sent the woman flying into a pillar, causing a brown Aura to flash around her body and her staff to clatter to the ground. She meekly attempted to reach for the staff as Ozpin approached, but the outstretched limb collapsed.

If what she said was true… that she was using magic… then that meant she was dangerous. Ozpin neither had the time nor the resources to properly deal with this woman. She would need to be contained for now, but entrusting her with the girl's gift was an obvious mistake. The pod would make a fine prison for her in the meantime.

And once the opportunity presented itself, this woman would no longer be a concern for him.

"I will admit, there is much I do not know about Rita," Ozpin calmly confessed. "But what I do know is that as long as she remains in this world… She is a threat. And as the headmaster of Beacon Academy, one of four institutions dedicated to training Remnant's defenders, it is my responsibility to-"

"No, it's not!" Tommy interrupted. "You don't know Rita! I do! So that makes her my responsibility!" His statement was met by a doubtful gaze from Ozpin. "With all due respect, Mister Oliver, I understand that while you and your friends are sworn to defend your world from this woman… I fail to see why you 'know' her." Tommy scoffed in response. "I 'know' her, Ozpin, because we haven't had the best of histories."

The man raised a brow in surprise. "I beg your pardon… history?"

"That woman put a spell on me," Tommy explained. "Brainwashed me to be her servant. I never would've been free if it weren't for the Rangers, who I almost destroyed. And ever since then, she's been haunting me. I hear her voice, I see her in nightmares, I feel like she'll be right there every time I look behind my shoulder…" The Green Ranger placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward, looking Ozpin right in the eye. "So tell me, professor. Have you had anything like that happen to you?"

The office was quiet. Ozpin gave no response as he stared at Tommy like a statue. He may not have given a response verbally, but Tommy was searching the man's brown eyes for an answer. The Green Ranger faintly picked up a hint of regret and sadness within the orbs, but aside from that, he saw nothing else. The man was probably taking pity on him… and Tommy didn't want pity.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," he concluded before drawing himself back. "You're making a mistake keeping her here. You know she's dangerous, but you don't know how dangerous she is. And that… is a mistake."

"I have lived a long life, Tommy Oliver," Ozpin said quietly. "I have made more mistakes than any man or woman on this planet." The Green Ranger deflected the comment and jabbed a finger at the headmaster. "Well, for your sake, you better hope this isn't one more to add to the list! Last chance, Ozpin… Hand. Over. Rita."

"I'm sorry, Mister Oliver… but I can't do that," sighed the professor. "For the good of us all."

The boy glared at the man and clenched his fists. "You have until the others get back. One way or another, I'm telling them everything and-"

"You mustn't," Ozpin's voice was stern this time as if Tommy was just another Beacon student. "If anyone outside of this room hears about this, there will be chaos and panic. And do you know what happens when there is panic? I know you do not approve of this course of action, Mister Oliver, but you must trust me when I say-"

"Trust you?! Since when has trusting you done me any good?!" Tommy roared. "If you had been honest with me and my friends from the start, we'd be making progress! We might already be home, but no! You just had to hide this behind the curtain!"

"Secrecy is survival, Mister Oliver," Ozpin cut him off. "You know that more than anybody. Miss Rose has told me that you keep your very identities hidden back in your world."

"That's different!" The boy didn't have time for this. "We keep things secret from the public, not each other! Zordon never kept things from us, so what would your students say if they found out their teacher was shady?"

"That is a day that will never come," The man's tone was sharp again, acting as an unspoken warning to Tommy. "I do what I must to ensure their safety, Mister Oliver. I protect them from dangers they are not aware of. Dangers they are not prepared for."

"Then that's what you should be doing. You can't hold them back forever, Ozpin," Tommy finished. "You need to do your job and teach your students to be ready. That's what this place is for, right?"

A sigh. "You don't understand, Tommy… some dangers can't be resolved through sheer force. Rita Repulsa is a complicated evil… one of many in Remnant. As I have said before… I do not know her full potential."

"Is that a lie, professor?" Tommy growled. "Another pathetic attempt to keep everyone in the dark? Because if that is… you don't even know me." Without another word, the Green Ranger spun on his heel and marched towards the doors. Throwing them open and stepping out of the office, he turned to glare at Ozpin one last time after looking at his Scroll.

"My team is on their way back. You have until their arrival to come clean… or Rita won't be the only problem you'll have."

The doors slammed shut, leaving Ozpin alone in his office. As soon as he was sure the green-clad young man was gone, the silver-haired headmaster hung his head with a disheartened sigh.

"I'm afraid I do know you, Tommy Oliver… more than I care to admit."

In the depths below Beacon Tower, the crackling of the green candles was the only sound that filled the dark catacombs. All was dark. All was still. All was quiet… until a drone shimmered into sight and beeped in confirmation. The aerial machine flew down a passageway, where a deep voice let his displeasure be known to the entire catacombs.

"Are you sure this is the right way? All these hallways look the same! Whose bright idea was it to build a place like this?"

"Would you please be quiet for five minutes, Goldar?!" hissed another voice. "And if it would cease your yammering, you will be pleased to know that we have arrived." A sharp grunt followed those words. "And how would you know, Finster? Has that machine given you a map?"

"My automated ally only discovered this location because of its discreet tailing of the Green Ranger, need I remind you," Finster replied. "He has done our bidding once again, though he fails to realize it."

"And our lengthy travel is only because the direct entrance is strictly off-limits," Scorpina snapped. "I told you it would take Finster a while to hack the tower's elevator." Goldar just growled again. "Followed by another cramped space to hide in after that filthy ventilation shaft! If that stupid machine was wrong, I'm not hesitating to-"

"Silence, both of you!" Finster quietly shouted when his drone floated to his side. "The search has proven fruitful." His eyes turned straight ahead, where the trio could now see an odd machine housing two people. The first was a human Finster could care little for, but the other…

"At long last!" Goldar shouted, nearly shoving Finster aside as he made a beeline for the captive alongside Scorpina. "Finster, get this thing open!" The scorpion Faunus turned her eyes to the other captive. "And what about this one? Is she dead?" Her tail slithered into a striking position. "Disregard that question. She's about to be."

"Leave her, Scorpina," Finster dismissed. "She is not important. And in my opinion, she may not last much longer anyway. What is important… is this." Approaching the console, the alien-turned-human allowed his fingers to dance around the controls until finally pressing down on a button, causing a sharp hiss to emerge from the second pod. The containment chamber's door swung open…

…and a black-fingered hand gripped the side. Both Faunus and the human obediently knelt before the woman that emerged, a smile crossing her face as she stepped out. After taking a moment to admire her new surroundings, the woman deeply inhaled.

"Aaaahhh… I've spent ten thousand years trapped in a dumpster on the moon," spoke Rita Repulsa. "The last thing I needed was to spend ten thousand more in that awful machine."

"My queen…" The witch turned her attention to Goldar and Scorpina, her eyes roaming over their transformed bodies and taking note of their newly-acquired Faunus attributes. Next, she turned her gaze to a kneeling Finster… and scowled. "You look terrible, Finster."

"Why, thank you, your evilness. I-"

"I did not mean that as a compliment, you nitwit."

"O-oh…" Goldar let out a small chuckle at Finster, who looked too ashamed to raise his face. "Eh… w-we spent a great deal of time searching for you, my empress. And now that we are finally reunited… what do you wish to have us do?"

"I know exactly what we must do," sneered the sorceress, who extended a hand toward the shadows. A staff flew from the darkness and landed perfectly in her palm, the red orb within its tip glowing a dark crimson. "The plan has worked. The Power Rangers are here… and we must strike while they are powerless."

"But, my liege…" Goldar protested. "The Rangers… they are not powerless. They cannot morph, but this world has changed them. Much like it has changed us."

"Yes…" Rita whispered, clenching her free hand into a fist. "I have been affected as well. I feel… strong. Unstoppable. I feel an insatiable urge to unleash it… and show that idiot just how much of a mistake he has made."

Scorpina's lips lifted in a wicked grin. "I agree, my empress. I can hardly wait to taste the blood of our enemies on my tongue." Rita gave her soldier an approving grin before Finster cleared his throat. "Locating the Rangers will not be difficult, Empress Rita. They are on their way to this place as we speak."

"Well, then…" Rita chuckled menacingly. "Let's give them a welcoming party."

"Man…" breathed Jason as he stood amidst the other Rangers and Team RWBY at the base of Beacon Tower. "If that's what you guys do for a living, then I almost have second thoughts about going home." This earned him a sharp look from Zack and Billy. "Jason…"

"What? I said 'almost'!"

"Okay, so… what happens now?" Yang asked. "You said Rita laying low wasn't her thing. Maybe she doesn't wanna be found?" Billy had a hand to his chin. "A plausible theory. But that only means when she does show herself, she's got something ready for us. Like a trap."

"That's what she did before she got here," Trini stated. "But there's no magic here, which means she can't do the spell again. Maybe she's trying to find something else, something to compensate for her lost power."

"Aside from Dust and a Semblance… if she has those figured out," Ruby added. "But we can't make guesses right now. Let's find the others and-"

"Good, you're back," Everyone turned to the tower's base, where Tommy was striding towards them in a fast walk. Kimberly was the first to greet him with a smile. "Tommy! You're not gonna believe this! We were fighting the Grimm in this town and we-"

"Save it," his voice was stern, much to the girl's surprise. "I need to tell you something." Jason stepped forward with concern on both his and Ruby's faces. "Tommy… are you okay? You sound a little-"

"Enough about me," the Green Ranger cut him off. "Rangers, I need you to follow me. Now. It's-" He didn't get much farther than that when a panicked scream ripped through the air behind him. Everybody spun to see various students and tower staff fleeing from the building's entrance, with some students being thrown through the windows and struggling to escape while they could. And from inside the tower, the teens could hear faint noises that sounded like roaring… and laughter.

Suddenly, the entrance doors were blown from their hinges by a great explosion, forcing Yang to bash one away before it could hit her while Weiss blocked the other with a glyph. The teens all spun to the entrance with weapons drawn… but Jason noticed Tommy was glaring higher up the tower towards Ozpin's office, his hand clenching the Dragon Dagger tightly. Before the Red Ranger could ask what was wrong, three silhouettes moved through the smoke.

"RAAAAGH!" Tommy lunged for the smoke only to be blown back by a red beam of light. He slid past everybody else until he was flat on his back, wisps of smoke rising from his groaning form. Kimberly was already on her way to help him… but she and the rest of the Rangers froze when a high-pitched cackle rang out.

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

"I… Is that…?" Zack whispered with fear on his face. Billy was shaking his head in denial. "No… it can't be…" The three figures stepped out of the smoke, two of them covered in gold and growling at the teens. Goldar had his blade by his side while Scorpina pointed her tail towards the Rangers… and between them, a woman dressed in brown robes emerged, a long staff with a moon at its end clenched in one hand. None of the Rangers could speak in their shocked silence while a surprised Team RWBY took in the sight of the woman… who gave a sinister grin.

"Hello, Power Rangers… AND GOODBYE!"

A powerful blast of red light erupted from the woman's wand, striking the Rangers head-on in a bright explosion. The five teens screamed as they were sent flying, collapsing meters behind the shocked Huntresses. "And what do we have here?" The woman's voice brought their attention back to her. "Four little girls who wish to play hero?"

All of their weapons were out in a flash, with Ruby putting on a determined face. "We're not gonna let you hurt them, Rita!" The woman gasped in surprise at the silver-eyed girl's words. "Oooh, someone's been doing their homework! But I'm here to give you little ladies a break. Would you like to play a game, kiddies?"

"Is it called 'Pin the Fist on the Face'?" Yang shot back, pumping her fists to load Ember Celica. Rita's evil grin just grew some more, the expression a little unnerving to witness. "No. It's called 'STOP THE SCHOOL FROM BEING DESTROYED'! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Another stream of crimson light erupted from the wand, carving up the ground around Team RWBY while screams tore from the startled girls. Soon enough, they were thrown onto their backs as well in whining heaps. Some of the Rangers were already getting back to their feet, with Kimberly's horrified eyes on the witch.

"How… how did you find us?" Trini was just as much of a confused mess as her friend was. "A-and why aren't you-?" The sorceress cut off the girls' questions with a wagging finger. "Ah, ah, ah! Where would the fun be in that, my pretties? And speaking of fun… let's see how much we can have! Catch me if you can, Rangers!"

"Let the slaughter begin!" Goldar bellowed just as Rita sprinted off across the campus grounds. Baring his teeth in anger, Jason switched Tyrant to its rifle mode and unloaded a few shots onto the witch… who made them explode in midair with a flash from her staff's crimson gem. "Cheating already?! I'll have to punish you for that!" She fired a crimson bolt at the Red Ranger only for a white glyph to appear before Jason, absorbing the projectile and leaving it to detonate against its pristine surface. Once the smoke faded, the witch and her minions were already gone.

"I… I don't understand…" Trini whispered in shock. "Rita should be…"

"Maybe it's her Semblance," Billy theorized. "She can channel energy through her staff to produce an effect similar to magic. That's gotta be it." Jason was already back on his feet, Ruby helping him stand. "Whatever it is… we can't let her use it to reduce this school to rubble. Ruby, get after her but be careful!"

"On it!" The girl was off in a shower of flower petals that sped across campus like the wind. Ruby didn't have to look for Rita too long; the explosive blasts and screams of terror followed by devious laughter were the only signs she needed. At the source of the chaos, the wicked witch was howling in sheer amusement at the sight of fleeing students and burning bits of rubble.

