MMPRRWBY: A Semblance Of Power

by DareDreamer

Two teenage teams unite in this morphenomenal crossover! The defenders of Earth find themselves far from home when they each awaken in an unfamiliar world, where monsters roam with no Power Rangers to stop them. Thankfully, the confused teens meet new young heroes willing to help them find a way home by any means necessary. But the Rangers will soon discover they are not alone...

19. Earth Bound

Tall rectangular skyscrapers instead of the familiar towers stretched over the city, dwarfing the many smaller buildings Ruby and her friends walked past. Everyone's eyes were all over the place, letting the significant differences between Vale and Angel Grove sink in. The streets weren't entirely alien, as cars and pedestrians could be seen moving about. The only exceptions to this were strange meters on the side of the road where vehicles lay dormant and large rectangular boxes that held a book and an odd corded device Ruby had never seen in her lifetime.

Everywhere she looked, she saw people chatting and going about their daily commutes while a few young folks rolled around on skateboards; the riders wearing headphones attached to small rectangles she couldn't identify. The whole city was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time if that even made sense.

"Is it just me…" Yang muttered, her violet eyes landing on a building that bore the letters "VHS" above its doors. "Or does anyone else feel out of place here?" Blake's head hung low beside her, golden eyes periodically peeking out before darting back down. "It's not just you," came a mumbled response. Weiss groaned in annoyance. "This is ridiculous, we shouldn't be here! On another freaking world! It's like the universe hates us all of a sudden!"

Nora and Ren turned their attention to Ruby, ignoring the heiress' complaints. "So what do we do now?" The answer was simple enough for Ruby. "We helped the Rangers when they were stuck on Remnant. Now they need to help us. All we gotta do is find them." There was a hum of approval from Yang, who snapped open her new sunglasses and tried them on. "Sounds simple enough. But, um… how are we supposed to find them?"

"Why not ask around?" Nora guessed.

"It's not like we can ask for the Rangers directly," Ren surmised. "You remember how they said they had secret identities here, right? We should be careful."

"Very," murmured Blake, her eyes darting up to where her cat ears were supposed to be. Ruby noticed she was more uncomfortable than anybody else. Maybe she would be, too, if she was a Faunus who just had her animal bits taken away. Realizing she was getting distracted, Ruby turned her gaze forward to keep a lookout for-

"Oomph!" The girl walked headfirst into something solid and staggered back just in time to see a bystander look over their shoulder. A tinge of panic and alarm shot through her when she saw a woman's surprised face staring down at her. "Oh gods, s-sorry about-"

"There's no need," she calmly replied as she turned, the startled look already gone. Brown eyes hovered over each of the Remnantians and she adjusted a leather jacket. "Hm. New in town, I take it?" Yang sheepishly ran a hand through her mane. "You could say that…"

"Pardon me," Weiss stepped forward. "But we were hoping to find somebody named Jason. Do you know who that is?" The woman's eyes flashed with recognition and she gave a brief nod. "Yeah, I've heard of him. Everyone in town has. He and his buddies hang out at the Youth Center a lot."

"And that would be…" Nora began. The woman was a step ahead of her and gestured down the nearby street. "Just a few blocks from here. You can't miss it." That was… easier than Ruby expected. Was everyone here so friendly? She gave the woman an appreciative smile. "Thanks so much, miss… uh…"

"June," she answered before making her way past the group. "Welcome to Angel Grove, kids. Your stay's gonna be an unforgettable one." The stranger walked out of sight, leaving the teens alone on the sidewalk before Weiss piped up. "Well… she seemed nice." Ruby was inclined to agree but decided not to dwell on the woman any more than she had to.

"What exactly is a 'Youth Center', anyway?" Yang asked when the group started moving again. Ruby just shrugged as her sister positioned her tinted shades on her forehead. "Not sure, but it's the only lead we have. Let's go." Rounding the corner to the street the woman had shown them, Ruby led the group down the sidewalk and let her eyes trail over the city sights. She saw peace everywhere she looked: people laughed and talked, the atmosphere was bright, the streets were calm with no disturbance…

The world was better… just like what she wanted for Remnant. Here was a world without Grimm to threaten it; a world without evil. A world without-

"Hm. They couldn't have made it more subtle?"

"I dunno, that looks subtle enough to me."

Ruby realized she had been so caught up in the scenery that Weiss and Yang's words snapped her back to reality. It had felt like no time had passed at all… or perhaps the woman wasn't kidding with her directions. Now, Ruby and the others were standing in front of a building that had a circular sign next to the door. Said sign depicted a delicious-looking smoothie and the words "ANGEL GROVE YOUTH CENTER: GYM AND JUICE BAR".

"I like this place already!" Yang chuckled. "Think they got strawberry sunrises?"

"I… doubt that," Weiss gave the blonde an annoyed look. "Let's just head inside."

…

Meanwhile, far away from California

"Aaaaah! Palace sweet palace!" Rita Repulsa cackled. "I didn't think I'd miss this dump so much!" Finster was mere paces behind her while Scorpina aided a woozy Goldar in finding his footing. "Rrrgh… another disgraceful defeat at the hands of those loathsome Rangers," he growled. "I suppose I should be grateful that I have returned to my monstrous form, Empress… but we face another setback, do we?"

"Not yet!" Rita objected. "My plan has altered, my loyal minions, and it is now one they will never expect! Baboo! Squat! Where are you miscreants?!"

"My queen!" echoed an excited voice as two monsters rounded the corner. "You have finally returned!" A short blue-skinned hobgoblin hurried into sight, flanked by a taller creature. "We guarded this place like no place has ever been guarded before, your evilness!"

"But I assume," his partner continued. "The Power Rangers remain an obstacle in your conquest of Earth."

"Unfortunately," answered Scorpina. "They interrupted the banishment spell and dragged us to the target world as well. There, the Rangers assembled allies and drove us off, keeping that planet from falling into our queen's hands."

"But make no mistake," Goldar swore. "Once this planet is ours, we will return and conquer that one! Only then will its inhabitants realize their mistake in defying us!"

"All in due time, I assure you," Finster finished, retrieving something from his pocket. "But right now, we have a new plan for this world." Rita sneered in agreement. "That we do. To the Repulsascope!" She marched through the Moon Palace with her loyal followers behind her, with Finster pulling Baboo aside. "I am going to need your assistance for this. I shall explain in due time."

Leaving the two to their little conversation, Rita approached a massive long-range telescope on the palace's observation balcony and peered through it with a grin and a cackle. "Those kooky kids are in for quite a surp-WHAT?! What is this?! They shouldn't be here!" Goldar and Scorpina jolted at the sudden outburst. "Empress? What is it? What do you see?"

Rita turned away from the telescope with a look of annoyance and anger. "It's those stupid brats from Remnant! My spell transported them to Earth!"

"All the better!" Goldar growled as he pounded his palm. "Now, we can destroy both of our enemies when they are-"

"NO, YOU MISERABLE MONKEY!" Rita screeched. "THEY weren't part of the plan!" Goldar was taken aback. "They're… not, your vileness?"

"BAH!" Rita scoffed and peered through the telescope again. "It doesn't matter! They are now!" The witch muttered under her breath just as a confused Scorpina looked between her master and the planet. "But… I don't understand, my queen… if you didn't intend to send them to Earth, then-"

"Where are they, where are they, where… AHA! There they are!" Rita boomed triumphantly and withdrew with a devious grin. Upon seeing the puzzled looks on her generals' faces, the witch simply waved them off. "Oh, don't give me that, you two! Everything is in order now! And if all goes well… neither of those teenage twits will live to see another day!"

…

Everybody was met with life the second they stepped inside.

The Youth Center was unquestionably a popular spot in town since people were enjoying themselves everywhere Ruby looked. Several teens sat by a bar counter where a pudgy man in a tropical shirt served up drinks, enjoying their refreshments while others chatted on nearby tables. A large part of the building was composed of an exercise area complete with exercise machines normally found in gyms such as a bench press and a punching bag a young man was going to town on while his partner coaxed him on. A girl performed a fluid set of acrobatics atop a balance beam while another climbed a nearby rope. Off to the right of the bar were some arcade cabinets with an audience staring at the screens as players worked to beat other competitors or previously set high scores. Upbeat music played from overhead speakers that periodically faded in favor of a local radio station.

Nora whistled in amazement while Yang balked at the high activity. "This place knows how to party!" Blake just nervously glanced around, unused to such a social location. "Let's just find them and get out of here."

"Aw, come on, Blake!" Yang piped up. "You gotta learn how to live a little! Just like the rest of us!" This earned her a saddened look from the ravenette. "But I'm not one of you…"

"Hey…" Ruby whispered. "Cat ears or no cat ears, you're still part of this team. You are one of us, Blake, whether human or Faunus." This brought pause upon the black-clad girl, who didn't have a verbal response to Ruby's statement. Doubt was still present on her face and her eyes darted through the crowd. Ruby had to agree with her on something; she was never one for having too many eyes on her at once. But as far as everyone here knew, they were just normal kids with normal beginnings. None of them were batting an eye at the group as they kept to themselves… which was a start.