"I haven't felt this excited in eons!" she chuckled. "A shame this is not Earth, but it will suffice nonetheless!" Flicking her staff at a lamppost, Rita launched a crimson orb that blasted it from the ground. Goldar threw a student aside with glee, his laughs deeper than his master's. "Agreed, my empress! I'd like to see those puny Rangers or those weaklings they call allies try to- GRAAAAAAGH!" The Faunus was interrupted by a thunderous volley of bullets connecting with his shining golden armor, the incoming fire driving him to his knees. Fighting through the storm, Goldar grabbed his sword and bellowed ferociously at his attacker.

A brown-clad girl donning a beret and sunglasses was advancing down on the path with a rapidly-spinning minigun unleashing its payload. Three more figures made a mad dash towards Goldar, who managed to stand amidst the assault and hurl a small rock at the glasses-wearing girl, disrupting her rate of fire and knocking her shades loose. With that one out of the way, Goldar whirled to meet the first of the other three in battle. A tall man dressed in pale green colors swung at Goldar with a blade nearly as tall as the human. The Faunus introduced the blade to his own before slamming the human across the face with a gauntlet, a boot sending him a few meters back.

Another human with empty eyes and arm blades slashed at Goldar, the weapons forming sparks from where they struck the armor. Locking his sword under one curved blade, Goldar threw the boy over his shoulder before stomping him on the ribs. "HA! You and your weapons are no match for me!"

A high foot to his face drew Goldar's attention to the third attacker: a girl with rabbit ears that dared look him in the eye. The Faunus was light and agile, evading each of Goldar's swings with unnatural reflexes. Each miss infuriated Goldar, as did each time the girl leaped out of sight and every blow she landed every time he tried to relocate her. After the girl landed a spinning kick to his knee that buckled Goldar, she took aim at his face only for the ape Faunus to seize that leg like a twig and glare at her with fury in his eyes.

"RAAAAAAAARGH!" The roar had such force that the squinting rabbit Faunus' ears were blown back. Goldar proceeded to pound and smash the other Faunus on the ground like a ragdoll, punishing her with brute force until he caught a glimpse of the beret-wearing girl. The human wore an annoyed expression as she readjusted her shades and spun up her minigun…

…until Goldar held the dazed rabbit Faunus directly in the line of fire, causing the human to hesitate. Goldar took the chance to throw the rabbit girl into her, knocking both girls down. Huffing in frustration and kicking away the green one again, Goldar turned back to his master only to see Scorpina protecting her from another band of children. All of them were male, yet they were wearing armor. That protection wouldn't save them.

"Attacking the empress is a grave offense!" Scorpina roared, her tail holding a student with a mohawk by the throat and leaving him dangling in midair while she dueled with a sword-wielding student. "The penalty is death!" She smashed the mohawk-wearing student face-first into the ground before she disarmed the sword wielder, spin-kicking him in the face and pinning him down beneath a heel, her curved blade ready to slice his throat open.

A mace bashed her across the head and it took everything Scorpina had to keep standing. The one who dared strike her appeared to be a knight with silver-gray armor, yet his face wore a disgusted snarl. "You should know your place, Faunus freak…" Scorpina spat blood from her mouth before responding with a venomous hiss. "You are mistaken, boy… you are the one who should know your place." The student attacked Scorpina at the same time another with an ax came from the rear. Refusing to be intimidated by mere trainees, Scorpina made sure their punishment for mocking her would be a painful one. After striking the armored one in the chest with a palm, she weaved away from the halberd that was embedded in the ground. Leaping atop it to keep the boy from retrieving the weapon, Scorpina threw a hard high kick to his face, the blow enough to make him bleed from the nose. With him out of the way, Scorpina spun back to the boy with the mace, grabbed the weapon before it could connect with her head…

…and slashed him across the face with her weapon's whip form. A sharp yelp of pain unlike the lowly threat he had made earlier made him stagger back, light flickering across his body. Once the stunned boy withdrew his hand, Scorpina raised a brow at his face. "Hmm… no scar. Let's see if we can fix that."

The boy sneered at the smirking Scorpina as if he believed her to be not worth his time. "Laugh all you want, you dirty animal. When I'm done with you, you're gonna beg for mercy. And guess what? Filthy Faunus like you aren't worthy of… Sky? What the hell are you-" Scorpina looked over her shoulder to see the other boy's brown eyes wide in panic, stumbling over his own feet in his attempts to get away. Once the scorpion Faunus turned back to the armored boy, her mouth lifted in a smirk once she saw who was standing mere inches behind him.

"SKY!" the boy roared. "Come back here, you coward! It's just one-"

Goldar pounded a palm and a low huff escaped his nostrils, making the boy freeze where he stood. "One… measly… Faunus…" He slowly turned around until he took in the sight of the angry ape Faunus standing before him. His whole body trembled as he took a few steps back… when Scorpina poked the back of his neck with her stinger. "Now…" she all but whispered into his ear. "What were you saying about begging for mercy?" Growling like the beast he resembled, Goldar raised a fist to crush the Beacon student into the ground.

But a red tornado of flowers swirled around his form. "What the-?! ARGH!" Goldar growled and swatted at the storm until its velocity lifted the bulky general from the ground. The red blur materialized into a female figure once it positioned itself atop Goldar, a shot from its weapon sending the Faunus crashing into the ground. The figure landed atop the golden general, a pair of silver eyes gazing at a stunned Scorpina.

"You again!" Scorpina rushed for Ruby only for the red-clad girl to zip towards her, catch her tail, with Crescent Rose's blade, and fling the scorpion Faunus into a bench that broke on impact. Without missing a beat, Ruby spun for a smirking Rita Repulsa and fired Crescent Rose behind her, the force propelling her toward the witch.

"YAAAAA-" The girl's battle cry died in her throat when Rita held out a hand and Ruby unexpectedly froze in midair. The girl was left unable to move a muscle, as only her mind was left to comprehend her new situation… or attempt to comprehend. Her voice came out in tiny strains of effort as Rita approached the damsel, a devious giggle escaping her teeth before a series of "tsk" noises followed by a shake of the head.

"What is it that the Rangers told you about me, little girl?" she whispered. "Did they give you a chance to live out your fantasy of being a hero? Aww… such a deluded young mind." She ran her hand over Ruby's cheek, the girl unable to do anything but tremble in her attempt to free herself. "This is why you need to be careful about who you make friends with. Because they could rope you into games you're just not… wait…" Rita took Ruby's face in a firm grip, the witch's eyes gazing into Ruby's while squeezing her cheeks. "You… you're different. I-I sense… not just the force that surrounds all life in this world, but… something different. Something… splendorous." She pried open Ruby's eye, the whimpering girl helpless beneath the witch's grasp. "I simply must know more…"

Rita was about to follow through on this when she heard more footsteps behind her. The witch glanced over her shoulder to see all six Power Rangers converging on her direction, backed by Ruby's teammates. Goldar and Scorpina took notice as well, with the former releasing his hold on the beret-wearing girl's throat and the latter swatting away the mohawk-wearing boy with her tail before stepping off the armored boy with the mace.

Tommy was the first to meet Goldar in combat, the latter grinning sadistically. "Finally! Your interference will be punished at last, Green Ranger!" Tommy weaved away from sword swings and he kicked the weapon out of Goldar's grip. He lunged for the Faunus in a stabbing motion… but Goldar seized Tommy by the arm before doing the same to his other limb. Pinned, the young man struggled in the Faunus' grip while Goldar chuckled ominously. "And now, Green Ranger… you will pay the ultimate price for betraying your queen!"

"She's… not… my… queen…" Tommy groaned as Golar began pulling on his arms, causing the Faunus to growl. "If those are your final words, Tommy Oliver, then so be it!" The Faunus pulled harder, forcing Tommy to think fast through the pain in his limbs. He tried to focus; channel the heat into his limbs and heat himself up into making Goldar release him… but the heat traveled to a different location in his body. A warm feeling flooded his face and his cheeks glowed a bright green when something boiled in the back of his throat. Goldar paused his tugging when he noticed the difference in coloration. "What are you-"

FWOOOOOSH! Emerald flames blasted from Tommy's mouth and licked at Goldar's face, forcing the Faunus to leap back with a howl of alarm. Tommy collapsed to his knees, coughing and gagging on smoke while Goldar batted furiously at the flames. Kimberly was by his side in seconds. "Tommy! Are you okay?!" The Green Ranger wheezed out another puff of dark smoke. "My throat… stings a little… but I'll… be fine."

The Pink Ranger turned her eyes to Goldar, who had just finished extinguishing the flames. "Is he okay?" The golden-armored Faunus spun to the Rangers with another snarl. "You will be far from 'okay' when I'm through with you, Rangers!" Grabbing his sword, Goldar lunged for the two with a vicious snarl.

Yang slipped past the duo and shot for Rita with blazing hair and burning crimson eyes. "GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER, YOU HAG!" Propelling herself airborne with Ember Celica, the blonde brawler was about to crash down on top of Rita when the witch raised her staff… and a column of red light burst from the ground, blasting Yang out of the air. With that nuisance out of the way, Rita turned back to a fear-stricken Ruby and leaned close to her face, turning Ruby back to the others.

"Run along now, my pretty…" she whispered, flicking Ruby on the nose with a finger… and sending her hurling backward at incredible speeds. "AAAAAH!" Ruby's scream cut out when a glyph projected beneath her feet halted her trajectory, the breathless silver-eyed girl giving Weiss an appreciative nod before doubling over in exhaustion. The Rangers wasted no time in attacking their sworn enemies, leaving Team RWBY struggling to catch up.

Billy and Zack charged at Goldar, the ape Faunus fending off the boys with both his blade and powerful arms. His sword bounced off Billy's forcefield and left him vulnerable for Zack to tackle him. Holding his ground, Goldar headbutted the Black Ranger and drove a fist into his gut, elbowing him into the ground once he doubled over. Zack managed to roll away from a stomp and Billy swung his lance upward, the strike knocking off Goldar's helmet to reveal blue hair beneath the helmet. Roaring in anger, the Faunus lunged for the Blue Ranger… until a black low-heeled boot smacked him in the face.

Blake danced around the larger Faunus while twirling Gambol Shroud, lashing at Goldar at every opportunity she found. The cat Faunus blocked the golden sword with her cleaver sheath and drove it into the ground, leaping over Goldar's form to kick him in the back of the head. Weiss was quick to join in, poking at the ape Faunus' weak spots and using her glyphs to strafe the general. Goldar's enraged bellows echoed across the grounds as he continued to defend himself against the four teens.

Nearby, Scorpina lashed out at Trini and Kimberly, keeping pace with both girls flawlessly. After sweeping out the Yellow Ranger's legs, the scorpion Faunus threw a heel into a charging Yang to interrupt her approach and parried Kim's blades. Leaping over a low swipe, Scorpina extended her blade into its whip form and spun in midair, driving all three girls back with a single effort.

"I'm going to enjoy disciplining you," she hissed with an ecstatic grin. Yang just frowned and held up her fists while Trini crouched low beside her. "Do I look like a circus tiger to you?" The Faunus lashed out at the girls with wild strikes, and Kimberly was forced to deflect each one directed at her before they could leave a nasty mark. Trini acrobatically flipped and leaned away from the barbed length, returning fire where she could. Alternating between swatting the bullets out of midair and lashing at the girls, Scorpina weaved away from Yang's explosive shots before throwing the whip in her direction. The blonde caught the whip with one hand and wrapped it around her limb, pinning it to the ground with one foot. Trini finished off by kicking Scorpina in the side, leaving the Faunus disarmed.

Baring her teeth, Scorpina attacked the Yellow Ranger with the bronze claws on her hands while stabbing at a weaving Yang with her tail. Seizing the blonde by the leg, Scorpina's Faunus trait threw her head over heels until Yang hit the ground. And with Trini frantically blocking the claws with superhuman reflexes, she was left unprepared for Scorpina grabbing her by the head, slamming her face onto the Faunus' knee, and being kicked away. With both girls down, Scorpina retrieved her whip and marched for the Pink Ranger, who now had a yellow-rimmed arrow crackling with electricity drawn and ready to fire.

"Back off, Scorpina," she spat. "I'm warning you."

The scorpion Faunus chuckled in amusement. "You think a meager arrow will be enough to deter me, Kimberly? How cute." Scorpina took a step towards the Pink Ranger and the girl released her bow's drawstring…

…its arrow zipping past Scorpina's face.

She gave the Ranger a disappointed look. "You missed, stupid human."

Kimberly shot her a cheeky smirk. "Did I?"

Scorpina blinked incredulously. "Are you blind?! Of course you-"

WHAM! Something plowed into Scorpina from behind, sending the Faunus crashing through the dining hall's wall and leaving nothing but a hole and dust behind her. Now standing before the smiling Pink Ranger was an orange-haired girl that had both her body and her hammer surging with pink lightning bolts, giving a victorious smirk to the hole.

"She didn't miss," Nora Valkyrie confirmed, giving Kim a thankful wink.

The rest of Team JNPR was quick to reinforce their sister team, with Jaune, Pyrrha, and Ren taking over in handling and overwhelming Goldar. And with Scorpina out of action for the time being, Rita Repulsa was vulnerable… but not unprepared. Team RWBY and the Power Rangers converged on the witch from all angles, but all their efforts were met with evil laughter and jabbing taunts. Every weapon came to an unexplained halt before they could come close to touching the sorceress' form, bodies were flung aside with the flick of a finger, and blasts of red energy erupted from her staff.

"Is this what Zordon's pet Rangers have been reduced to?" jeered Rita as she blocked Jason's sword with her palm and whacked him over the head with her staff. "Mercenaries for hire? If only he could see you now!" A blast from her wand sent Tommy flying back and she seized Crescent Rose, using Ruby's momentum against her and slamming the Huntress-to-be into the ground. "And these children?" she continued, nonchalantly evading each of Yang's punches and kicks. "You really should've told them just what they were getting themselves into!" Lightning shot from her staff and electrocuted Yang where she stood, the screaming blonde crumpling to her knees.

"HAHAHAHA! How I enjoy hearing them scream!"

Too caught up in her amusement, Rita failed to notice Trini until the Yellow Ranger flip-kicked the witch in the face. "I really hope that hurts, Repulsive!" The sorceress snarled for a moment before donning another smile. "Not as much as I hope this does!" Spinning from a dagger aimed at her heart, Rita touched Trini on the chest with a finger and sent an electric current through the Yellow Ranger's form, reducing her to a writhing mess beneath the witch's feet. "Well?" Trini struggled to stand… only to collapse again with a pained scream when Rita blasted the girl with lightning from her fingertips, cackling like a maniac as she did so. "Looks like my efforts outclass yours, Trini! Agree to disagree?"

She caught an airborne arrow without even giving it a glance, using her staff to deflect others Kimberly shot at her. Leaning her head away from two more, Rita telekinetically grabbed an arrow and redirected its trajectory, making the projectile hit Kimberly in the shoulder. A pink flash flickered across her body, her Aura taking the brunt of the blow but not making the sensation painless for the Ranger. Zack and Billy attacked next, with Rita dodging an elbow strike from the Blue Ranger and hitting him in the face with his own staff. Lastly, she summoned forth multicolored orbs from her free palm that smacked against everybody close by, leaving Zack distracted enough for Rita to crack him across the jaw with her staff. A flick of her wand sent the Black Ranger flailing in the air and a crimson blast sent him sliding along the ground.

"This power…" Rita cackled, watching the colored orbs swirling in her palm like planets orbiting a star. "I haven't felt anything like it in thousands of years! I feel renewed once more! How do you like me now, Zordon?! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"We're not finished yet!" Ruby screamed, drawing the sorceress' attention to the four girls charging for her. The witch sneered, electricity coursing through her staff. "Oh, you want some too, ladies?!" Team RWBY broke formation when the blast came, Ruby and Weiss going high while Blake and Yang went low. Rita twirled her staff in quick succession to defend herself against Crescent Rose and Myrtenaster, backhanding Weiss before ramming Ruby in the gut.

"Garbage!" she spat, telekinetically grabbing Weiss in the middle of conjuring a glyph and throwing her into Ruby. Yang and Blake picked up where their teammates left off, and the sorceress proved to be no slouch as she batted them away, deflected their strikes, and retaliated against their attacks. When Blake leaped over her head, Rita grabbed her by the heel and smashed the Faunus into the ground. Yang threw a hard punch at Rita's head, but the witch grabbed that fist and hit Yang in the face with her own limb.

"It's adorable you think you can defeat me!" Rita boasted as she kept all four girls from laying a single finger or blade on her. "I am Rita Repulsa, subjugator of Regda Two, conqueror of Sorcery Seven, and enslaver of Tarmac Three!"

"I don't care who you are or what kind of crazy places you've been to…" Yang grunted as her next punch hit only air. "We're not gonna lose to some creepy lady with a screechy voice!" Rita swatted Yang away before blocking Myrtenaster with her staff. "Mock me all you wish, girls! But you're no better than those stupid Rangers! Compared to them…" Hooking Weiss' rapier with the top of her wand, Rita cast the weapon away before blasting the heiress point-blank.

"You're nothing…" She caught Gambol Shroud's sickle form and yanked Blake towards her, palming the Faunus in the face.

"But…" Her staff absorbed the explosions from Ember Celica's blast, allowing Rita to throw the fires back at Yang and scald her Aura.

"WEAKLINGS!" She smacked Ruby in the face with her staff and kicked her away before pinning her cape to the ground. The silver-eyed girl let out a strangled gasp before falling at her feet, joining the last of her beaten and unconscious teammates beneath the witch.

Goldar held a limp Jaune by the neck before tossing the boy away, Pyrrha pinned beneath his foot while he readjusted his helmet. Scorpina had Nora in a chokehold with her blade against the girl's throat and her tail wrapped around a helpless Ren, pinning his arms to his chest. All that remained to oppose Rita were the six Power Rangers that had troubled her for so long.

"And as for you…" she growled, the tip of her staff aglow with red light. "I know just how to be rid of you for good." Jason marched forward with an angry look in his eye. "Give it up, Rita. Whatever it is you have in mind, it won't work."

"Oh? Use that primitive brain of yours and think, Red Ranger," Rita mockingly tapped her forehead while her golden generals gathered on both sides of her, Team JNPR unmoving from where they laid. "All of this happened because I found an ancient spell that would whisk you away to another world! Fortunately for me… and unfortunately for you… I can still use its intended purpose!"

"Intended purpose?" Jason echoed. "What are you talking about?!"

"Don't you see, kids?" Rita chuckled. "I am the one capable of utilizing that spell to its full potential! I know you want to return to your precious Earth oh so badly, and I will gladly fulfill that wish."

"So do it!" Kimberly shouted. "Take us home already and spare this world further harm!"

"Ah, ah, ah!" Rita stopped her right there with a wagging finger. "That's the catch, my dear Kimberly. I can send you home, yes… but I will stay here when I do! This world will be my staging ground, and when I am prepared, I will return to conquer Earth! And not even you six can stop me when I do!"

"Yeah?!" Tommy retorted. "Well, not if we take you back with us!"

"You will not be so lucky a second time, Tommy," Rita explained. "I can promise you that. Tell you what: if you want me gone from this world, I will make it so… but Earth will be helpless thanks to its greatest protectors being stuck here forever! So either way, I WIN!"

The Rangers could barely hear the witch's menacing laughter as the realization shocked them to their cores. None of them had taken this difficult choice into account: return home and leave Rita to conquer Remnant or allow her to return to Earth and spare Remnant of her evil while she took over their home instead. Each of them shared horrified glances and nervous expressions, eyes darting between themselves, their enemy, and their new friends that lay bruised and beaten before them.

"Oooh… tough choice, isn't it?" Rita taunted them. "How about this to make things easier? That spell took a while to master, and I can't exactly cast it whenever I please. If I could do that, I would be gone already. No, this needs time and patience to cast successfully… so you have until then to make your decision."

"This should be entertaining," Scorpina giggled. "I'm going to remember each of their faces while they ponder this."

"I hope they choose the latter!" Goldar laughed. "I think they like it here! And we've been waiting too long to add Earth to the many planets you've conquered, your evilness!" Rita gave her comrade a devious grin. "Personally, Goldar, any of these worlds will make a fine addition to my-"

Her words trailed off as the witch spied something behind the Rangers. A red light beam shot from her wand, obliterating a chunk of rubble that sailed toward her. A second soon followed, prompting Rita to redirect it with a spin of her wand. The second chunk exploded against a conjured shield, The shield's owner lowered a riding crop, and she looked none too pleased.

"You are trespassing on campus grounds!" Glynda Goodwitch called out with authority in her tone. "Leave this place at once or I will vacate you forcefully!" Goldar growled before turning to his queen. "Should I tear her limb from limb, my empress?" The sorceress just shook her head. "No. We're finished here, anyway."

Rita banged her staff on the ground. "If anyone needs me, I need to introduce this world to its new ruler! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" The witch raised her staff to the sky, summoning down columns of crackling electricity that swallowed the trio… and when it faded, no trace of them remained save for a scorched pathway. The sound of her laughter echoed in the Rangers' ears, unable to turn their eyes away from the spot while the witch's ultimatum remained lodged in their minds.

Glynda laid a hand on Jason's shoulder. "Are you hurt?" The Red Ranger couldn't form a reply at first, only a disheartened sigh. "I… I'm fine. But… your students…" He looked around the campus grounds to see four teams of students all sprawled out, them and the destruction around them as evidence of Rita's rampage. "I'm sorry…"

Glynda sighed. "I will see to them. And in the meantime-"

"MISS GOODWITCH! WHAT is the MEANING of this?!" Everyone spun around to a familiar white-haired man dressed in blue marching towards the group, brushing soot from his uniform and adjusting his glasses. His face was tightened in anger and his fists were balled at his sides. Glynda straightened herself into a presentable state. "Doctor Steff! Are you injured?"

"Spare me your pity, Goodwitch," the man spat. "Events like this are exactly what I have come to prevent, and to see such chaos unfold right before my eyes?! I need an explanation! Who was that woman and how did she enter Beacon?!"

"I… I do not know," Glynda admitted. "I'm afraid I cannot answer those questions."

"Then perhaps you can answer this one," Steff continued. "Where is Professor Ozpin? This is his school and his students, yet he is absent when they are threatened? I thought an Academy headmaster would be better than that!"

"I can answer that. All of it."

All eyes turned to the young man who had spoken. Tommy Oliver was still and his tone was bitter, his emerald eyes almost burning. "That woman's name is Rita Repulsa. And she didn't get into Beacon… because she was already here."

"What?!" Zack gasped while Billy shoved the Black Ranger aside. "What do you mean, already here?"

"Doctor Steff, you told me Ozpin wanted to talk to me," Tommy continued. "But he wasn't in his office. I waited for him for a while… and that's when I found something." Some of the Rangers thought they saw concern on Glynda's face for a moment. "A secret chamber beneath Beacon Tower. I saw a machine down there… with Rita inside. Ozpin had been keeping her prisoner."

Trini could barely form words. "Tommy… is that true?"

"I saw it with my own eyes," the Green Ranger repeated while additional worry flashed across Glynda's face. "How much more did you see?" Tommy shot his gaze back to the woman. "I saw all I needed to. I warned Ozpin that what he was doing was a mistake, but he insisted it was for the good of Remnant. And look how that turned out."

"He…" Kimberly's voice caught in her throat for a moment. "He was keeping Rita under our feet this whole time?!"

"Why would he do that?!" Jason exclaimed in a mixture of anger and horror. Tommy turned his eyes to the Red Ranger. "I told him it was a bad idea! He thought he could handle it, but he was wrong! Rita broke out and wreaked havoc, and all he's been doing is staying cozy in that tower of his!" He jabbed a finger at the tall tower, its emerald lights shining bright for all to see. "This is all his fault!"

"I wholeheartedly agree."

Everyone looked back to Doctor Steff, who was now glaring daggers at Glynda. "Harboring a dangerous individual, taking the matter into his own hands, then remaining idle after his prisoner escapes and carves a path of destruction through his school? Mark my words, Miss Goodwitch. General Ironwood will hear of this… and the Vytal Festival will have to be hosted by a different kingdom this year."

"Doctor Steff, please…" Glynda whispered desperately. "I-I'm sure the headmaster had the best of intentions in mind. And to have Amity Colosseum travel to Atlas after Mistral… excluding a kingdom defeats the purpose of the Festival."

"Then for your sake…" Steff warned her. "Ozpin had better cease these reclusive habits and have some sense knocked into him. He- and you- should feel lucky that there are no casualties. Tend to your students, Goodwitch. I have an airship to catch." The Atlesian man turned and left without another word, allowing silence to fill the campus once more. Glynda let one more sigh escape her throat before turning to the Rangers, struck with both the sudden revelation and still weighted by Rita's ultimatum.

"I hope you understand one day," she said. "Sacrifices have consequences, no matter how noble they may be." The woman walked away towards two of the downed teams, leaving the six Rangers alone. None of them said a word as their anger towards Ozpin and his actions simmered… but it was not enough to eclipse the heavy hearts that were a result of the choice Rita presented them with.

"Guys?" Trini meekly whispered. "What do we do now?" Nobody had a clear answer… and even she knew it.

"Uuuugh…" A groan turned their attention to a woozy Team RWBY, each of the girls struggling to stand despite battered physiques their Auras were working overtime to mend. "Did… did we beat her?" Ruby groggily asked. None of the Rangers answered her or her teammates… while Jason's back touched a lamppost and he slumped to the ground, his head hanging between his knees. Aside from him, Tommy leaned against another lamppost… that he violently punched before turning his eyes to Beacon Tower. Billy took off his glasses and buried his face in his hands, Zack sat on a bench while Kimberly slouched beside it, and Trini absentmindedly kicked at a pebble.

"Um…" Yang awkwardly asked. "Did we miss anything?"

She received no answer… and the silence worried the team.

The streets of Vale were calm with minimal traffic and roaming bystanders. At a nearby cafe close to an intersection, four boys- one with a monkey tail- and a girl were in the middle of a conversation, paying no mind to their surroundings as they chatted. Cars drove this way and that, gliding through the intersection and waiting their turn as needed…

…until three columns of pure energy smashed into the intersection, causing alarmed drivers to slam on the brakes and passersby to whirl their heads to the scene. Cars that failed to stop in time slammed against other vehicles, but automobile damage was the least of the citizens' concerns. The quintet at the cafe rose from their seats with suspicious looks, watching the beams of light fade to reveal a trio of unfamiliar figures.

An ape Faunus donned in golden armor, a sinister-looking scorpion Faunus with a gold tail… and a woman dressed in brown wielding a moon-styled staff. The latter wore a foreboding smile as her eyes darted between the startled people. It was a smile shared by each of her compatriots.

"This looks like a fine place to begin," the scorpion Faunus whispered.

"I await your command, Empress," the ape Faunus growled, evoking fear in civilians. The woman continued to sneer until she opened her mouth and spoke with a booming tone. "People of this world! I am Rita Repulsa! Kneel before me or face the consequences!"

All she was met with was silence. Some people blinked in confusion, others glanced at each other in uncertainty, and one bystander snapped a picture with his scroll. The quintet was just as perplexed. "Um… Sun? Who are these people?" asked the boy with blue hair.