Ren finished scanning the area with a frown. "I don't see them anywhere. What now?" Weiss' gaze landed on the counter, eying the man who was in the middle of whipping up another smoothie. "Well, perhaps introductions are in order."

"Introductions?" Ruby echoed, Weiss giving her a comforting stare in response. "If Jason and the others come here often, then they're undoubtedly familiar to the establishment's owner. Perhaps if we identify ourselves as friends…"

"That's not a terrible idea," Ren agreed, earning him a look of surprise from the heiress. "What's that supposed to- ugh, never mind! Just follow me." Weiss strode up to the counter and cleared her throat. "Pardon me, sir, but we require-"

A sudden exclamation of denial rang out from the arcade machines, cutting Weiss off. A group of teens huddled around a player who hung his head in his hands, the words "GAME OVER" flashing on the cabinet's screen. Turning her icy eyes away from the group, Weiss put on her best smile and tried again. "Excuse me, kind-"

There was a yelp from the exercise area and a loud thud, alerting the patrons to the rope-climbing girl who had just fallen on a mat. Stunned from the impact but not seriously injured, the girl took a friend's hand and climbed to her feet, muttering that she was alright. Weiss frowned at the annoyance and made herself presentable before opening her mouth again.

FWEEET! "Yo, barkeep!"

Everybody in the Youth Center paused and rounded their heads towards the newcomers… which caused a chill to run down Ruby's spine. Weiss's blue orbs glared daggers at an all-too-proud Yang, the blonde's fire leaving the heiress' icy stare useless. The silver-eyed girl flashed a smile at the crowd, giving them an awkward wave while Blake took a tiny step back. Behind the counter, the man set aside the smoothie with a smile of his own. "Well, well, well, looks like we got some fresh faces in this joint!"

"Um… hi," Ruby squeaked. "Sorry to bother you."

"Ah, it's no biggie!" the man brushed off her concern. "What can I do for you?"

"OOH! OOH!" Nora shoved her way to the front with an ecstatic grin, nearly barreling over Ruby and Yang. "Which one of your drinks is guaranteed to give you a brain freeze?!" Weiss all but yanked the pink-clad girl aside with another glare. "My apologies, but we're not here for refreshments, Mister…" Her eyes glanced at a nametag. "...Ernie."

"Oh, are you here for a karate class?" He guessed. "Jason's a nice guy, so I wouldn't worry about his teaching methods." Yang chuckled in amusement before resting her elbow against the counter. "We can all handle ourselves just fine- especially yours truly- but it's funny you should mention Jason: we heard he and his buddies hang around here."

Ernie's eyes widened. "You're friends with him? Geez, that kid has quite the posse… enough of this and he'll have the whole town following him." He cleared his throat lest he get too off-topic. "Well, knowing them, they'll be here soon. Why don't I get you something to enjoy in the meantime?"

"I suppose we should appreciate the hospitality," Weiss agreed. "It would be rather rude to decline." The man smiled in her direction. "There ya go! You can't stop by Ernie's Juice Bar without something to beat the California heat! One moment, kids, and I'll show ya the specials!" The bartender resumed his work, allowing the students to have another moment alone.

"Heh…" Ruby giggled to herself. "He kinda looks like a younger Professor Port!"

"As long as he's not as self-centered," sighed Blake. "Or has dozens of long, boring stories up his sleeves."

"Hmm," Yang smirked at the Youth Center's ambiance. "Definitely an improvement over the last place I went to. No armed henchmen, no bodyguard twins, no guy wearing a bear head…"

"It sure is more… lively than what I'm used to," Weiss added, her eyes focused on the people who had gone back to their current activities. Nora gave the girls her signature grin. "Yeah, because what I heard about your old man's parties? Booo-riiing! They could barely even be called parties!"

Ren remained stoic as ever and adjusted his jacket. "This place may be uplifting, but it's still unusual for us. Right now, our priority is finding Jaune and Pyrrha… and after that, a way back home. But to do any of those, we need the Rangers."

"We all agree on that…" Ruby assured him. "Still, it doesn't hurt to have a little downtime." She turned away from the counter to look around the Youth Center. She couldn't think of such a friendly location on Remnant: a place for kids to… well, just be kids. It was a luxury that was rare back home, probably thanks to the ever-present Grimm roaming around. Hence the need for Huntsmen and their training at such a young age. But here- in a world untouched by such evil- the people had a chance to leave worries behind and-

"Order up!"

Ernie was back with six drinks in hand, each of them a different color as he passed them out to the group. "These babies were inspired by our hometown heroes themselves, the Power Rangers! Jason and his pals are big fans of those guys!" Ruby took a sip of her red smoothie- a brief look at the overhead menu called it a "Tyrannosaurus Flex" and perked up upon recognizing the familiar sweetness of strawberries in the concoction.

"I can imagine," Ruby heard Weiss whisper under her breath.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I got your names?" Ernie curiously asked, making Ruby pause. "Oh! Right! Um… Ruby Rose." The man smirked and lifted his eyes to the ceiling. "Ruby Rose… that's got a nice ring to it!"

"Thanks!" she replied with a grin before gesturing to the others. "That's my sister Yang, and these are my friends: Weiss, Blake, Nora, and Ren."

Ernie observed the group with crossed arms. "You all seem like a nice bunch. How'd you end up meeting those guys, anyway?"

Ruby paused, unsure of how to answer that. Weiss, meanwhile, decided to settle with a half-truth. "They visited our school once and we hit it off. We had a lot of good times together." It was an acceptable answer for the bartender, who appreciatively hummed while faint voices came from the entryway. "Good for you, then! So you figured you'd stop by?"

Ren shrugged. "Something like that."

"Well, lemme give you kids some advice," Ernie continued. "You don't get better friends than them, take it from me. And that's what folks your age need the most. Once you find somebody special, you make sure you do everything you can to-" His eyes darted away when something caught his attention: something that made him laugh joyously. "There you are! We were just talking about you guys!"

Ruby turned towards the main entrance just as her friends did…

…to see Jason, Billy, Zack, Trini, Kimberly, and Tommy frozen in shock.

The books Billy was holding dropped to the floor in a cluttered mess, an awkward silence passing over the newcomers. Nora gave them a tiny wave and Kim blinked rapidly at the sight as if she was staring at a ghost. After a tense moment, Zack slowly buried his head in his hands and took a deep loud breath.

"These kids say they're friends of yours and decided to stop by," Ernie explained, his voice snapping Jason out of his trance. "How come you never told me about them?"

The Red Ranger turned white. "F-Friends? Uh… well… um…"

"I-It was a one-time thing," Billy stammered. "Honestly, I didn't think we, uh, left much of an impact."

Ernie chuckled. "This must be quite the surprise for you, then!"

"Yeah… surprise," Zack uttered through a false display of happiness. "Whoopee."

"H-hey, Ernie?" Tommy made his way to the front while fishing out his wallet. "I've got their drinks covered. We're gonna go catch them up." Nobody missed the quick jerk of his head towards the tables and Ruby stood up with the rest of her friends. The silver-eyed girl made her way over to the nearest table… but Yang didn't make it three steps before Trini spun her around so quickly that the blonde almost spilled her shake.

"What are you guys doing here?!" she hissed as quietly as she could. "You… we… I… you weren't… rrrrgh!" The Yellow Ranger looked like she was trying to keep herself from exploding while Kimberly buried her face in her hands. "I knew it. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. I knew that hag would try something!"

"We never get a break…" Zack sighed, planting his face against the table. Jason grabbed a chair from a parallel table and set it down, taking a seat just as everyone else gathered around. He took a calm intake of air and gently released it, focusing his brown eyes on Ruby when he opened them.

"So," he began. "Welcome to Earth."

Ruby chuckled. "As far as other worlds go… not bad."

"Hold on…" Kim noticed, her eyes scanning the group. "Where are Jaune and Pyrrha?" Nora and Ren threw unsure looks her way. "We don't know… but they have to be here somewhere."

Zack's gaze landed on Blake and his eyes glanced at her dark hair, searching for something that was no longer there. "Okay… so now you're a-"

"Yes. And it is very displeasing."

"That's the rules of reality for you," Billy added. "I'm sure you'll adjust in due time." Blake didn't seem too sure about that. "Adjust how? I'm part of a race that's abused mine for centuries!" The Blue Ranger was quick to put a stop to Blake's train of thought. "Well, humans are different here!"
"Sort of," Zack quickly added. "People like me aren't so lucky sometimes."

"Zack, what the heck?!"