"They are a rather curious bunch," the orange-haired girl spoke up. "But I do not think they are friendly."

The blonde boy with the monkey tail scoffed in amusement. "Well, whoever they are, they're in for a world of hurt!" He whipped out a pair of nunchucks and twirled them expertly, drawing the eye of the ape Faunus. "Empress! This one refuses to bow before your brilliance! Allow me to orchestrate his end!"

"As for the rest… they don't appear to be taking us seriously," the other Faunus whispered… which brought a smile to the woman's face. "Then let the chaos commence!" The woman slammed her staff into the ground, causing a gray liquid to expand outward and envelop the street. Citizens warily backed away from the mysterious matter… when gray figures burst out with stone-like faces and warbling vocalizations, causing the people to erupt in screams of panic and run away like frightened livestock.

"PUTTIES!" roared Rita as she raised her wand. "Tear this city to the ground!" She pointed her wand outward, commanding the vocalizing humanoid creatures to scamper about in every direction, terrorizing the people and vandalizing buildings as they went. Smashed windows, cracked walls, lampposts ripped from the ground… the new sight was enough to make the quintet pause.

"Okay…" said the boy with the monkey tail, his nunchucks falling limp. "This may be harder than I thought…"

It wasn't easy for the Rangers to explain what had happened to Team RWBY. Tommy immediately suggested that he should bring up the fact that their teacher had kept their friends' greatest enemy captive all this time, thus betraying their trust. But as tempted as he was to agree… Jason knew it was a bad idea. The four girls trusted Ozpin. He was their mentor, just like Zordon was to the Rangers. They looked to him for guidance and answers in their journey to become heroes. Tommy may not have trusted Ozpin at the moment, but he did trust his fellow Rangers. He knew that the girls would be just as shocked as they were if they ever learned the truth… maybe more than the Rangers. And despite the Green Ranger's current contempt towards the professor, he ultimately gave into common sense and agreed that the girls shouldn't know of that part.

Jason briefly heard his friend muttering about how he would allow the old man's words to get a free pass this time. But Ozpin wasn't the problem here, as everyone else made clear to the girls. Kimberly was in the middle of explaining it and everyone watched the girls' faces as they reacted.

"And that's when Rita dropped a bomb on us," the Pink Ranger quietly recapped. "She reminded us that she was the one who brought us to Remnant… and one way or another, magic or no magic, she was the only one who could make a way back."

"She said we had a choice to make," Zack continued. "The six of us want to go home more than anything, and she would gladly do it… but that would mean Rita would stay here and conquer Remnant instead. She said it would be a staging area for when she returned to Earth."

"But on the other hand…" Trini sadly added. "If she left Remnant willingly, your world would be spared of her evil… but ours would be left vulnerable. And without us there to save it, Earth would be conquered in days. And… and we'd be stuck here forever."

Ruby gulped. "What… Which one did you choose?"

"She's given us time to think it over," Jason whispered. "But either way, she wins. Another world to add to her collection: ours or yours." Billy sighed and adjusted his glasses. "It feels like that old riddle about the fox, the chicken, and the grain. And we can't leave Rita alone no matter where she is."

"So we're back to square one," Tommy said with a hint of frustration in his tone. "Finding her again." Weiss calmly stepped forward. "Jason, Billy, everybody… we promised we'd help you and that's what we'll do. No matter what it takes, you are going home."

"Yeah!" Yang cheered, pounding her fists together. "So what if that old lady handed our butts to us?! That just makes us ready for next time!"

"No!" Trini stopped her right there. "You don't understand! Rita, she… what she did to you guys… she can't do anything like that back on Earth! I-I thought her powers would be diminished or weakened or something like that! But somehow she's just gotten stronger! I'm gonna be honest here… I don't think any of us can beat her like that."

"But you have!" Ruby interjected. "You've stopped her from taking over your world so many times! This should be easy for you!" Zack shook his head. "We only fought Rita one time, and that was right before we came here. Ruby… we're not used to dealing with evil witches. Just the monsters she sends after us. Rita's never had the gall to take us on directly… until now. I haven't been here very long, but I know that none of you have seen a Semblance like hers."

"It's true," Blake added. "We barely got a good hit on her and she took down all four of us. Even her minions defeated entire teams of students single-handedly! Don't get me wrong, you guys… we all want to help, but… we don't know how we can do that."

"I do," Jason piped up. "Tommy's right. We're back where we started. But Yang has a point, too. We know what Rita can do here, even though we don't understand how. If all of that is her Semblance, then all we need to do is break her Aura."

"Easier said than done," Kimberly said with crossed arms. "But how are we gonna find her? She can teleport, and do I have to remind you all that we can't?! Still peeved about that!"

"Hmm…" Ruby pondered. "There was something you said earlier… about Rita not being the quiet type. She prefers to go loud and make a statement, so-" A ringing noise took the place of her trailing voice, prompting the girl to take out her scroll… and a bright smile donned her face before she answered it.

"Penny! Oh my gosh, I totally forgot to tell you about… wait, what? I… Penny, slow down! I can't… is that screaming in the background?" That question drew everybody's attention. "Uh, right! Hold them off for as long as you can! We'll be there soon!" Ending the call and stashing her scroll, Ruby turned her silver eyes to the Rangers. "Okay, so… I have some good news and bad news. The good news is I found Rita. And the bad news… she's in Vale. And making trouble."

Jason narrowed his eyes. "What's the fastest way there?"

"We'll take you to the airship platforms! Follow us!" Everybody turned and ran in a hurry, following Team RWBY across Beacon. "Hold on, who's Penny?" Kimberly piped up. Weiss was the one to answer that. "A friend. A good one!"

"And she's a robot!" Yang quickly added, much to some of the Rangers' surprise. "You wouldn't know it by looking at her, but she is!" Billy's eyes widened in amazement. "Okay, I've just got to meet her already!"

"We know a robot, too!" Trini added. "Only… he's got a dome for a head and says 'aye-yi-yi' a lot. A nice guy once you get to know him."

"Enough chatter!" Jason barked. "We gotta make sure Rita doesn't turn that city to dust!"

Vale hadn't suffered too much destruction by the time the airship reached the city, all ten teenagers peering out at the streets and buildings lined with vacant vehicles and panicked people. There were a few columns of smoke rising into the blue sky, and as the airship flew closer to the scene, everybody could see damaged buildings and signs of destruction that looked more out of a riot rather than an attack.

But what caught everyone's attention were the unfamiliar figures rampaging through the streets. Instead of Grimm terrorizing the townsfolk and tearing through buildings, gray men with stone masks wandered every which way and waved their arms like lunatics. While Team RWBY looked upon them in complete bafflement, the Rangers were stunned.

"What the heck are those things?" Ruby asked, rubbing her eyes to make sure she was seeing things right. "The cause of all this trouble is a bunch of people in suits?" Yang was running a hand through her golden locks as she continued to observe the strange beings below her. "People in suits that sound like they're drowning?"

"They're not suits," Jason told them. "They're Putties, Rita's go-to foot soldiers. But… what are they doing here?" Tommy shook his head. "Maybe she found Finster already?"

"If she did, how did he make them this fast?" Billy asked… before his eyes turned to something else. "Wait… look!" Everyone turned to see Rita marching down a nearby street, the bottom of her staff causing the ground to turn into a gray liquid that the humanoid monsters popped out of.

"Great!" Trini groaned. "Now she can make Putties by herself! This is getting better and better!"

"No worries, guys…" Jason calmed her. "It's just like what we do back home! Now let's get to work! And Ruby?" The girl turned to him with an inquisitive look. "I know they may not look like it, but those things aren't human. You don't need to hold back, just like the Grimm. You ready?"

She smiled. "What do you think?"

The two red-clad leaders turned to their friends, who met them with a prepared nod. Jason flashed the pilot a thankful thumbs-up before leaping out of the airship's open doors, Ruby following him in a trail of rose petals. Drawing his blade, Jason stabbed it into the side of a building to slow his descent, touching down on a sidewalk while Ruby landed beside him. Tyrant and Crescent Rose flashed in the daylight, both weapons ready for action. Weiss and Billy both slid down on glyphs, the Blue Ranger vaulting off with his lance at the ready while the heiress came to a graceful stop. Yang fired Ember Celica at the ground to propel herself to her feet with fists clenched. Trini rolled onto a rooftop before springing for a lamppost, twirling herself around it and landing on her feet next to the blonde.

Blake hooked onto a fire escape and swung herself down into a flip, touching down perfectly with Gambol Shroud equipped. Zack caught himself on that same fire escape and tucked into a front roll, coming to a stop with his ax drawn. Tommy and Kimberly bounded off a few railings before landing next to the others with weapons drawn. Placing his ax atop his shoulder, Zack placed two fingers to his mouth and released a shrill whistle.

The nearby Putties stopped whatever they were doing and spun towards the colored teens, garbling all the while. "Looking for us, clay faces?" the Black Ranger taunted. The stone soldiers lined up with frantic movements, red eyes within their rock-like masks glaring at the teens. Everyone stared them down in turn, ready to make the first move.

"Ah, I was wondering when you'd show up!" screeched a familiar voice. Rita Repulsa marched into view behind the Putties, her golden generals not too far away. They would have joined their empress if they weren't occupied. Goldar was tangling with a blonde monkey Faunus with a tail and a dark-skinned human while Scorpina engaged a boy with red hair covering one eye and a boy with blue hair. "Have you finally made up your minds, Rangers? Which one will it be: go home or stay trapped here forever?"

"How about this?" Ruby countered. "The only way they're going home is if they take you with them!" The evil enchantress sneered at the girl. "Oh, you're no fun at all, little red! Which is why I'm going to remove you and your pathetic friends from the equation! CRUSH THEM!"

The warbling Putties charged on their mistress' cue, the witch laughing before slinking away. The teens ran up to meet the monsters in the middle of the street, who attacked with no regard for their own safety. One of them threw itself at Yang, leaving the blonde thrashing around in her attempts to dislodge the Putty wailing at her head like a toddler throwing a tantrum. Before long, Yang slammed the Putty onto the ground before kicking it away, the soldier warbling as it rolled. Ruby spun herself and Crescent Rose in a well-practiced dance, her scythe carving through the creatures and splitting them into halves that crumbled into pebbles under her feet. Ducking under a punch, she impaled a Putty through the chest and heaved it over her shoulder, stomping on its head.

Smoothly decapitating one Putty whose body crumbled into dust, Weiss stabbed another through the chest before kicking away another, summoning a glyph that rained icy shards into their flailing forms. Ice and rock alike littered the street and the heiress flicked Myrtenaster with a satisfied hum. Blake kept airborne and slashed at the Putties from above, removing limbs and heads while the masses shambled after her. Upon landing between two Putties, the Faunus buried her blades in their torsos and hurled them at their comrades.

"Agh!" Yang punched a Putty in the torso and shook her hand with a hiss of pain. "It's like hitting a boulder!" The stone soldier lunged forward and grabbed the blonde by the shoulders, but Yang shoved a hard knee into its gut before slamming an elbow over its head. "Don't worry!" Jason called, every swing of his sword cutting up the Putties like a knife through butter. "You get used to it!" He moved his sword behind his back to block a punch before throwing a tornado kick its way. "AI-YAH!" Before the Putty could recover, Jason shifted Tyrant into its rifle mode before gunning it down.

"Ruby! Billy! Get to high ground and pick 'em off!"

"On it!" The girl flew off in a shower of petals while Billy finished off a few more Putties with well-timed spins and jabs. "Weiss, gimme some stairs!" The heiress complied and positioned several circular white glyphs for Billy to jump across, each one propelling the Blue Ranger to a rooftop parallel to Ruby's position. Within seconds, both teens configured their weapons into sniper rifles and proceeded to take shots at the Putties, each one blowing off heads and blowing holes in stony bodies.

After shooting an arrow in a Putty's head, Kimberly hooked another Putty's fist in her bow and threw it to the ground, leaving Tommy to stab it through the throat. Another Putty leaped at the Green Ranger only for a shot from Crescent Rose to send it flying back. The Pink Ranger backflipped away from more enemies and split her bow in midair, transitioning into acrobatic movements with her wing blades that cut the creatures down to size. Two Putties attacked Tommy, who deflected each blow before plowing one across the face and landing a spinning kick to the other. "HAI! AH-YAAAH!"

Yang and Zack held their own against the Putties, the teens matching every blow with their own. A blast from Ember Celica reduced a Putty's head to pebbles and the Black Ranger's axe decapitated another in a single swing. Blake wrapped her weapon around a Putty's arm and yanked it towards her, crushing its chest with a heel. The Faunus backflipped away from more Putties, lopping off one's arm effortlessly before shooting it between the eyes. Blake proceeded to shoot three more while using her cleaver to keep another Putty at bay, stabbing that one through the head once she was finished.

"HI-YAH!" Trini twirled over Yang and struck a heel into one Putty, uppercutting the monster to stagger it. The Yellow Ranger expertly somersaulted and backflipped away from a sudden swarm of the creatures, ducking under a high kick before striking that Putty in the chest with a palm. Yang seized that Putty by the torso and threw herself backward, suplexing the soldier into the street and making it shatter into pebbles. Trini spun towards another Putty and rapidly punched it in the torso, staggering it until she spun her arms back and delivered a double-fisted strike that knocked it onto the street. The Putty broke apart the instant it hit the asphalt.

Strapping his ax to his back, Zack moved fluidly through the crowd and flipped over a Putty's kick, hitting it in the face with his own leg. Grabbing it by the arms, the Black Ranger whirled it around to strike other Putties before releasing his hold… and the Putty smashed through a store window. Zack briefly flinched from the sound of breaking glass. "Sorry!"

Tommy was a sheer force to be reckoned with as he struck hard and fast. Any Putty that dared approach him could barely keep up. While the Green Ranger swiftly dealt with all nearby foes, Jason hooked his leg around one Putty and drove it to the ground… before burying his blade in its back. When another Putty grabbed him by the throat, the Red Ranger chopped off that arm and stabbed it through the neck. "You see, girls? These things aren't so tough!"

A Putty caught Trini's thrown leg only for the Yellow Ranger to nail it in the head with her other leg, touching down with one palm on the ground. Yang swept out another Putty's legs before smashing in its head, turning her lilac eyes to a section of the street covered in gray liquid…

…that more Putties jumped out of and ran for the teens. "Um… except that they keep coming!" For every Putty they took down, more emerged from the gray goop until they all but flooded the streets. Before long, the ten teens were outnumbered by hundreds of Putties. Not even Billy and Ruby's sniper cover could clear them out, as several of the Putties were climbing up the building walls towards the two. A few lucky shots sent some crashing to the street, but most reached the roofs and attacked the red and blue snipers. Ruby frantically slashed at the Putties until she was forced to withdraw, flying back to the street. And no matter how much Billy defended himself, two Putties grabbed him and tossed the Blue Ranger to the street below, where his Aura flickered on impact.

"There's too many of them!" Blake shouted. "And they're blocking the way to Rita! What are we gonna do?" The Rangers just stared down the army of Putties, their weapons sheathed. "There's only one thing we can do," Zack rolled his head around his shoulders. "We answer strength… with strength!"

Jason nodded in approval. "Quick thinking, Zack! Billy, I'll clear out the front and you carve a path!" The Red Ranger stepped forward until he faced down the horde single-handedly. "TYRANNOSAURUS AURAZORD POWER!" Red light burst from his body and materialized into a mighty creature that bellowed out a challenge to the stunned Putties. Before any of them could converge, the dinosaur rampaged into the crowd and closed its jaws around one, crunching it to stony bits between its teeth. Others were immediately squashed beneath the creature's footfalls, yet the majority warbled in sheer panic and began to flee from the animal munching on them like rock candy. A large stomp sent a tremor that knocked some flailing Puttes into the air, where a pair of jaws snapped around them. A single swipe of its tail sent a dozen more flying through the air, the beast roaring in rage as it continued its rampage.

Tommy's mouth was wide open until a smirking Kimberly closed it for him. "Since when could he do that?" the Green Ranger gawked. The Pink Ranger just giggled. "Oh, it's not just him." Billy took a running start towards the panicked mass of Putties, who were unaware of his approach until it was too late.

"TRICERATOPS AURAZORD POWER!"

In a sapphire flash of light, a three-horned beast barreled through the mass of rock monsters like a freight train. Stone bodies flew this way and that as the dinosaur paved a clear way through the street. Team RWBY and the other Rangers charged down the road, taking care of any stragglers that noticed them. Only pebbles and small rocks were left in their wake.

Not too far away, Goldar had his hand wrapped around the monkey Faunus' throat, his sword ready to run him through until a supersonic roar sent scores of Putties sailing. "Huh?" Dropping the Faunus without a second thought, the golden general turned around to see the red and blue beasts grinding the panicking Putties into dust. Despite Scorpina having a look of disbelief, Goldar grinned. "Finally, some real beasts for me to slay!"

"WHAT?!" shrieked Rita. "The Zords?! HOW?! RRRRGH!" She whirled to snag one Putty by the neck, cutting off his retreat. "Where do you think you're going?! I summoned hundreds of you! Now get back in there and bring those stupid kids down!" She shoved the Putty forward, allowing the monster to shamble back towards the fray. The teens were drawing closer to the witch's position, with Kimberly leaping into the air with a pink trail of light. At the height of her Semblance's ascension, Kimberly spread out her arms…

"PTERODACTYL AURAZORD POWER!"

…and a bright flash erupted from her body. The pink pterosaur was all that remained, screeching as it dove down to the streets. It soared over waves of Putties, the drift streams picking up the Putties and blowing them back hundreds of feet. Kim looped back around with another screech, this time grabbing three panicked Putties in the creature's talons and beak. She proceeded to drop them from a high altitude and snap the one in the beast's mouth in two.

"SABERTOOTH TIGER AURAZORD POWER!"

A yellow blast of light signaled Trini's Aura materializing into the great fanged cat of prehistoric times, claws swatting Putties aside before she thundered down the street at breathtaking speeds. The Aura-built beast bounded off walls and ran across roofs, traversing the urban jungle with ease until it pounced into a charging mass of Putties. Some were crushed underneath the feline's rolling body while others fell victim to sharp fangs and sharpened claws. The predator snarled in dominance, the sound causing some Putties to flee in panic. For those that stayed, the last thing they saw was the massive beast leaping at them.

"MASTODON AURAZORD POWER!"

Zack's call was answered by a purple flash of light and a high trumpeting noise. The mammoth-esque beast charged down the street, trampling Putties beneath its feet and swatting away others with its tusks and trunk. None of the stone soldiers stood a chance in halting its rampage, as they were reduced to pebbled bits thanks to the mammal's efforts. As each of the five creatures tore through the Putties, Tommy looked at his dagger… and shrugged.

"Oh, why not? AURA DRAGONZORD POWER!"

The emerald beast surged forth in response to the summoning notes and Tommy mounted it effortlessly. The dragon was airborne in moments, raining green fiery death upon the Putties. Team RWBY easily made their way through the Putties, taking care of any leftovers spared by the six beasts. The four Huntresses made their way to an intersection, where another team lay bruised and near unconsciousness. Blake immediately knelt next to the woozy monkey Faunus, helping him to his feet. "Sun! You alright?"

"Urgh… hey, Blake," he muttered. "W-Watch out for the big guy. He… He packs a punch." Blake shot him a look. "So I noticed. Can the rest of Team SSSN still fight?"

"Barely," groaned the blue-haired boy, giving a thumbs-up from where he lay face-first on the street. "Who the heck are those guys?" Ruby helped him to his feet. "It's a long story, Neptune. We need you to focus on getting the people to safety!"

"What about you? I have no idea what in Remnant those things are…" he gestured at the Putties. "But there's too much for you to handle!" As if to prove his point, several of the Putties charged toward the Huntresses. Yang's eyes flashed red and she cocked her gauntlets, ready for the first one to face her fury… until floating blades slashed through them and diced the Putties to rubble. Each blade flew in a tight formation that soared over Team RWBY, gathering behind a young girl with orange hair, green eyes, and a pink hair bow.

"Salutations!" she cheered with a polite wave.

"Penny!" Ruby dashed up to give the girl a hug. After returning the embrace, the girl stepped forward to join the Huntresses. "I hope you are not having difficulties with these… curious beings. Are they spawned from a new usage of Earth Dust?" Weiss shook her head in response. "All I do know is that they're not supposed to be here!"

"Well then…" An array of floating swords hovered close to Penny, who stared down the army before her. "Shall we begin?" She didn't need a verbal reply as Team RWBY engaged the Putties once again, providing Team SSSN the cover they needed to begin their new task. Some of Penny's swords folded into gun-like shapes that mowed down some of the Putties, the soldiers falling at her feet. Weiss' glyphs flung Putties aside, speared them with icy shards, or held them in place long enough for Ruby to dash through them. At the end of her flight, Ruby fired into the crowd before zooming away from a Putty that tried to grab her.

That Putty shifted targets and joined its brethren in a large dogpile on top of Yang, leaving the blonde overwhelmed… until a blazing explosion accompanied by an enraged roar blew them away. With her hair now aflame and her eyes burning red, Yang launched herself towards more Putties and pulverized them with every blow she made. Elsewhere, a Putty swung at Blake only to destroy a rock-like statue of her. The Putty warbled in confusion until the Faunus stabbed it from behind. Leaping away from the crowd, Blake conjured a fire clone before hurling it into the Putties, blasting a dozen of them into bits.

Unbeknownst to the girls, Rita watched both the Huntresses and the Rangers plow through the Putties like they were nothing. Her minions were dwindling by the second; a problem easily remedied if she conjured forth the gray liquid from which they spawned… but Rita could feel herself running low. She would exhaust herself if she continued… and it was hard to feel exhausted if one was overcome with anger.

"I will not allow my plans for conquering another world to be halted so quickly!" she howled. "Goldar! Scorpina! Get your miserable hides in gear! If you do not finish these children, I will finish them myself… before I finish you!" A frustrated Goldar spun his head between the Huntresses and the Rangers' glowing colored constructs even as both teams regrouped. "Scorpina! Kill the brats! The Rangers are mine!"

"Why should you have that honor?! I am the empress' closest friend, so, therefore, I should finish the Rangers!" His fellow Faunus' objection did not sit kindly with Goldar, who spun on Scorpina with bared teeth while she did the same. "You dare question my status?! Need I remind you that I fought the Rangers the day Zordon chose them? Their end should be my achievement!"

"Is it? If I recall correctly, they defeated you!"

"NO! It was a tactical retreat! I told them I would return to finish them, and that time has come!"

"Do not be so foolish! You only wish to correct your feeble mis-"

"ENOUGH OF THIS CHILDISH SQUABBLING!" Rita roared. "I had better see some blood in the next five minutes, or it will be yours!" At this, the two Faunus immediately halted their bickering with startled expressions and bowed before their queen. "O-of course, your vileness," Scorpina stammered. "F-forgive us for getting carried away…"

"Er, l-likewise, my queen!" Goldar added hastily. "I… uh, we will smite your enemies at once!"

"You had better! Now go!" While the two Faunus scrambled towards their targets, the last of the Putties were dwindling thanks to the Aurazords' efforts. And although the stone soldiers scaled the colored creatures in their attempts to bring them down, most of them were successfully shaken off. Zack's Aurazord was struggling the most, being a beast of offense rather than mobility and defense. A quick supersonic roar from Jason's Aurazord was enough to blast the Putties off him, allowing the Mastodon to trumpet in gratitude.

"You guys wanna know what Putties taste like?" Trini asked, her Aurazord shaking its head of rubble while Kim's beast perched on a rooftop. "Jawbreakers. Only… not as hard."

Billy spied something marching towards them and his Aurazord grumbled in warning. "Well… any of you wanna know what gold tastes like?" Everyone turned to see Goldar walking down the street, his sword drawn and his face locked in a snarl. "These new forms will not save you, Rangers! No beast is more powerful than me, illusory or otherwise!"

"Illusory?" Zack repeated, his Aurazord snorting from its trunk. "Oh, you're about to learn just how real these things are, Donkey Kong."

"Here for round two already?" Yang cracked her knuckles with a grin. "Don't blame me if I punch you so hard every piece of that fancy armor comes off."

"I have had enough of your mockery!" Goldar snapped. "After this day, both this world and Earth will be claimed by my queen! And once that is done, the whole universe will be-urgh!" The ape Faunus' hand flew to his torso and he stumbled back, falling to one knee… as his body glowed with a golden light.

None of the teens knew how to react to this. Everyone was silent as Goldar groaned in discomfort, the glow around him periodically pulsing. "Argh… what… what is… happening… to me… rgh…"

"He's got a point," Zack said with a hint of worry. "Jace?"

"Is he seriously having stomachaches now?" Weiss asked incredulously while Ruby shrugged at her partner. "Um... maybe something didn't sit right with him?"

"Everybody… be ready for anything," The T-Rex took a wary step back. All eyes were on Goldar, whose teeth were clenched while his eyes were squeezed shut. The golden glow surrounding him pulsed faster and brighter… until something about him began to change. His eyes finally shot open, revealing themselves to be a gleaming gold instead of raging red. But that wasn't the only thing different about him. The glow was now bright enough to attract both Rita and the Huntress' attention… and as soon as the witch realized what was happening, her face broke out in ecstatic laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! YES!"

"Guys…?" Kim meekly whispered as her Aurazord squawked nervously. "Is it just me…" The golden glow slowly expanded upward, taking the nature of the sun emerging from the horizon. "...or is golden boy… getting…"

Tommy's emerald eyes were trained on the glow, despite them squinting beneath a raised arm. "Wh-what's going on?!"

"Ruby…" Yang asked with fear in her eyes. "What's happening?" The silver-eyed girl had no response; she, like the rest of her team, was too entranced by the glow to answer. While Scorpina was equally mesmerized by the sight, Rita continued to laugh maniacally before raising her arms to the sky.

"Mysterious power… make my Goldar GROOOOOW!"

"GrrrroooooOOOAAAAAARRRGH!" The golden light faded to reveal the roaring ape Faunus… who had now developed into an enormous size that towered over Vale's buildings, his sword larger than a pillar. His roars shook the very earth and his body cast shadows over the streets, his armor reflecting the sunlight and making him magnificent as he was terrifying.

"RAAAAAAAARGH! LOOK UPON ME, FEEBLE HUMANS!" His voice boomed through the city with massive tremors as he gazed at his new state. "TODAY, I FULFILL MY DUTY! TODAY, I END MY EMPRESS' LONG WAR! TODAY, I DESTROY THE POWER RANGERS! RRRAAAAAAAARH!"

Team RWBY and the Power Rangers looked up at the massive monster with shock and horror in their eyes all while the gargantuan golden general reveled in his transformation. "Well…" Billy awkwardly spoke up. "I guess we know what his Semblance is."

"Great!" Yang shouted through the ringing in her ears. "Now we have to deal with an even bigger idiot!" Weiss looked at the Rangers worriedly. "Does he always do this?" Trini's Aurazord growled in response. "Unfortunately, yeah. It's normally Rita's work to give her team an edge when she's losing."