Blake's golden eyes widened in shock. "Humans can be racist to other humans?!"

"Angel Grove is a friendly place!" the Black Ranger clarified. "But other places… not so much. Be glad you lost your cat ears instead of having your skin darkened, because if you ended up anywhere else-"

"Uh, what he is trying to say," Billy hurriedly stammered, slapping a hand over Zack's mouth. "Is that you have nothing to worry about! You're normal here, nobody is going to judge you for anything, and that's it!" He gave the ravenette a confident smile, but Blake was still concerned about her condition and sighed while running a hand through her hair.

"If being human is considered 'normal'... then I'd rather be the exception any day." Billy realized that was the wrong thing to say and frantically tried to correct himself even as Weiss put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. Tommy eyed Ren's jacket while Kim tried to piece things together with Nora. "Alright, let me get this straight… when Rita brought us back, she snagged you all up in the process."

"Yeah," Nora responded with a stern look. "And when I see that crazy lady, I'm gonna show her that you can't go around plucking people from their planets and dumping them on another!"

"I can't believe this," Trini groaned while Yang finished off her drink. "First, we end up in your world and now you show up in ours?!" Jason steadily lowered his hand beside Ruby, his eyes darting across the building. "Trini, volume."

"Sorry," came the replying whisper.

"So now we gotta help them get back," Tommy declared. "Just like they did for us. The only problem is… how we're gonna do that."

"Yeah…" Ruby sighed. "It's not like we can go up to an evil tyrant and say 'Hey, do you mind giving these kids a lift home? They stowed away on your… uh, whatever the heck that was." She caught Jason leaning aside before he let out a quiet sigh.

"Speaking of tyrants…"

His friends turned to the main entrance, curious to see what had got his attention… and collectively groaned. Ruby and the others didn't quite get what all the fuss was about. The Youth Center had just received two more guests: a lean, lanky guy with a bandana around his neck and a larger rotund boy with a leather jacket draped over his shirt. The latter stuffed a pair of glasses into the jacket's pocket the second Ernie noticed the duo… and also sighed.

"Not you two again…"

Kim rolled her eyes before whispering to the girls while the new arrivals spoke some promising, confident words to the bartender. "Brace yourself, ladies. Here come Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum." A puzzled Ruby blinked at the Pink Ranger before Zack leaned in to clarify. "That's Farkas Bulkmeier and Eugene Skullovitch, our resident bullies. Or as we call them-"

"Look at this, Skull!" barked the rotund guy as the duo approached the table. "We got some new members in the loser's club!" Tommy visibly rolled his eyes while the lean dude snickered. "Hey, Bulk. Don't be too hard on them, please, they're from out of town."

"Oooh, tourists!" Skull cheered. "Why didn't ya say so?! C'mon, Bulk, let's give 'em a little sightseeing!"

"I don't see why not," his partner chuckled. "They can see the park, the school, the city hall-"

"What about the library?"

SLAP! Bulk smacked his partner upside the head. "Of course not, you numbskull! What kinda moron would show them nerd central?!" Skull rubbed the back of his namesake with an apologetic glance. "You're right, stupid idea."

Blake leaned over to Zack. "Are they always like this?" The Black Ranger's only answer was a short nod before Ruby cleared her throat. "Uh, that's… a really nice proposal, but we're fine with these people showing us around."

"HAHAHAHA!" Skull erupted in high-pitched laughter… before pausing at the group's deadpanned faces. "Wait… you're not serious, are you?"

"Yeah," scowled Bulk. "A bunch of newbies hanging around dweebs like them? You're off to a bad start in this town… especially you," He shot a flirtatious look in Yang's direction. "Now your new pal Bulkie? He can give you a tour better than anything those losers can do… with a few extra stops to his favorite spots in town."

Weiss balked, her eyes turning to Billy. "Is that brute doing what I think he's doing?!" she whispered. The Blue Ranger hummed in confirmation while Yang opened her mouth to retort… but paused, her face scrunching in thought before a teasing smirk crossed her features. Shooting a quick wink at her confused sister, the blonde stood up from the table.

"Y'know what, big boy? I'm quite familiar with these guys… but I want to know a little more about the people of Angel Grove, starting with you." She would commit the expression on his face to memory; he appeared startled that his tactic worked and the tiny grin upon its success. "Oh yeah? By the end of the day, blondie, you're gonna know everything you need to know about the Bulkmeister!"

"Well, here's one thing I know," Yang said cheekily. "You're called that because you don't hit the gym, right?"

Bulk's smile dropped like a stone, Skull trying to hold in laughter beside him. "Heh! Gotcha there!" He snickered, poking his elbow into the larger boy's arm. Without even turning to look at his sidekick while frowning in disappointment, Bulk shoved Skull away and marched over to the Youth Center's exercise area.

"The exact opposite, Goldilocks! Just watch!" Approaching a bench press and lying down, he peeked over to his partner and gestured him forward. "Spot me, Skull!" The lean teen hurried into position, glancing at the weights below. "Uh, how heavy-"

"All of it!"

Skull gulped. "Uh… all of it?"

"You heard me. Now move it!" Skull set to work picking up weights on placing them on the bar while Zack had a knowing smirk on his face. "Oh, this is gonna be good…"

Yang, meanwhile, had an epiphany. "Goldilocks…" She glanced at her yellow mane for a moment until she donned a bright smile. "I like that! Why doesn't anybody call me that more often? Hey, maybe you guys should-"

"No," Trini quickly shook her head with a cringing face. "No, w-we are not calling you that."

"What? Why not?"

"Just… no, okay?"

"Aw!"

The teens turned back to Bulk and Skull, the latter slipping on the last weight. "It's not too late to back out…" Skull began nervously as he positioned himself behind his partner, but Bulk didn't let him finish. "Shut up and spot me!" Skull steeled himself and allowed his friend to begin, Bulk grabbing the bar and heaving with all his might.

"Mmmph! Rrrrrgh! Hnnnngh!" The heavy length barely moved until it was raised by a mere few centimeters. Skull cheered Bulk on, urging him to go higher… until the bar dropped and pressed against his torso. Bulk wheezed as the air was knocked out of his lungs, straining to lift the heavy bar again. Seeing his friend was in trouble, Skull grabbed the bar and pulled hard… but their combined efforts barely did a thing.

"Hang on, buddy!" Skull yelled, rushing to get a better grip from the side and yanking on the bar like a lever. The length finally moved… but tilted to the left and sent all the weights on that end clattering to the floor.

…including Skull's foot.

"OOOWWWWW!" He yelped, hopping backward on one foot while clutching his injured leg. "OW, OW, OWOWOW!" The lean teen was so wrapped up in his injury he didn't notice where he was going until tripped on a backpack and fell to the floor. His arm flew out at the last second and smacked a tray lying on a table, sending three milkshakes flying. Bulk finally sat up and gasped for air, grateful to have the heavy bar off…

…until he noticed the flying drinks.

SPLAT!

Everybody burst out into laughter- Blake and Ren's mouths lifting in tiny grins- at the sight of Bulk's face covered in milkshake. Even Skull joined in once he noticed, ignoring the pain in his foot to guffaw at his friend's humiliation. He only shut up when an angry Bulk threw an empty cup at him, knocking him to the floor before spitting out the amount of milkshake that had gotten in his mouth. He proceeded to storm out of the building, grabbing Skull by the ear and painfully tugging him out with him.

"What I would do to see something like that happen to Cardin and his accomplices!" Nora howled, pounding the table with her fist. Kim's bright smile never came close to fading. "You think that was funny?! You should've been there for their video project!"

"Or when they made up that stupid martial art!" Trini chuckled. "I mean, Cockroach Kung Fu?! How lame can you get?!" Jason smirked while clasping Ruby's shoulder. "Those two can be real jerks sometimes, but they're class clowns as much as they are bullies. Our principal, Mister Caplan, absolutely hates them."

"They have a point about one thing, though," Billy spoke up as the laughter died down. "Showing you around the city sounds like a good idea! Fair warning: our school is very different from yours."

"Unless you also have to cram for exams or have buttloads of homework," Zack added. "Then the only difference is that we don't learn to fight monsters or spend entire school years in four-person teams." Ruby and her friends all agreed to stretch their legs, but the opportunity to see a city from another world was only a minor distraction in the silver-eyed girl's mind. Having to find both their missing friends and figure out a way to get home remained their priorities… but talking about that in a crowded place like the Youth Center wasn't the smartest move.

"Well, gang, what are we waiting for?!" Ruby declared, springing from her seat. "The least we can do is see what this world has to offer before leaving!"