"The good news is…" Jason's T-Rex took a vibrating step forward. "We've got just the thing for situations like these. Rangers… we need MEGAZORD POWER!" His Aurazord beckoned the others with a thunderous roar and the other Aurazords answered. Billy was the first to approach Jason with a full charge, ready for the five Aurazords to become one…

…but instead of fusing with Jason's Aurazord, Billy's construct smashed into it and sent the roaring T-Rex crashing to the street! Zack, Kim, and Trini stopped short at the sight while Jason urged the pained beast to stand. "OW! What the heck, Billy?! You almost speared my leg!"

"I-I'm sorry, Jason! I was just trying to… you know-!"

"Billy, you're the leg," Zack reminded him as he trudged over. "Let me take care of this." The purple Mastodon construct pressed against the crimson T-Rex… but felt nothing. "What? Uh…" Zack's Aurazord pressed against Jason a few more times until the dinosaur snarled in irritation. "Zack, stop pushing me! Do you know how hard it is for a T-Rex to stand back up?"

"Maybe the tiny arms don't help?" Billy meekly guessed.

"What the… I don't…" Zack stammered. "Why isn't it working?! Come on, come together! We have a King Kong to crush!"

"Wait…" Kim's voice had dropped to confusion. "How… how are we supposed to make the Megazord?" The head of Jason's Aurazord turned to the perched pterodactyl… and let out a noise of concern. "I… I don't know! Think giant robot thoughts or something?"

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking!" Billy cried. "Is something happening?"

"No… nothing's happening," Trini realized. "Nothing's happening at all! Ugh! This would be so much easier if I could press a button!"

The Rangers' hearts sank with the sudden realization. "If we can't form the Megazord… then what are we supposed to do?" Zack whispered, his Aurazord trumpeting sadly. A massive foot crashed into the street before them, prompting everyone to look upwards with horrified eyes… as Goldar lowered his faceplate, replacing his visage with the expression of a snarling ape.

"I KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO, CHILDREN. YOU CAN DIE!" He raised a titanic foot that cast a shadow over the group, making Ruby's eyes fly wide open in alarm. "RUN!" she cried, darting away from the foot before everyone else dove away, the ground shaking from the force of the tremendous stomp. After rolling away from the impact, Yang fired blast after blast at Goldar's humongous form, but her shots were like useless firecrackers that connected off his armor.

The only blast that made the giant Faunus stagger was a green fireball that interrupted his next attack. The green dragon roared to announce its attack run, pelting the golden general with emerald fireballs that smacked against his form. Unleashing a mighty roar of annoyance, Goldar lashed out a fist that batted the dragon out of the sky, sending the spiritual beast and its rider crashing through a building a few blocks down. There was no time for the Rangers to go after their friend, not when they needed an oversized ape-man to deal with.

Everyone focused their efforts on the gigantic general, whose roars and growls echoed across the city. Scorpina, meanwhile, turned in the direction Tommy had crashed in with a gleeful smirk. "You can have your glory, Goldar… I'll take some of my own." The scorpion Faunus slinked away until she was out of sight and sprinted down the street.

A massive broadsword tore through the road and left a long gash in its wake before stabbing into the ground. Ruby barely managed to avoid the giant blade from spearing her like a kabob, the Huntress rolling to the street and returning fire with Crescent Rose's sniper mode. While the initial shots bounced off Goldar's faceplate, Yang launched herself onto a rooftop before igniting her hair and using Ember Celica to blast toward the giant Faunus. Noticing her approach, Goldar spun to throw a boulder-sized fist at the screaming blonde… who answered with an overpowered blow of her own. Both fists collided with a loud shockwave that blew Yang back while Goldar retracted his hand.

"WEAKLING! I BARELY EVEN FELT THA-AAAARGH!" The general whipped his head downward to see Jason's Aurazord biting into his leg while Billy's beast slammed its head into the opposite limb. Roaring in response, Goldar lashed out at the Rangers with his giant blade, forcing them to withdraw. Turning his eyes to their retreating forms, Goldar prepared to give chase… only to find his legs couldn't move. A huge glyph beneath his feet had locked them in place like roots for trees, earning another enraged snarl from his throat.

White glyphs dotted the air as Weiss sped across them, icy shards firing from both the glowing platforms and her rapier. The projectiles smashed to pieces upon contact with Goldar's armor, who swung wildly at the heiress. Weiss adjusted her path to evade the blade, which took off a rooftop after a missed strike. Recognizing her efforts were for naught, Weiss made a hasty retreat while Goldar roared in rage. Before he could make another move, the Faunus spied a black ribbon latched around his wrist.

Blake swung off that limb and aimed her blade at the general's neck, but the larger Faunus smashed her away with a large headbutt that bit through a chunk of her Aura. Despite being dazed from the blow and hearing the roars through the ringing in her ears, Blake threw Gambol Shroud towards a lamppost and used it to regain her lost momentum. She swung around the golden general's huge form until she landed on an outstretched sword, sprinting down its length before latching onto Goldar's shoulder and swinging around him again. Blake weaved around the large limbs moving to grab her until she reached the back of his neck, preparing herself for a fatal strike…

"GRAAAAGH! INSECT!" Goldar spun around with impossible speed, seized Blake's body with a force that almost crushed her, and hurled her down the street at rocket speed. Thinking fast, Yang shot herself airborne and caught the cat Faunus, both of them crashing to the ground in a heap. A pink blur shot over their woozy bodies, its screeches drowning out the ringing in their ears. While Kimberly flew around Goldar's head to disorient the enlarged Faunus, Zack and Trini attacked him from below. Trini's Aurazord bounded off a rooftop and latched onto Goldar's body, teeth and claws sinking into the armor while the great cat struggled to stay latched on. The purple Mastodon attacked the legs in an attempt to knock Goldar off-balance, but not even the three Aurazords were enough to deter it. After grabbing Kim's pterodactyl by the leg and smashing it onto a rooftop, Goldar kicked away the Mastodon and grabbed the sabertooth tiger, hurling it down the street. The beast landed on its feet, its claws digging into the street to slow down.

Ruby took Kim's place and flew around Goldar, slicing and taking shots wherever she could. Down below, however, everyone was starting to get nervous. Keeping Blake steady in her arms, Yang looked up at the roaring giant with worried lilac eyes. "His armor's too strong! We can't find a good weak spot!"

"Then…" Weiss whispered. "How are we supposed to bring him down?"

"I can…" Blake winced. "I can try wrapping up his legs. Or we could use ice on his feet to immobilize him." Another echoing roar drew their attention to Goldar swatting at Ruby, who sped away after a sword swing got too close for comfort. "I TIRE OF THESE NUISANCES!" He bellowed, smashing Billy and Zack away with a single blow and sending them into a building that collapsed atop the boys. "YOUR END IS NEAR, RANGERS! AND SO ARE YOURS, HUNTRESSES! SOON, NONE SHALL OPPOSE MY EMPRESS!"

Jason and Trini lunged at Goldar from opposite sides, both beasts latching onto the Faunus' massive body while biting and scratching at him. Roaring in frustration and anger alike, Goldar twisted himself around until he finally flung the two Aurazords off, their landing reducing the street to rubble. Kim flew in with outstretched talons, but Goldar simply bashed her aside with a fist and had the Pink Ranger struggling to recover. The pink creature pulled up in the nick of time, barely avoiding a collision with a hotel building.

The four members of Team RWBY could only watch nervously as Goldar crushed a shop beneath a massive foot and smashed off another building's top half with a swing of his arm. "We gotta keep him from moving!" Ruby called. The Huntresses charged back into the fray and sought higher ground. Penny was about to join them… when her eyes noticed something amiss.

"Wait… where is the other one?"

Several blocks away from Goldar's destructive rampage, Tommy managed to lift off a piece of rubble and stumble out into the street. A green Aura flashed around him while he shook the drowsiness from his head… and the Green Ranger snapped back to attention when rumbling bellows alerted him to the giant golden mass off in the distance. Narrowing his eyes at the gigantic Goldar, Tommy drew his dagger. "Come on, buddy. We're not out of this yet." He raised the weapon to his lips…

…and it was swatted out of his grip before something connected with his face. Tommy tumbled along the road and heard taunting laughter when the world stopped spinning. "Ah, ah, ah… we have unfinished business, Green Ranger." Scorpina lunged viciously at Tommy, who weaved away from her sword until catching it between his palms and wrenching it out of her hands, knocking her away with a jumping kick. The Faunus slid back with outstretched hands, fingers flashing open to reveal shiny bronze claws. Twirling in midair, she struck again with ruthless intent, forcing Tommy to go on the defensive.

Tommy managed to keep his face from being sliced off until Scorpina locked their hands together and pinned the boy against a wall. "You're all alone, boy," she whispered against his face. "When your friends come to help… they'll be too late."

"I wouldn't count on it!" Tommy shouted, ramming a knee into Scorpina's gut and diving into a roll. Taking the Faunus with him, Tommy threw Scorpina across the street. Spinning so that she planted her legs against the parallel wall, Scorpina leaped off and came at Tommy from above. The Green Ranger rolled out of the way so that her tail was buried into the ground, swinging off the appendage to kick her in the face. The two went back and forth in the middle of the street, both trying to get an advantage over the other.

"You've had quite an interesting story," Scorpina hissed. "It's a shame no one will get to hear of it!" She lashed her golden tail at Tommy, who leaned his face away and grabbed the appendage, using it to throw Scorpina over his shoulder and slam her into the pavement. The Faunus wrapped the end of her tail around Tommy's wrist and flung him away, immediately bounding back to her feet before striking at the boy with her claws.

"I got some bad news for you!" Tommy snapped. "You think you can get all high and mighty with Rita for taking me down? You can think again!" He deflected a bow and drove a fist into Scorpina's face, making her stagger and wipe at her mouth with a sadistic smile. "That's the beauty of it, Tommy… I'm not 'thinking' about it anymore. You should be thinking about your odds…"

"Oh, I think my odds are pretty strong. AI-YAH!" Tommy began another attack, but Scorpina easily defended herself until she parried a blow and landed a palm in Tommy's chest. The force sent a flicker of Aura across Tommy's body… and Scorpina spun around, lashing Tommy in the side with a whip-like motion from her tail. "AH!" The Green Ranger cried out when he jolted back, a hand instinctively going to the fresh wound while Scorpina chucked again.

"How about now?"

An unimpressed Tommy shook his head. "Don't get so cocky over a stupid scratch, Scorpina. I've still got enough in me to beat you."

"Then you are a fool," she retorted. "You stand on the brink of death. It is already too late for you, Green Ranger, and yet you prefer to die fighting?" Tommy just rolled his eyes. "You're the foolish one for thinking I go down easy, Scorpina. And besides, the locals told me enough about Aura. It'll be gone in minutes."

Another smirk. "I'm counting on it."

"Okay, now you're just talking nonsense!" Tommy attacked again, but his fist hit only the gold scales of Scorpina's tail and the Faunus kicked him to the ground. "So that's how it's going to be? You desire a quick death rather than a slow one? Then you shall have it, Tommy Oliver. It's a shame that my queen will not have the chance to see your eyes as the light leaves them… but I will describe it to her if that helps." Scorpina's tail wrapped around the hilt of her blade before the appendage placed it in her waiting hand. Tommy watched her closely as she began sprinting towards him, ready to dodge or keep the weapon from touching him…

…until he was hit by a wave of dizziness. The boy could barely comprehend the sudden sensation when the scorpion Faunus was above him, her blade behind her back and her mouth open in a cry. Tommy squeezed his eyes shut in both a preparation for what was to come and an attempt to shake the strange feeling from his system. He was struck with the realization that he was about to feel either intense pain or nothing at all… but he only felt goosebumps when a clanging noise reached his ears.

"What?! What is this?! Another idiotic child with a death wish?!" Scorpina's exclamation made Tommy open his eyes… and the first thing he saw was a bunch of floating blades keeping the Faunus' weapon trapped. A girl with orange hair, a pink bow on the back of her head, and a white off-the-shoulder blouse among a short gray pinafore dress. Tommy couldn't see what expression she wore, but judging by her voice, it was anything but pleased. "I'm somebody who doesn't like seeing friends get hurt!" With sweeping arm motions, the girl commanded the blades to sweep Scorpina's sword aside. One fluid movement later, all of them lined up into a single blade that smacked the startled Faunus aside and sent her through a window. The second she was out of view, the girl turned to Tommy with concerned green eyes almost like his own.

"Are you alright?" Her voice was almost touching now, like a mother comforting a child. Tommy nodded as he rose to his feet with a grunt. "Y-yeah, thanks. Just… feeling a little dizzy. I'm Tommy." The girl gave a polite smile. "Penny. Team RWBY knows me very well." The Green Ranger looked the girl over head-to-toe, making her raise a brow inquisitively. "Is there a problem?"

"Um… are you sure you're a robot?" Tommy asked her. "They said you were, and… you don't really look like one." The girl smiled again, brighter this time. "Why, of course! I'm the first artificial being capable of having a soul! Although… few people aside from my friends are aware of that."

"Well, we can talk more about that later," Tommy finished. "Right now… my friends need some help against that." He pointed a finger to the gigantic Goldar, who was still roaring and swatting at the airborne Team RWBY like flies as they flew, skated, soared, and swung around him. Kimberly's Aurazord dove towards the Faunus, who broke away from the girl to grab the pterodactyl by the neck and smash it to the street. Penny's blades were out again while she tossed Tommy the Dragon Dagger. "Of course. Let's hurry!" The two of them took off running towards the towering golden figure… unaware that from the wrecked shop behind them, Scorpina brushed glass from her hair and stared at Tommy with a sinister grin.

No matter how hard the Rangers and Team RWBY battled the giant ape Faunus that made them look like ants- or in the Aurazords' case, no more than pets- none of the teens could locate a flaw or land a solid hit on Goldar. An oversized fist plowed Kimberly into a wall, her Aurazord flickering in and out of view until it faded. The beaten Pink Ranger fell amidst the rubble, with Ruby catching her and Weiss' glyph shielding her from debris. The weary Triceratops and Mastodon Aurazords proved no match for Goldar's overwhelming strength, as Billy had an entire building dropped on him while Zack's Aurazord ultimately gave out beneath Goldar's massive foot. Blake quickly saved the Black Ranger from being crushed underfoot while Yang fished out an exhausted Billy from the rubble.

Trini's Aurazord was smacked across rooftops before Jason's Aurazord unleashed a torrential wave of sonic pulses in an earth-shaking roar… that only had Goldar shaking his head irritatingly. The giant Faunus seized the T-Rex by its throat, cutting off its bellow before holding the dinosaur before him. The faceplate's roaring visage bore into the exhausted Red Ranger's vision, the gigantic Faunus growling slowly. "THIS HAS BEEN BOTH AMUSING AND ANNOYING… BUT THIS WORLD AND EARTH WILL SOON ANSWER TO MY QUEEN."

Jason could feel the massive hand closing around his throat, leaving him struggling to speak while his creature groaned in pain. "Huntsmen… everywhere… won't stop… fighting you…"

"THEY WILL… ONCE THEY ARE ALL GONE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT ZORDON WOULD THINK ONCE HE LEARNS HIS PRIZED POWER RANGERS ARE FINALLY FINISHED."

"He… he'll find more," Jason croaked. "More worthy to… to have the power…"

"YOUR OPTIMISM IS USELESS AS IT IS DISGUSTING, JASON," Goldar growled, unaware of a yellow mass rising to its four feet behind him. The sabertooth tiger shook its head as Trini fought for breath… and her eyes locked on the helpless Red Ranger. "Jason…" Without a second thought, Trini propelled her Aurazord into a full charge, bounding across the rooftops at high speed while Goldar continued to gloat.

"I WILL TOLERATE IT NO MORE. FROM YOU OR FROM ANYONE ELSE." Goldar pulled back his arm, his oversized sword ready to strike. The spiritual sabertooth tiger charged across the last of the rooftops with a predatory growl that erupted into a feral roar once its hind legs propelled it into the air. Its front paws were spread open, its jaws wide to display two rows of sharp fangs ready to sink into its prey. Its roar was carried by the wind…

…until Goldar spun around and impaled the creature through the torso.

The great roar devolved into a pained yowl as the great cat's eyes widened and its ears folded backward. The red Tyrannosaurus dropped to the ground with a heavy thud as Goldar turned his full attention to the beast his blade had sunken into. The Aura-composed construct let out a low moan mixed with a weak mewl, the pained sound reaching everyone's ears.

Kim's eyes were blown wide and her hands were against her mouth. Billy staggered back with a dropped jaw. Zack's hands were on his head and a shaky breath escaped his mouth. Ruby dropped Crescent Rose, the weapon clattering near her feet. Weiss had a hand against her heart as her eyes trembled, Blake was clenching Yang's arm with her bow crinkled from folded ears, and the blonde took a breath of sheer disbelief as her eyes took in the sight. Raising the head of his Aurazord, Jason's construct let out a saddened moan while the Red Ranger felt his soul crumble around him. The Aurazord shrank down in a flash of light until Jason was lying on the ground, his distraught face trained on the speared tiger.

From within the beast that desperately clawed at Goldar's arm to no avail, Trini was scrunched over with a pained expression. Her hands were clenched together at her stomach despite the giant blade nowhere near the girl's physical form. A tear had started trickling down her face… and one was beginning to slide down Jason's.

"Trini…"

A deep growl from Goldar cut through the tense atmosphere. "ENOUGH OF THIS INTERFERENCE." His free hand grabbed the weakened, moaning tiger by the scruff, the creature beginning to flicker and pulse with yellow light. With one swift movement, he dislodged the blade from the tiger's stomach and tossed the Aura-composed creature to the streets below.

"NO!" Jason was on his feet and running when the construct hit the ground with a loud thud that reverberated in everyone's soul. The sudden dust obstructed the tiger from his view, but the yellow patches of light and the repeated thuds told him the beast was flipping over until none of its glow remained. Holding his arms to shield himself from the cloud, Jason urged his legs to go as fast as they could until he broke through the dust…

…to see a motionless yellow-clad figure lying on the empty street.

"No… no, no, no, Trini!" Jason slid to a stop and steadied the girl in his arms, tears leaking from his eyes while his heart pounded frantically. "Trini… TRINI!" The girl shook with him when he begged for a response, but her face was still. Traces of her tears remained in stains across her quiet face, her eyes were closed, her skin was dirty from hitting the road, her hair was strewn with the yellow streak now faded… and he was afraid to touch her stomach despite the absence of red and no signs of a physical injury.

"Trini… please…" Jason's voice cracked as a tear left his face and stained the girl's bodysuit. For a moment, it was like nothing existed but him and her.

The world was quiet.

A sob wrenched Jason's throat before he quietly touched his forehead to hers, cradling the girl before him. Kimberly sank to her knees with tears in her eyes. A distraught Zack and Billy held each other close, the Black Ranger shaking his head in denial while the boy in blue trembled like a nerd intimidated by a bully. Yang was frozen in shock and horror, Ruby and Blake clinging to her tightly. The silver-eyed girl's lip was trembling and the cat Faunus' amber eyes were wide. Weiss was fighting a losing battle to keep herself together, her sword arm shaky.

The ground rumbled beneath their feet. Everyone's eyes slowly looked upward to see a towering presence looming above them. The faceplate was gone, revealing a grinning face filled with pride. It was a grin that intensified when a pair of red eyes looked upon each of the otherworldly teens.

"ONE DOWN… FIVE TO GO."

Goldar raised a giant foot, its shadow casting the terrified teens in darkness… until gold flashed through their squeezed eyes. A gold flash spread across Goldar's entire body, the grown general taking a step back. "URGH! WHAT?! WHAT IS…" His red eyes widened in horror and a deep gasp left his throat. "NO… NO! NOT… NOT NOW! GRAGH!" The gold light flashed brighter and faster until it enveloped Goldar's resisting body, forcing those who looked upon it to shield their eyes.

"GAAAAAAAAaaaaa…"

When the light faded, Goldar was back to his normal size and slumped over in exhaustion, weary gasps making his armored chest heave in and out. He stared at his hand in bewilderment. "Why… why did it…" he gasped. "I was about to…" He turned his eyes back to the Rangers and spied Jason standing in front of the motionless Yellow Ranger, fists clenched by his side…

…and his eyes burning in anger.

Heave back. Arms out. Deep breath…

"RRAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Jason unleashed everything he had on Goldar. He poured all his sadness, anger, and grief into the largest roar his Semblance could pull off. The resulting red sonic pulses and the hurricane-level winds forced Goldar to slide down the road until the Faunus stabbed the street with his sword to keep himself level. As Jason kept screaming- wetness blurring his vision- Goldar squeezed his crimson orbs shut and held out his free wind in a futile attempt to shield himself from the winds conjured by the thunderous roar of sheer rage. He took one step forward… then another… and another before he slid back another few meters. Goldar dared to roar back at the Red Ranger challengingly, but his response was simply drowned out.

Jason screamed until he could scream no more, his body and his voice going out as one when he collapsed hands-first to the ground. Goldar crumbled a mile away from the Red Ranger, both of them fighting for air like warriors unable to fight any longer. The only difference was that each of them had their own reasons to continue. Jason and Goldar remained idle for a solid ten seconds until they could stand and look into each other's eyes.

The ape Faunus bared his teeth… and Jason bared his before he broke into a mad dash. A mighty roar escaped Goldar's mouth as he switched his sword into its cannon mode, firing fiery blasts at the Red Ranger. Rolling and dodging away from each explosive shot while ignoring the ache in his lungs, Jason's heart pumped fury through his veins as he drew his sword, wanting nothing more than to run through Goldar's heart just as he had done with Trini. One more blast was aimed right in front of the Red Ranger, who jumped over the explosion with an enraged howl and brought his sword down on Goldar…

…who blocked it with his own and roared in Jason's face. The two of them engaged in a deadly duel in the middle of the ruined street, their blades clashing against each other. Both utilized brute strength in their attempts to overpower their opponent until their swords were locked together. Goldar pushed the clash in his favor, drawing both blades to Jason's anguished face.

"It is as I said before, Jason! Without your friends- without her- you are nothing!"

"AAAAAARGH!" The Red Ranger's roar was filled to the brim with anger, enough for him to parry Goldar's sword and slash him across the helmet. His opponent staggered, Jason charged and tacked Goldar into a wall, pinning him against the building before furiously hammering his fists across the Faunus' face. He got in a good four hits before Goldar grabbed his arm and viciously headbutted the Red Ranger, blasting him point-blank with his cannon. The close-range blast dropped Jason's Aura to critical levels, the red light flickering around his body like a warning.

It was a warning Jason ignored. For all anybody who witnessed him knew, it was like the Red Ranger was seeing red. His sword in hand once again- its steel-coated edge begging for blood- Jason attacked Goldar as if all rational thought had abandoned him. All he could think about was Trini's motionless body lying limp in his arms, the sounds of her tiger moaning in agony after being impaled by the giant broadsword, and the glee on Goldar's face as he admired his handiwork.

This would only end one way… and both of them knew it.

A small cut across Goldar's face and the howl that followed it filled Jason's being with relief, but it wasn't enough. The rest of the fight was a blur to him as if a primal, untamed force had taken full control. A golden fist rammed into his gut. An armored foot stomped the pavement where his head would've been if he hadn't rolled out of the way. Bruises from where Jason had bashed the Faunus with his hilt. A fiery slash left a black mark on the golden armor's chest plate. The shatter and dissipation signaled the last of his Aura being depleted.

And blood. His and the monster's. He didn't keep track of who the red stains covering his outfit belonged to. That didn't matter. All that mattered was that this murderer needed to-

A hand around his throat. He couldn't breathe. The voice in his head kept screaming. It was a scream that reached his mouth as he managed to reconfigure Tyrant into its rifle mode and possess a death grip on the trigger that unloaded rounds onto Goldar's face. It should have been his face, but the golden gauntlet on his other arm blocked each shot until the clicking came. Then came the rattling and ringing as Goldar smashed Jason against the ground over and over. With each blow against the pavement, his world grew darker and more blurred… until he was flying and one final hit made the world spin around him.

It took everything he had not to black out. His weary eyes caught Tyrant stabbing into the ground meters away from his bruised hands. One glove was torn… he didn't bother looking at the rest of him. There was a copper taste in his mouth but he managed to stand on shaky legs while triumphant laughter rang in his ears.

"I haven't had a fight like that in ages!" Goldar roared. "The brutality! The mercilessness! I knew you were called the Red Ranger for a reason, Jason! Although… that color would look better on this." He held out his shining blade tauntingly, the weapon having never lost its edge while Jason's sword looked worn and dull. "Such a shame those beasts of yours cannot bleed, or else it would be a testament to your fa-"

Bullets struck his shoulder pauldrons in sparks. To Jason's right, a girl in pink with eyes like waterfalls pulled the trigger of a yellow pistol while her teeth were clenched. To the left, a boy in blue fired its partner, his grip shaky. They fired until a second figure from behind Goldar marched into view, a barbed whip swatting the shots away. Then a third, its wand giving off a crimson glow that summoned a forcefield, each shot having no effect on the shield. Its owner cackled menacingly, the sound eclipsing all others.

"Well done, Goldar! Simply spectacular! The rest of those ridiculous Rangers should get the point by now that their efforts are useless! Hahahaha!"

"Say the word, empress…" hissed the other woman. "And we will allow the others to join her. Slowly."

"In due time, Scorpina! For now… I am curious as to where we should go next for the next step in conquering this planet." There was a grin from Goldar. "I have a suggestion, my queen. Animals who need to be put in their place."

"HA! Brilliant!"

An approaching hum filled the air, turning everyone's eyes skyward once again. A large aircraft shaped suspiciously like a manta ray soared over the streets of Vale, on approach to the group's position. Yang let out a victorious laugh at the sight and jabbed a finger at the trio of villains. "Ha HA, old woman! You're not going anywhere! We've got backup!"

Weiss aimed Myrtenaster at them. "All of you will be punished for your actions today! Severely!" Blake simply bared her teeth in anger at the trio while Ruby held Crescent Rose in an intimidating manner. "None of you are getting away with this!" she cried sorrowfully. "And if you try anything, we won't stop until we bring you to justice! Bet on that!"

"Oh…" Rita chuckled with a shake of her head. "I wouldn't."

The approaching Manta swooped closer, preparing missiles within its triangular nose pods. With a press of a button on the pilot's end, six of the projectiles shot out, sped for the street…

…and detonated directly in front of the teens, blasting them all back several feet as they cried out in pain and surprise. Smoke shrouded their vision as Jason fell onto his back near Ruby, the girl's hood and cape covered with soot. It felt like forever until Jason could move again, his body aching alongside the moaning Ruby. The Red Ranger and the silver-eyed Huntress crawled forward a few feet until the smoke cleared, revealing everyone else struggling to their feet or helping others do so.

The roar of the Manta's engines filled their ears as the aircraft tilted sideways before touching down behind the trio. Everyone's eyes were filled with shock, each of them struggling to understand what had just happened… why an Atlesian ship fired on them instead of the bad guys. Ruby's silver orbs were on the brink of tears yet again just as the airship's doors slid open…

…revealing a white-haired man in glasses and a scientist's uniform standing at the doors with crossed arms and a knowing smile. At his feet were two unmoving Atlesian pilots that he nudged out of the ship like they were trash. One's flight helmet fell off his head when his body hit the street, revealing a burnt hole in his chest and eyes wide in sudden fear. All of Team RWBY's eyes were alight in similar horror and Ruby's voice was on the verge of breaking.