…

Hours passed, the sights of the city leaving impressions on the Remnantians. Ren enjoyed the tranquility of the park and savored the chance to stop and rest. Blake grew fond of the library and would've spent days pouring over the fascinating stories she saw- one title telling of a dystopian civilization with something called "Big Brother"- if Billy and Zack didn't drag her out. Ruby and Yang were fond of the arcade, the two sisters going head-to-head against Jason and Tommy… although Ruby felt like one of the games was a ripoff of Road Brawler, earning her a seemingly offended look from Trini when she said as such. Ruby thought she heard the Yellow Ranger whisper something to Zack about whether they were certain if "they" were the ripoffs, but she dismissed it as the building's music messing up the words.

Weiss and Nora were just as enamored with the local mall, Kimberly's descriptions doing it justice. The former carefully examined the various clothing articles she saw on display- constantly debating if she wanted to trade out her current look- while the latter ended up gorging herself on the food court's pancakes. That incident led to a hasty escape when the owner chased them all out, which in turn led to some laughs between the teens.

Now, the teens roamed through the streets of Angel Grove in the middle of their latest conversation. The memories of their tour still hung high over their heads, but the Remnantians' presence meant their words had to inevitably move to more serious topics. That was what Ruby found herself in the middle of now, listening to Tommy give his best explanation for the situation.

"During our stay on Remnant, Rita grew to hate you as much as she does us. I'm willing to bet she wants to go back to your world and conquer it once she's finished with this one. And to do that, she needs its greatest defenders out of the way."

"Greatest defenders?" Yang echoed. "Aw, I'm touched, dragon boy!"

"She'd need to deal with the other Huntsmen, too," Blake pointed out. "I mean, we make sense. We gave her the most trouble out of everyone when you guys couldn't."

"Does she want to take us all out at once?" Zack asked, but Billy shot him down. "No, she would've done that already if she wanted to." Weiss was having similar thoughts. "I agree. You did say she's not one to lie around. The lack of activity on her part is concerning."

"I have a theory for that," Ren butted in. "If Rita hasn't done anything… maybe that's because she doesn't know we're here," Everybody turned to him curiously, with Trini stepping forward. "What do you mean?"

"Whatever it was that brought us here," Ren explained. "That was meant only to return Rita, her minions, and the Rangers back here. My best guess is that we got swept up as a result. Caught in the crossfire." His guess made Jason pause. "So… you're saying Rita didn't intend to bring you here?"

"But that crazy witch always has something up her sleeve!" Kimberly objected, placing her hands on her hips. "She wouldn't just have things go back to normal just like that!" She snapped her fingers for emphasis. Yang tapped her foot with a hand on her chin. "Given what you said about her, Rita's a schemer. Everything she does has a purpose in her favor, to give her a chance at beating you. But… if she didn't mean to bring us to Earth…"

"...then what did she want to bring?" finished Ruby. The Rangers were deep in thought for possible suggestions…

"AAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIEEEE!"

An ear-piercing scream sliced through the air, shattering the tranquil peace of Angel Grove. Everybody spun in that direction with shock on their faces, and the first thing they saw were citizens running and screaming in a panic. Cars screeched to a halt just as a vehicle came flying out through an intersection and smashed against the sidewalk.

"Come on!" Jason cried, leading the teens into a sprint down the street. Running towards the mysterious danger everyone else was fleeing from, everybody rounded the corner where sheer chaos awaited them. Cars were overturned, people scrambled to get away, and damaged hydrants spewed water into the sky. A truck lying on its side blocked the road up ahead, its driver still and unmoving. Jason and Ruby immediately moved forward to help the man, but stopped short the instant something rose from behind the vehicle…

…a murky black hand with bone-white claws.

A deep, guttural growl arose from behind the vehicle as a skull-faced monster raised its head, fangs exposed and an evil crimson orb burning into the street. A second arm dug into the truck's trailer and its blackened form rose to a full stand, its very presence sending a chill down the spines of onlookers.

RRAAAAAWWWWR! The Beowolf bellowed with an unholy rage, sending the people into a screaming panic. Various growls, roars, and howls belonging only to demons and devils responded as darkness fell on Angel Grove. Police officers unloaded their sidearms on something only for a Boarbatusk to come crashing through the barricade, sending people and cars flying in all directions. A lone Goliath rumbled down the street as smaller monsters charged ahead, lunging at people who sought shelter indoors. A Sabyr overturned a car and pounced atop with a feral growl while a Griffon perched on a rooftop and shrieked into the sky.

Two out-of-control cars crashed into each other before another Beowolf smashed right through them, the first leaping down from the truck and savagely eying the teens ahead of them. Both beasts snarled and broke into a heavy charge, closing in on the humans at insane speeds. Jason quickly hurried into action. "Run! RUN! INTO THE ALLEY, GO!" Everyone bolted for the small passageway with the Beowolves hot on their heels, the predators getting dangerously close.

Jason shoved a dumpster to block off the alley, slamming one Beowolf's face against the wall and earning a yelp of pain from the Grimm. Its partner simply leaped on top of the dumpster and roared at the screaming kids. Zack promptly silenced that monster by throwing a trash can at its head, leaving it open for Tommy to down the monster with a jumping kick. "AH-YAH!" he cried, sending the monster to the street where it scurried away in search of easier victims.

The teens caught their breath as the chaos unfurled all around them. Screams, sirens, roars, crackling fires, and distant screeches filled the once-tranquil atmosphere of Angel Grove. "Grimm…" Kimberly whispered in horror. "Rita brought the freaking Grimm here!"

"She must've summoned every Grimm on the island!" Billy added, listening closely to the haunting noises and glimpsing the dark shapes that darted past their hiding spot. Trini gave a small, reassuring grin. "Well… look on the bright side! If we didn't eliminate that huge horde, there'd be a lot more of those things. There would've even been those big-"

"Trini," Kimberly cut her off with a disturbed face. "Do not finish that sentence."

Jason and Ruby peered out onto the street, which flashed with red and blue lights as police cars swerved into position to cover the fleeing civilians. An officer ushered a woman and her child away before a large van that bore the letters "SWAT" roared down the road and screeched to a halt.

Doors flew open and armed men stormed out. "Go, go, go! Move it! Secure a perimeter!" The squad formed a line behind the police cars, training their weapons on the monster horde. "FIRE!" A thunderous storm of bullets erupted from their rifles, smacking into the Grimm and downing only a few numbers. With bullets bouncing off bony armor, a Beowolf roared and charged for the humans with its brethren right behind it. The SWAT team and police officers went wide-eyed in horror as the beasts descended on them.

"HOLY-GAAAAH!" The lead soldier was snagged by a bony claw and tossed aside like a ragdoll. The Grimm tore through the local law enforcement like they were nothing: an Ursa smashed a police car that let out a dying wail and a Boarbatusk sent a SWAT member sailing into a pole that he hit with a loud crunch. A man who was pouring all his ammo into the horde got bodied by a Beowolf while a Griffon swooped down to grab another, carrying his screaming body into the sky.

"What the hell are these things?!"

"Backup! We need-AAAAAAH!"

"GET BACK! GET BACK, YOU FREAKS OF-AAAGH!"

"All units, fall back! FALL BACK NOW!"

Unable to look at the grisly sight anymore, Ruby shrank back with a shaky breath. These monsters were from her world, they had no right to terrorize another. But yet, here they were; doing what it was their dark and cruel nature to do. And this world was completely unprepared for them. If Angel Grove fell, the Grimm would move on to the rest of the world… and kill a different humanity.

"We need to do something!" she pleaded. The silver-eyed girl was met with a serious look from Jason. "Yeah, you're right… but Ruby, you need to listen to me very carefully."

She was already at the height of her attention. "What do you need me to do?"

"I need you and your friends to stay here. If you can't, find somewhere safe."

"Wh-WHAT?!" Yang spat in shock, the rest of the Remnantians just as stunned. "N-No! You can't just throw us aside like that! Didn't we just go over this?!"

"You're not alone in this fight!" Blake added… only to be met with a sorrowful Zack hanging his head. "Guys… you have to remember where you are."

"We don't like this as much as you do," Trini said sadly. "But you have to stay out of this. Just this once. This is something we need to deal with."

"I'm sorry…" Kimberly sympathized. "I wish there was some way for you to help us… but here… you're not who you once were." She cast her eyes on Blake. "And I don't mean no cat ears."

"But… but…" Ruby squeaked, her saddened face one that tore Jason from the inside with a sigh. "For what it's worth, Ruby… if there was some way- any way- for you and your friends to help us, we would have taken it. But there aren't any people like you here… not by a long shot."

He rose to a stand and his friends gathered beside him, trustworthy faces trained on the Remnantians. "But in the meantime… let's show you how the defenders of Earth deal with monster invasions!" Pride filled his features as he turned to his friends. "Vacation time's over, guys! Who's ready to go back to work?"

To his left, Trini and Kimberly nodded. To his right, Billy and Zack had knowing smiles. And standing by his side, Tommy placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. Team RWBY, Nora, and Ren all looked on at the Earthlings… and their leader's eyes flashed with bravery.

"Alright then… IT'S MORPHIN' TIME!"

The Power Morphers were out in a flash and the teens held them outward…

"DRAGONZORD!"

"MASTODON!"

"PTERODACTYL!"

"TRICERATOPS!"

"SABER-TOOTHED TIGER!"

"TYRANNOSAURUS!"

Unlike what Ruby had seen from them before where they had done absolutely nothing, the devices burst open with a surge of colored light that was so intense she and her friends flinched away from the spectacular blast. The light burned behind her eyes and the disoriented Ruby groaned before rubbing her face. What happened to the-

"GO GO POWER RANGERS!"

Everybody balked in shock when they saw what had happened to the other teens. Each of them now wore a colored suit with a white diamond pattern, boots, and gloves. Their helmets were styled after their respective creature and had a metal mouthpiece while Kimberly wore a flowing pink skirt. Tommy's shoulders were decorated in gold pauldrons and everybody's morphers were displayed proudly on white belts, the Power Coins within gleaming.

"Oh my…" Trini gasped, her gloved hands clutching her helmet. "It worked!"

"Affirmative!" Billy complied, clenching his fists. "Our connection to the Morphin Grid has been reestablished!"

"Woo!" cheered Zack. "It feels so good to be back! I've missed this!"

"You and I both, buddy!" Kimberly echoed.

"Likewise!" Tommy joined in, pounding a fist in his palm. "How about we show those Grimm they picked the wrong city to mess with?"

"Yeah!" Jason finished. "Let's give our guests the old Angel Grove welcome!" The Rangers raised their hands to the sky… and vanished in prismatic streams of light that struck them like lightning. Small traces of colored electricity remained where they once stood, leaving the Remnantians stunned.

"Are you telling me…" Weiss finally uttered. "That those people fight monsters… in spandex?!"

"They looked more like pajamas to me," commented Nora.

"How do they see anything through those helmets?" Blake pondered.

"Do they have their normal clothes underneath those suits?" Ren murmured.

Only Ruby and Yang took no part in their friends' gossip, silver and lilac eyes trained on the street as Yang pushed the dumpster aside. Colored beams struck the road, drawing the attention of every Grimm in the vicinity. Cowering civilians rounded on the pillars of light… which faded to reveal the Power Rangers ready for action.

"It's the Rangers!" somebody shouted. "We're saved!"

The bystanders burst into cheers while the Grimm viciously snarled, focused on the multicolored heroes like predators surrounding their newest prey. The heroes didn't give the smallest glimpse of fear before Jason's voice rang out. "Somebody call the exterminators?!"

"Everybody get somewhere safe!" Kimberly announced. "We'll take care of the monsters!"

"Black is my thing, creeps!" Zack bellowed. "Didn't anybody tell you plagiarism isn't cool?!"

ROOOAAARRR! The monsters screeched and converged on the teenagers with attitude, who struck ready poses with a unified cry. "Alright, Power Rangers! Let's do it! AH-YAAAAAH!"

"HEE-YAAAAAH!" With a tremendous battle cry, the Rangers individually flipped through the air and landed to meet the Grimm in close-quarters combat. Jason grabbed a Beowolf's swiping claw and punched it in the face before throwing it to the street. Another Beowolf rushed at the Red Ranger, but its prey weaved away from swipes and bombarded its torso with flying fists, the final hit sending it sailing back a few feet. "You like that, Fido?!"

Billy somersaulted away from a charging Boarbatusk and spin-kicked a Creep in the face, knocking it off-balance. Two Beowolves rushed him from opposite sides, but the Blue Ranger downed them both with a jumping split-kick. "Hee-ah! Down, boy!" Both Grimm failed to heed his command and lunged again with feral ferocity. Billy simply rolled away, allowing the two Beowolves to collide with each other in midair and collapse in a daze. "Good dogs! Now stay!"

"HRAAAH!" Zack drop-kicked a charging Beringel and spun away from a swooping Griffon, turning his attention to a lumbering Creep whose mouth was open wide. Snapping it shut with an uppercut to the jaw, the Black Ranger bounded off a wall and kicked the Grimm across the face, causing its mass to collapse onto the road. A shriek told him the Griffon was coming back and he dropped into a split, causing the flying Grimm to close its talons around nothing and careen headfirst into a wall. As bricks piled around its form, Zack spun back to his feet and laughed. "I wonder if you take flier's ed!"

"Hup! HAI! YAH!" Trini backflipped away from several Grimm until she noticed a Sabyr sprinting right for her. The Yellow Ranger flipped over the Grimm's back and planted a heel in its nap, causing the feline monster to eat asphalt. Once it got back up with a vicious snarl, Trini simply struck a pose and gestured for the Sabyr to come at her. It obliged easily and charged again… only for Trini to grab it by the fangs, rip them out with insane strength, and stab it through the eyes.

Wrestling with a Griffon in mid-flight, Kimberly pried open the talon that held her captive and leaped atop the Grimm's back. After dodging the monster's snapping beak, the Pink Ranger seized its wings and pulled, forcefully steering the Griffon into another flying Grimm and knocking them both out of the sky. Kimberly landed with a graceful pose… while the Griffons landed on their heads.

"HAI! AI-YAAAH!" Tommy knocked away a Beowolf with a double-fisted punch and landed a high kick hard enough to snap another's neck. A growling Ursa approached the Green Ranger and slammed a forelimb down only for Tommy to dodge, leap atop the arm, and land a spinning kick across its jaw that broke off a few teeth. Once the bear-like beast was down, a swift ax kick to the neck finished it off.

Each of the six Power Rangers fought fiercely against the Grimm, a single one of them able to beat back a small group of Grimm easily. But there were only six of them and an entire horde of Grimm. Team RWBY and their friends didn't know much about how the Rangers' powers worked… but if it was anything like Aura, it had to be finite. No matter how hard or how long they fought, they couldn't keep things up forever at the rate they were going.

"I am not going to just sit around and wait for things to get better," Yang growled, marching out of the alley just as a Beowolf crashed onto the road a few feet away. Setting her violet eyes on that Grimm, the blonde clenched her fists with a stern expression. The rest of the Remnantians stoically moved to follow their friend. Ruby took up the rear, jumped out of the alley…

"GYEH!"

…and fell flat on her face.

A small groan left Ruby's mouth as she lifted herself off the street, shaking her dizzy head. Curious as to what had just happened, Ruby asked herself why her Semblance didn't kick in. She climbed to her feet to make up for the botched attempt, summoning her Aura forth…

…but she felt nothing.

Ruby stared at her hand, horror filling her silver eyes. "...what?"

The Beowolf snarled at Yang, who cracked her knuckles and charged forward with a battle cry. Sliding under a swipe, the blonde hammered at the Grimm's chest, punching as fast as she could against the murky black torso…

…but she didn't even make a dent until her arms slowed down and she doubled over in exhaustion. Yang didn't understand: how could she be so tired so quickly? The Grimm snarled above her, drawing the blonde's attention to an arm ready to swing. Yang gasped and raised her arms to block… but instead of remaining firm against the road, the strike sent her flying into some empty trash cans.

"YANG!" Blake shouted, realizing too late the Beowolf was on her. Panic flared through her body and she tried to summon a clone… only for nothing to happen! The black-haired girl yelped as the bony claw seized her midsection and slammed her hard against the street. The asphalt cracked beneath her and she cried out in pain… with no Aura flaring up.

Weiss thought fast and threw a hand at the Beowolf, only to discover no Glyph had appeared under the beast that was leaning in to take a bite out of Blake. No matter how many times she thrust her arms out, nothing appeared and she was left staring at her arms in shock. "Wh-why can't I-?"

"YAH!" Nora bashed the Beowolf over the head with a metal pipe, making the Grimm whirl on her with barely a scratch. A claw swiped at the pink-clad girl… and she was left with only half of her makeshift weapon. Worry flashed across her face before Ren tackled her to the ground, saving her from the Grimm's deadly jaws. The beast turned to a terrified Ruby next, lunging at the panicked girl with a savage howl…

"HI-YAAAAH!" Red and yellow blurs smacked into the Beowolf, who landed face-first into the street. Blake hurried over to Yang, who groaned as she sat up… before hissing in pain and clutching her arm. Ruby turned her eyes to Jason and Trini, whose helmets faded away to reveal worried and fearful faces.

"Ruby… guys, for your own sakes, you need to stay out of this!" Trini desperately begged. "Don't you all understand?! This isn't Remnant! Back there, we couldn't morph!" Ruby quickly understood what she meant, the pieces slowly coming together. "You… you couldn't morph because you weren't on Earth. And now that we're here…"

Everyone else figured it out at the same time, Weiss' eyes alight. "We lost our weapons… Blake lost her ears…"

"And…" Ren solemnly finished. "We lost our Aura. And without our Auras…"

"We… don't have our Semblances?" Yang whispered, horrified. Jason slowly nodded with a saddened expression. "Exactly. You're powerless here. It's not that we don't want you to fight the Grimm: you can't fight them here. It's impossible."