"D… doc… Doctor Steff?"

"FINSTER!" Rita roared as she boarded the vessel. "Get us out of here!" Goldar and Scorpina followed their queen onboard while the man bowed in response. "At once, your wickedness." The man made his way to the cockpit… before giving the stunned teens one last look. "So nice to see you again, Power Rangers. And as for you, my dear Huntresses… never judge a book by its cover."

"NOOO!" Kimberly screeched, drawing an arrow and firing it directly at the man's head. The Manta's door slid shut before the projectile could make contact, cracking the tiny window instead. The man's face tilted to the side and inspected the arrow nonchalantly… before shaking his head and ducking out of view. Before long, the aircraft rose from the ruined streets and shot into the sky, the roar of its engines trailing off as it faded from sight. Everyone was alone once again…

…and two late arrivals didn't help.

Penny and Tommy turned down the block, the Green Ranger rushing in with his dagger at the ready. "Alright, where are they?! Where-" Tommy froze the second he laid eyes on his battered friends. "Oh my god, guys!" Sheathing the dagger, he hurried over with a shocked Penny by his side, each of them helping their respective friends. While Penny helped Ruby and her teammates, Tommy kept Billy and Kimberly from falling over. "Guys, what happened to you?! Where's Goldar? And Ri-"

That was when Kimberly wrapped Tommy in a tight hug, sobs wracking her body as she buried her face in the Green Ranger's shoulder. Tommy released his hold on Billy to tend to the Pink Ranger, absentmindedly patting her on the back. His eyes scanned the scene… and he fell silent when he noticed what everybody else was solemnly staring at.

Jason stood mere paces away from Tommy… holding a motionless Trini in his arms. Zack and Billy stood on both sides of him while a shocked Penny and all of Team RWBY silently looked with tears in their eyes and the occasional sniffle. Kimberly slowly broke away from the stunned Tommy, wiping her face with a sleeve. The Green Ranger could barely find his footing as he met his friend's eyes: eyes he didn't recognize.

"Jason…" he finally uttered. "I… is she…"

The Red Ranger was uncharacteristically quiet while Billy showed him his Scroll. From what Tommy could make out, the Aura levels for both him and Trini were completely depleted. His was already in the process of regenerating… but Trini's wasn't. A worried-yet-fearful look donned the Blue Ranger's face as he slowly reached out a hand, retracting it and looking back and forth between Trini and Jason. While the boy gently touched two fingers to Trini's pulse point on the neck, the Red Ranger finally spoke in a tone alien to Tommy.
"I don't know…"

Everybody was quiet, even as Billy pulled back from his examination with bewildered eyes and rechecked his Scroll. Those nearby swore they heard him mumble something along the lines of how this was possible, but whatever he had uncovered mattered little for the time being. Vale had taken a lot of damage that would need time to repair, civilians caught in the crossfire needed to be taken care of… and this.

Trini was gravely wounded- unless the unthinkable had happened- with her fate unknown. And Doctor Steff… a facade for Rita's loyal minion Finster who had shown his true colors. And the most pressing question of all…

…where the teams would go from here.

"Is there a problem, Ilia?"

She looked up at the masked face outside the tent. "No, Adam. Just… thinking."

"About what?"

"The warehouse incident," she explained. "These 'Rangers', they… weren't what I expected." These words made Adam's mouth clench in a scowl. "How so?" Ilia was unnerved by his tone, leaving her unsure of how to proceed. She'd been told the Rangers were merciless when it came to Faunus, but what she had seen at the warehouse after it was blown to pieces… was conflicting. Even though Adam was present- albeit unconscious- he wouldn't believe it and would probably accuse Ilia of questioning their fellow Faunus' words.

She swallowed. "They… didn't stick around for human authorities."

Adam tilted his head. "Perry told me you reported them dead." Ilia was expecting this, hence her prepared response. "They were close to the warehouse when it went up. I… thought they perished in the blast. But when reinforcements came, they were… gone. They must be more resilient than we expected."

"Which is why we warned you."

Adam spun around to see Goldar and Scorpina emerge from the treeline, the latter striding up to the masked bull Faunus. "Despite your efforts, the Rangers remain alive." She glared daggers at Ilia. "Why didn't you make sure to finish the job?" The woman's gaze was ice cold and Ilia froze where she sat. "I…"

Adam stepped between them. "They were caught in the middle of an explosion composed of multiple Dust types. And they just walked it off? You didn't tell us they-"

"I told you exactly what they were capable of, including endurance," Scorpina retorted. "Am I mistaken, Adam Taurus? Or have our warnings been left unheeded?" Goldar loomed over the bull Faunus, who glared at him before giving his response. "The red one. He knew. He destroyed the entire cache to ensure we didn't get our hands on it… and he knew his team would survive."

"He also knew that the blast would draw attention," Goldar continued. "From both humans and Faunus. As we have said, most humans are unaware of their existence… and they fled to keep it that way."

Something about this wasn't making sense. "Then why leave witnesses? They wouldn't just-" Scorpina stopped Adam with a raised hand. "Save your questions, Adam Taurus… for the Rangers are no longer your problem. Seeing as to how the White Fang has failed to destroy them, we will hunt them down ourselves."

"No," Adam snarled. "The red one needs to pay for his crimes against our people, and I should be the one who disposes of it!" Scorpina raised a brow. "Then, for your sake, Adam… you had better use this last chance sparingly. For we have more pressing matters to attend to."

Adam sighed. "You're right. Ilia, tell the troops to start packing. Sienna needs to be informed about-"

The world erupted in fire. Tents were blasted to ashes and missiles rained from the sky, sending White Fang members sailing through the air. Smoke filled the startled Adam's nostrils while screams rang through the air. Goldar and Scorpina stood on high alert with weapons drawn while Ilia sprang to her feet, donning her mask and weapon. The four Faunus turned to the sky to see an Atlesian Manta descending on the campsite.

"They found us?!" Adam said in a mixture of fury and disbelief. "How did they find us?! We…" His eyes turned to the struggling Faunus around him. "Kill whoever steps foot out of that ship!" His comrades nodded and took position: some took cover behind storage crates while others drew swords and advanced on the ship. The door slid open and the ramp dropped…

…revealing a woman dressed in brown robes, a lowered hood, jewelry, and holding a staff with a moon-like symbol at its top. She descended down the ramp, staring at the troops like they were beneath her. Because that's what they were to humans, weren't they? Lowly animals that were no more than wild beasts? The thought sent anger swirling through Adam's being…

"FIRE!" Bullets thundered from rifles only to hit nothing but a thin red forcefield that surrounded the woman in the blink of an eye. From behind safety, she dramatically yawned… before blasting a crimson beam at a storage crate, blowing it to wooden bits and sending the Faunus there flying. Another blast struck another rifleman and killed him before he hit the ground. Soldiers with swords roared as they charged toward the woman…

…only to be gunned down by cyan laser bolts. Standing at the Manta's open door was a white-haired Atlesian man holding two white pistols with blue detailing and a drone by his side. He marched down the ramp, shooting any Faunus that came close to him without a second thought. One soldier attempted to come up from behind, but the drone zapped him with a taser before the man twirled a pistol and put a hole in his head without even looking.

"Impressive, no?" he said to the corpse. "Modified Hard-Light Dust. The making of yours truly, mind you." He was by the woman's side in moments, shooting a Faunus reaching for a sword before holstering the guns. The woman's staff jabbed into the dirt while Adam had a hand on his sword.

"You must be the freaks I've heard so much about," the woman began. "To be fair, I've seen far worse monsters than you, bull-boy. And they were all uglier than a human with horns on his head! Hahahaha!" Adam's lips twisted into a snarl and he marched towards the woman. "I don't know who you think you are, but I am going to make you suffer for what you-AAAARGH!"

A sharp pain in his back forced Adam to his knees. He heard Ilia scream in horror until her voice was cut off by something around her throat. Adam forced himself to look back… where he saw Goldar strangling the chameleon Faunus before punching her lights out- knocking off her mask in the process- and tossing her into the treeline like she was nothing. Scorpina, meanwhile, stood above Adam with a cruel smile…

…and her tail bloody.

"S… Scorpina?" Adam choked out in horror. What was she doing? He tried to stand… but a high-heeled boot pinned his face into the dirt. "You've served your purpose well, Adam Taurus… but we have no further use for you."

"U… use…?" Once Adam's brain registered the words, anger coursed through him again. "You… you used me?!" Scorpina did not deny it. "I needed to keep the Power Rangers occupied. You and your White Fang were the perfect tool."

"You… you pledged your loyalty to me! To the cause! You think you can just walk away from-" Goldar shoved his face into the ground with bellowing laughter. "HAHAHA! You pathetic fool! Did you really think we would become part of your little mercenary band?! NO! You were only a means to an end! You and all those other lower lifeforms!"

Scorpina knelt down and cupped Adam's chin, staring into a blue eye behind the mask. "But don't fret, little bull. You said you wanted humans to be put in their place while Faunus took theirs. And they will…" She pulled him in closer with a hiss. "When both of your lowly races bow before Rita Repulsa! But you won't live to see it… because the poison flowing through your veins right now will give you a slow and painful end. Unless, of course, you are strong enough to resist it… but I doubt that will happen anytime soon." She released Adam with a snicker and Goldar kicked him in the side, earning a laugh from both Faunus and the two humans.

"You were a nice little plaything…" Goldar said as he picked the weakened Adam by the neck. "But do you know what happens when playthings are no longer useful?" There was no response from Adam… unless a faint moan counted as a response while his skin began turning pale. "Would you like to know?! Well, here!" Goldar proceeded to chuck Adam into the treeline, right next to a terrified Ilia who scrambled to pick up her fellow Faunus, give the quartet a horrified, teary-eyed look, and hurry into the wilderness while they laughed in triumph.

"Oh, you two!" Rita congratulated them. "That was the most beautiful betrayal I've ever seen! I must commend you on your trickery, Scorpina! I should have you be my personal backstabber if I choose to fake allegiances of my own!"

"By all means, my empress!" Scorpina chuckled. "Their pain is my pleasure! And I would gladly do that again in your honor!" Goldar roared with laughter before pointing in the direction the Faunus had disappeared in. "The only thing I regret about this is not ripping off that idiotic mask! I would have enjoyed seeing the look on that fool's face! But I did enjoy the look on hers! HAHAHA!"

"This has all been very entertaining, my queen," Finster said with his hands behind his back and his drone hovering over his shoulder. "But with another item crossed off the agenda, what do you think we should do now?" Before the sorceress could give him an answer, Rita paused when she saw movement in the shadows.

Movement accompanied by burning red eyes.

A demonic growl emerged from the darkness when a wolf-like beast slithered out with it, followed by several of its canine and boar-esque colleagues. The Grimm slowly advanced into the camp, a few of them sniffing out and finishing off any Faunus survivors that rewarded the monsters with the sweet sound of agonized screams. While Goldar, Scorpina, and Finster immediately went on edge, Rita gasped in sheer delight as the carnage unfolded.

"Those monsters… they're hideous… they're horrible… they're disgusting… they're BEAUTIFUL!" An elated Rita exclaimed with a big smile. "Such perfect engines of destruction! I can feel the evil surrounding them! The darkness in their soulless husks! I need answers! Now!"

"They are called the Grimm, empress," Scorpina explained. "Mindless beasts that seek only death and destruction." Rita giggled like an overjoyed child. "Yes, yes… perfect! Simply perfect! Come forth, my darlings!"

"Your evilness, no!" Goldar warned her… but too late, as the Grimm all whirled towards the witch and stalked towards her with low growls and hellish snarls. Goldar stood protectively before his queen, sword at the ready. "These monsters serve no master!"

"What?!" Rita snapped. "No master? Out of my way, you simpleton! I'll fix that!" She shoved Goldar aside and marched for a Beowolf, making a worried Finster step forward. "Empress Rita, wait! The Grimm are not to be-"

The Beowolf snarled and pounced at Rita… who held up her wand, its gem giving off a sickly green glow. The Beowolf froze and hit the ground, its red orbs entranced by the light. The rest of the Grimm followed, drawn to the light like cats to a laser pointer. While they all gazed at the green glow, emerald trails snaked from the wand and touched each of the black beasts…

…and their evil red eyes morphed into emerald orbs. The red markings on their bone-like attributes also shifted from red to green. Once no more traces of red remained, Rita slammed her staff on the ground with a smile. "Creatures of darkness! Demons of destruction! Beasts of berserk fury! Bow before your new queen!"

The Grimm lowered their heads and their bodies, submitting to their newfound master who had them under her spell. Goldar, Scorpina, and Finster all stared in amazement until evil smiles broke out on their faces… while Rita began bursting into laughter at the sight of her new legion of monsters.

"AHAHAHAHA! THIS WORLD WILL BE MINE! AND THERE IS NOBODY WHO CAN STOP ME NOW! NYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

A pair of blood-red eyes amidst black pools shot open.

The magic. It was back. And it was… stronger. Stronger than she had anticipated. But what was more concerning was when she immediately reached out to the Grimm across the world. Most of them had responded, yes, but… something was amiss.

A select few in the continent of Sanus failed to reply. Impossible.

There was no doubt about it now. Whoever this strange individual was, they needed to be found… and eliminated. And if her followers were incapable of subduing this person once they were located… well…

What was it they said now? Ah, yes… if one needs something done correctly, one must take it upon themselves to fulfill it.