"You were born with your powers," Trini added. "Or the stuff that gives you them, anyway. But people here have nothing. The only superpowers they know exist only in comic books, TV shows, and movies. We're powerless all the time, too… except when we morph."

"Which we can only do with devices given to us by our mentor," Jason said. "The power that we have chose us because we were worthy enough to have it. If everybody on the planet had it… it would be too much. Because the people on Earth aren't as brave like the people on Remnant. Sometimes… they're worse. And that's why they're not worthy."

None of the Remnantians could respond, their shocked eyes and open mouths meeting the two Rangers' pitying expressions. Jason looked back at Ruby like an older brother. "I know you don't want to just hang back and others do the fighting for you. We pushed you away before because we thought you and your friends were unqualified to deal with what we had to do. But now… we're going to have to again. Because that's what you've been reduced to."

"We're so sorry, guys…" Trini whispered with a tear in her eye. "But this isn't your fight anymore."

Right on cue, an echoing howl rang out and Ruby rounded to see more Grimm on the horizon; the rest of the Rangers bracing for contact. Jason and Trini begrudgingly turned away from the other teens, their helmets reappearing before they broke into a charge toward their friends. The Remnantians stood alone in the street before slowly returning to the alley, disheartened and demoralized expressions on each of their faces. Ruby felt like she had heard a story with a sad ending instead of a happy one, unable to do anything but wallow in defeat and uselessness. She and Weiss shared a sorrowful glance, blue eyes meeting silver. The heiress opened her mouth, likely in an attempt to improve their situation…

THWACK! The sound of Yang's fist hitting a wall snapped Ruby out of it. Her sister was trying to hide her face and fought back a sob, her eyes squeezed shut in either sadness or a poor attempt to conceal pain from the hard strike. It hurt Ruby to see Yang like this: the strongest person she had ever known in her life reduced to… this.

"I. Hate this," Her sister's voice was unrecognizable and on the verge of breaking. "I… I can't just…" She sniffled before she could finish, falling to her knees in front of the wall. Nora was equally distraught, examining her own muscles with a conflicted expression while Ren consoled her. Blake nervously approached the blonde, unsure of what to do about Yang's current state as the blonde slowly broke apart and slumped to her knees. Blake carefully kneeled to be at her level, lending a calm ear when Yang spoke in a whisper.

"I… I can't do nothing… I-I always… I'm always the strong one… what am I supposed to be without that?" The raven-haired girl thought for a moment before she gently placed a hand on Yang's shoulder and gave a quiet reply. "None of us like this, Yang. We all lost a part of ourselves when we got here. I'm… still wondering who- what- I'm supposed to be since I'm not a Faunus," That phrase felt alien on her tongue. "But we're not where we belong. For once… the Rangers are right."

"But we weren't trained to just stand around and do nothing," Weiss objected. "It would be a total waste! My father would disapprove of all this idleness…"

"Without our Aura and Semblances, who are we?" Ren mumbled. "Do we even have souls here?" A grave sigh left his throat. "I've officially changed my mind. I hate Earth." Nora visibly seethed beside him and growled into the air. "Rrrgh! Stuck on the sidelines while somebody else has to take over! This is the worst feeling in the world."

"This shouldn't be happening," Ruby spoke, her voice serious and stern. Everybody looked at the girl whose face was locked in determination. "The Grimm are from our world. They're our problem and we can't do a thing about it. It defeats the entire purpose of being a Huntsman or a Huntress. They are sworn to protect humanity by any means necessary… and if we can't do that the traditional way, then we'll find another way."

Yang watched her sister with wide eyes. "Ruby…" The brunette didn't hesitate to answer honestly. "Right now… I don't know how we do that. But we need a solution soon."

"Ruby…" Blake muttered. "Why are you…"

"Because I believe that the smallest chance of victory is enough of a reason to keep fighting!" Ruby spoke up. "Just like Jason said! Whatever it takes, we'll find a way to defeat the Grimm, save this world, and-"

"RUBY!" Weiss suddenly screamed in annoyance, puzzling the silver-eyed girl. "What the heck, Weiss?! I had a thing going and ev-" That's when she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Ruby glanced at her hand…

…and saw that her entire body was aglow with an ethereal red light.

And it wasn't just her. Everybody else was starting to glow, too. Almost like ghosts. Weiss had donned a shimmering blue aura, Yang was glowing a bright yellow as if she was the sun itself, a purple glow enveloped Blake, a pink cloud surrounded a confused Nora, and a gentle green surrounded Ren. Everybody stared at themselves and each other as tiny sparks of lightning flickered off their forms.

Yang's eyes flashed nervously. "Uh… wh-what's happening to-"

The world was gone.

Colors. Lights. Swirls. Patterns. Ruby's mind was moving faster than the speed of light. She couldn't feel her body anymore, but this feeling was different from her Petal Burst. Whatever this was, it was… something else. Something she couldn't place. Faster and faster she flew, transcending everything known to mankind…

…until her face hit the ground for the second time that day.

"...us…" came the drowsy voice of her sister. "Ugh…"

"Oh no…" Nora groaned from nearby. "I think those pancakes are coming back… urp…!"

A cacophony of groans told Ruby the world was back to normal… and her head was spinning. Her blurry vision didn't help at all, but she could hear things loud and clear. The sounds of her woozy teammates and friends told her they were all here, but there was a new unfamiliar voice.

"Hooray! It worked!" a high-pitched exclamation rang out. "Oh, I do hope they're alright. Teleportation can be very disorienting for first-timers…" Ruby caught a faint glimpse of somebody walking up to her. "Um, excuse me, ma'am? Can you hear me?"

"Wh… what…" Ruby groaned, her sight slowly returning. Judging by the groans, the others were awakening as well. Weiss was the first one she heard properly. "Urgh… Ruby… what just-GAH!" Her sudden yelp of surprise jolted Ruby back to full consciousness just in time for her to see a wave of yellow rush in front of her. "Hey! Whoa! Back away from my sister, you-"

"Wait, wait, wait!" stammered the voice. "Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi! I mean you no harm! I swear on my circuit boards!" Ruby rose to her feet and pushed a protective Yang aside, revealing the source of the voice: a strange figure in blue, red, and gold armor plating. Its chest plate bore a yellow lightning bolt and it had a strange saucer-like shape for a head that was flashing with a red light. Everybody else noticed the figure with baffled expressions, with Nora leaning over to inspect it.

"What the heck is that? A costume? Looks cheap…"

"That has to be the weirdest helmet ever," Yang commented. "How do you take that thing off?"

"Oh… oh dear," the figure whimpered, taking a cautious step back before composing himself. "Um, greetings, otherworlders! Please do not be alarmed! You are safe here!" He placed a hand over his chest plate. "My name is Alpha Five, and I am a fully sentient, multi-functional automaton! We have been expecting you!"

Ren glanced around. "Where have you brought us? What is this place?"

"And how do you send us back?" Blake begged. "We have friends in the city who need us!"

"Wait…" Ruby realized, staring at the machine with confused eyes. "Who is 'we'?"

"Someone who has eagerly anticipated your arrival."

This voice was the exact opposite of the squeaky, high-pitched tone of the so-called automaton. It had a calm yet booming presence that seemed to fill the entire chamber… and it was directly behind the stunned teens. Ruby gulped, unsure of how to proceed. Slowly and cautiously, the silver-eyed girl turned around… and her glinting eyes took in the sight of a low circular podium big enough for a small group, beeping consoles with blinking lights, a pink-orange crystal on one such console, and several pylons scattered about the room. Ruby couldn't see any walls, only blackness that was covered in white dots to resemble a starry night sky. But what caught the attention of Ruby and her friends the most were two things: the first was an object resembling a crystal ball.

The second was an enormous tube that depicted a giant blue face in a column of light.

Weiss looked pale in the face. "I… I think I'm about to pass out."

"Welcome, young humans," said the head. "I apologize for how overwhelming your current situation may appear, and I wish we would have met under less abrupt circumstances. I am Zordon of Eltar, mentor of the Power Rangers. This is the Command Center: our base of operations. And as you are well aware, this planet is under attack from a force not even I could have suspected."

"Um…" Yang's eyes darted around the tube. "Okay, are we sure you're not just some dude behind a curtain or something?"

"What you see before you is merely a projection, Yang Xiao Long. Sadly, my true form was banished into a time warp thousands of years ago by Rita Repulsa, whom you all know very well."

Blake was taken aback. "You… you know who we are?"

"Indeed I do, Blake Belladonna. I was investigating a pulse of dimensional energy when I discovered your presence in this world. At first, I was skeptical… until I discovered the bond between you and my champions."

Weiss blinked. "You've been watching us this whole time?"

"Yes, we have!" Alpha answered eagerly. "You arrived at the same time the Power Rangers returned to Earth, so Zordon and I investigated right away!"

"Your story is certainly a long one," Zordon spoke calmingly. "No doubt you aided the Rangers in returning to this planet, leaving them grateful for your efforts. And for that, I am grateful, and I thank you all for bringing them back safely."

"Woo… I'm being thanked by a big, blue head," Nora breathed. "What a day this has been."

"But we all know we're not the only ones here," Ren continued. "Rita brought a great and terrible danger from our world to this one: the Grimm, creatures of darkness and destruction."

"Oooh…" Alpha shivered. "Those monsters look far worse than anything Rita's terrible mind could conjure."

"And more of our friends are here somewhere," Ruby added. "If you've been watching us, maybe you know where they are?"

"I wish I could aid you in this endeavor, my dear," Zordon replied. "But as of this moment, I have detected no further extra-dimensional disturbances. However, Alpha and I will remain vigilant. Your presence here is proof that they will appear eventually… or perhaps on another planet throughout this universe."

Nora sighed. "So… they're not here?"

"Yet," Ren corrected with hope in his voice.

"The Grimm won't stop at Angel Grove," Ruby reported, returning the conversation to more pressing matters. "The Rangers are fighting them right now, but even they can hold out for so long. Once the Grimm destroy this city, they'll move on to others… and eventually, they'll kill everything on Earth."

"I agree, Ruby Rose. After all… that is your purpose, is it not? The Grimm hail from your world, which makes them your responsibility."

Ruby blinked, stunned. "I… how do you…"

"Observe the Viewing Globe behind you," Zordon patiently instructed. The team turned around to the crystal ball and gathered around it, watching the orb swirl until an image formed: an image of the six Power Rangers duking it out against the Grimm. A Beowolf hurled a car at Jason and the Red Ranger expertly caught the vehicle before safely setting it down. Whipping out a sidearm from his holster, Jason fired red lasers at the beast and advanced towards it. "Eat Blade Blaster, wolfy!" Once he got close enough, the Red Ranger summoned his Power Sword and engaged the Beowolf with slashes and blaster shots. After cutting the Beowolf across the gut, Jason leaped over an arm and shot the Grimm directly in the eye, earning a screech of pain from the beast.

Billy used his Power Lance to fling Zack towards a Goliath, the Black Ranger plowing a fist into its face hard enough to shatter the bony armor. The elephantine Grimm howled and collapsed with a loud thud, disintegrating into nothing while Zack shook black ichor off his fist. An Ursa lumbered towards Zack, who drew his Power Axe to meet it.

"My champions fight admirably against these fearsome foes," Zordon stated while everyone watched Kim and Trini face off against a horde of Sabyrs and Griffons. The Pink Ranger had her Power Bow in hand and fired shot after shot at the Grimm. The Yellow Ranger dashed through the pack and sliced with her Power Daggers, cutting open throats and severing limbs. "As they have done for this planet several times."

Tommy vanquished any Grimm that approached him easily, slashing with his Dragon Dagger and using his bare limbs to beat back those that got too close. "But never before have they faced such consuming and overwhelming numbers. They possess a power never seen before… but the enemy- the Grimm- is restless and relentless." The Green Ranger reduced the last of the Grimm to dust only to notice an incoming flock of Griffons coming his way. "They have sent you away for your safety… but to cower and hide is not your purpose. You, Ruby Rose, have spoken such words yourself."

The image in the Viewing Globe shifted to the determined Ruby in the alley and she heard her own voice. "The Grimm are from our world. They're our problem and we can't do a thing about it. It defeats the entire purpose of being a Huntsman or a Huntress. They are sworn to protect humanity by any means necessary… and if we can't do that the traditional way, then we'll find another way."

Ruby grew slightly embarrassed at the way she remained oblivious to the red glow slowly radiating off her body, even after her friends tried to inform her of the event. "No truer words have ever been spoken, Ruby Rose. You have been stripped of your powers yet remain determined to fight this enemy. For that… I am impressed. And because of your adversity in the face of such evil, I have brought you here."

Ruby was curious. "For what?"

"To bring you the solution you seek," Zordon replied. "Ruby Rose. Weiss Schnee. Blake Belladonna. Yang Xiao Long. Nora Valkyrie. Lie Ren. The six of you have aided my chosen champions- the prime examples of the heroism within youth on this planet- through troubling times in an alien, unfamiliar world. Now, you wish to aid them still. I can think of no other way to thank you for your efforts, both past and present. I bestow upon you the highest honor within my power."

The face turned to the robot. "Alpha Five… open the Morphin Grid."

"Right away, Zordon!" he chirped, setting to work on one of the consoles. While he did so, the teens comprehended the sage's command… and Yang's face was the first to light up in awe. "No… he's not… is he?"

"He wouldn't…" Weiss murmured, but her face was shrouded in doubt. "Would he?" Ren was stunned into silence, but Nora was more active than him. "Wait, wait, waitwaitwait. Is he seriously doing what I think he's doing? Somebody pinch me. No! Punch me! Yang! Right in the face!"

"This is…" Blake whispered. "I… can we… we can't just… right?"

Ruby didn't know what to say as she turned back to Zordon. "You… you want to make us…"

"That is correct, my dear. To be able to teleport you all here… I needed to connect each of you to the Morphin Grid: a vast energy field that spans the entire universe. The six of you can now access the Grid through your cellular makeup, which will grant you power to compensate for what you have lost. It is this power that will give you the edge against the Grimm invasion of Earth… and it will allow you to aid my champions one last time."

"I… I don't…" Ruby's heart soared. "Th… thank you."

"No, Ruby Rose," the sage corrected. "Thank you for proving that the ability to stand up to all evil and injustice can be found in any universe, not just this one. It is a constant that spans all of existence… and it is a constant you embody. Now, are you all ready to begin?"

"YES!" Nora shouted immediately with Yang right behind her. Ren and Blake merely nodded while Weiss just shrugged. "You said whatever it takes, Ruby… if this is what it takes, I'm in." The silver-eyed girl looked back to Zordon with a smile… and eagerly nodded. "We're ready."

"Very well. Alpha?"

"Opening the Morphin Grid… now!" The robot pressed a final button on the console, sending energy through the Command Center's pylons. Two of them flickered with powerful lightning and harnessed the energy, projecting them together in a spectacular flash. That energy focused into a small portal pulsating with various colors: a doorway beckoning the teens inside. Ruby stared at the doorway and asked Zordon one last question.

"What happens when we step through?"

"The Morphin Grid knows you now that I have connected you to it," Zordon explained. "The powers you obtain within will be perfectly suited to each of your personalities and strengths. Know this, humans. Once you enter the Morphin Grid… you enter a universe of power."

Ruby glanced at her friends, who all told her the same thing: they were ready.

"Alright… let's do this," Ruby declared, taking her first steps into the portal…

…

It was like walking among the stars themselves.

Ruby found herself adrift amidst swirling constellations and vast cosmos. Her feet felt solid ground even though she stood atop nothingness. Paces behind her, Yang, Weiss, and Blake took in the scene with awestruck eyes.

"Whoa…" whispered Nora, her voice echoing for miles. "This feels amazing…" Ren simply glanced at the empty space around him, keeping his eyes peeled for anything useful. "It sure is… something. What do we do now?"

Ruby opened her mouth to respond-

"Hey, I said hands in the air! You got a death wish or something?!"

Everybody whirled to the right where something was taking shape among the vastness of pure energy around them. Colors swirled and blended until the right shape was established… and Ruby found herself staring at her reflection as she lowered a pair of headphones.

"Yes?"

"I said, put your hands in the air, now!"

Wait a minute… this was the-

A frown from her reflection. "Are you… robbing me?"

"Yes!"

"Ooohhh…"

Ruby watched herself send the goon flying across the Dust shop, alerting the others. The rest of the memory played out just as Ruby remembered the events, up to the point where she unfurled Crescent Rose in all its glory to the thieves and struck it into the ground. Ruby smiled, eager to see herself kick those jerks' butts again… but the image faded before the excitement could start. "Aw…"

"Was that… you?" asked a confused Blake. "I remember hearing about the robbery…"

"Mirror… tell me something…"

The teens looked in another direction… where Weiss was stone silent as she bore witness to another image. "Tell me who's the loneliest of all…" her voice softly sang before that window swirled away, leaving the heiress still for a moment.

"Okay…" Yang muttered. "This is starting to feel a little weird…"

"Blake…"

The ravenette froze in place and fear flashed across her face… but she didn't turn to look at the visage of herself in a forest with red leaves. "It's time."

Rather than meet her own golden eyes that turned to stare back, Blake hurriedly walked away from the memory and took a shaky breath. Puzzled, Yang turned to follow her…

"People say you know everything. Tell me where I can find her and I'll let you go."

"I've never seen her before, I swear!" somebody strained.

"Excuse me?!"

There was a high-pitched groan on the cusp of a squeal. "I swear, sir!"

"Alright, what the heck is going on?!" Weiss snapped as the visage swirled away. "Why are we being shown all of this?" Ruby noticed Ren and Nora were staring at another pair of images: one was a village under attack while another depicted a lonely girl in the streets. They only snapped out of it once the visages faded. Ruby took a moment to remember Zordon's words.

"I… think it's studying us."

Yang paused. "What's studying us?"

"The Grid," Ruby replied. "Zordon said it 'knows' us since we've connected to it."

"Wait, 'knows' as in somebody 'knows' somebody?" Nora echoed. "Does… does this mean it's alive?!"

"I don't think it's like that," Ruby muttered. "I think the Grid… is searching. Through our past. Learning about us."

"Uh…" Blake murmured awkwardly. "How much of our past?"

Voices from days long past echoed out like ghosts as the teens kept moving, watching the very space around them shift and change as the whispers echoed for miles. Colored sparkles of light appeared out of nowhere and circled the teens like fireflies, startling a few as they zipped and scattered.

"I've already told you, I'm just not cut out for hand-to-hand."

"I am not always going to be around to save you, Weiss."

"I always kick my semesters off with a Yang! Eh? Guys? Am I right?"

"We lived in Mantle with the other Faunus working the mines…"

"Most girls are born, but I was made…"

"I fought for what I thought was right…"

"Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet…"

"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality…"

"You… have silver eyes…"

"This is the story of a girl who had a lot of problems…"

Ruby paused at that last one. That couldn't be…

A red spark of light flew up to her. "The girl had a great many questions to ponder… who had she become… Alyx heard one more question… what… are you…" The spark flew away and Ruby was enticed to follow it.

"Truly… a tragic tale."

She paused again. That was not the voice she knew. The red spark was so distant now, prompting Ruby to break into a run to give chase. The yellow spark flew close to Yang's face and the blonde almost ran into it.

"Yang… we have a lot to talk about…"

The blonde went still with a shaky breath. "Wh-what? How…" The comet shot away. "H-hey! Wait!"

"You are torn," said an unfamiliar voice. "Yet resilient."

A blue spark flickered close to Weiss. "I'm sorry… I'll get better… You'll have to if you ever want to leave." Both voices caught the heiress' attention before the light flew off into the distance. "A burden… of which you seek to escape."

"Who are you?" Weiss received no answer. A purple spark approached Blake, who almost jolted away in shock. "I'll set the charges… What about the crew members… What about them?" A chill ran down Blake's spine before her golden eyes narrowed. "What do you want from us?"

"You thrive in darkness… yet you fear it."

"Stop! You don't-" It was gone before she could continue. Whispers from pink and green sparks orbited around Ren and Nora, who looked frightened and silent until they shot away like comets. All six sparks converged in front of the teens and glowed like stars. Everyone came to a halt before the lights… which faded away to reveal six figures.

What stood before the teens now was a group of six armored figures donned in brilliant armor and colored capes that flowed in a nonexistent breeze. Each of their hands clutched a staff that flowed with energy and their bright eyes stared at the teens with an omniscient gaze.

"Curious beginnings…" spoke the one wearing a red cloak. "Yet your story has only just begun."

Ruby exhaled a quiet breath. "Who…" No, that wasn't right. "...what are you?"

"We are the Morphin Masters," replied the one in blue. "Ageless beings with untold energy that protect the Morphin Grid itself. The Eltarian sage was wise to deliver you to us."

"Humans from a world that exists outside of the Grid," whispered the one in yellow. "After all these eons, I would have never believed such a thing to be possible. And yet… here they stand before us."

Blake stepped forward with a scowl. "You had no right to do what you just did."

"You have nothing to fear, Blake Belladonna," said the one in black. "Your stories are not unlike those of the people of this world. Why would we use this knowledge against you… when we can benefit from it?"

"Um…" Nora asked. "You wouldn't happen to be gods, would you?"

"We are not, child," answered the figure in pink. "Though we have existed for millennia, we are not immortal. Instead, we see all through the Morphin Grid and observe the trials of all who make themselves one with the Grid. The most recent to do so… is a fellowship of which you are acquainted with."

"Jason and the other Rangers," Ren clarified. The figure in green nodded. "That is correct. And as of this moment… Zordon's chosen are fighting a battle they do not realize they are losing."

Each of the Morphin Masters slammed their staffs against the invisible ground, summoning forth a massive visage that displayed the ongoing battle in Angel Grove's streets. Battle cries and roars blended, the horde descending upon the lone humans. A lone Beowolf stalked towards a little boy scrambling against a wall, terrified screams ringing out.

"AI-YAAAH!" Tommy was there in a flash, kicking the beast away before slashing it with the Dragon Dagger. "Get outta here! GO!" The boy fled in terror, tears leaking from his eyes. The rest of the Rangers gave it their all against the horde, a group of Grimm staggering from their recent attacks.

"TOWER FORMATION, NOW!"

Trini and Kimberly soared through the air, landing perfectly atop the shoulders of Jason, Billy, and Zack. Their Blade Blasters' tips pointed together to create a pyramid-shaped energy blast that vaporized the Grimm instantly, enveloping the area in a cloud of smoke. The girls somersaulted off, with Kimberly turning her eyes to the smoke. "Did we do it?"

The smoke dissipated… to reveal dozens of Grimm marching towards the Rangers like a wave of death. Zack shook his head. "Nope! Not even close!"

"Ugh, there's no end to these freakshows!" Trini groaned before Jason marched to the front of the pack. "That just means there won't be an end to this beatdown 'til we say so! Back to action, guys!"

"They can't keep that up forever…" Weiss whispered as the fighting began once again. "They need help. Our help." The beings that stood before them silently consoled themselves until the memories shifted to display Ruby and her friends' journey with the Rangers in Remnant. Their arrival, their first meeting, all the battles they participated in…

"You have known the Grimm for years…" spoke the Red Morphin Master. "Whereas they have known them for mere days. Despite the strength, speed, and stamina the Power Coins have granted them… they are still human. They will tire. They will overexert themselves in their efforts, even as they escalate."

"And from what we have learned of the Grimm," added the blue one. "They have no such faults. Both of your teams must join forces once again if you are to repel this threat."

"Your courage is most impressive, Ruby Rose," the Yellow Morphin Master stated. "We have heard your words much like Zordon… and thus, we deem you- and your friends- worthy: worthy to become honorary Power Rangers until you can be safely returned to your dimension."

"This is not to be taken lightly," warned the black being. "Entrusting one with the power places a great burden on your shoulders. If you are to wield it effectively, you must not only rely on one another but adhere to a simple trio of rules any Ranger must follow."

"The first," said the green figure. "Never use the power for personal gain. A Power Ranger is selfless above all else, placing the safety of the innocent before their own."

"The second," continued the pink one. "Never escalate a battle unless the enemy forces you to. A Ranger's duty is to defend, never to attack."

"And the third," finished the red being. "Keep your identities secret, for there are many in this dimension that will not hesitate to expose you or strike when you are at your most vulnerable. Fail to uphold any of these rules… and you will lose the power forever."

Ruby firmly nodded at the Morphin Masters. "We understand. None of us will allow the Grimm to destroy another world like they almost did to ours so long ago." Yang was quick to agree with her sister, but there was something that was still bugging her. "So how does this work? Do you zap us with magic lightning or something?"

"We shall grant you your own set of Power Coins manifested by the energy of the Grid itself," the Blue Morphin Master explained. "Unfortunately, Power Coins are the most taxing of artifacts for beings such as ourselves to create. They require a great deal of planning and delicate precision… hence why we have entrusted this task to another."

"But we have little time or resources to call upon him," the pink one continued. "Using the memories we have gathered from your connection to the Morphin Grid, we shall create Power Coins perfectly tailored to each of your strengths and specifications. Behold…"

The Morphin Masters raised their staffs to the sky and colored lightning erupted outward, connecting with the Morphin Grid itself. A storm unlike anything Team RWBY and their friends had ever experienced rumbled throughout the grid as a vibrant display of colors came together. Memories of each teen were absorbed into the streams and the lightning danced across a singular point. Green streams welded something into existence, pink beams crafted a pristine design, yellow arcs poured power into a glowing shape, purple sparks materialized a shining circle of gold, blue wisps of lightning traced along edges, and red electricity crackled and sparked as they melded a gleaming coin into view.

Once the process was finished, Ruby heard a faint sigh of exhaustion from the Red Morphin Master as the shining Power Coins drifted downward, resting in the palms of their hands. The Green Morphin Master was the first to address the group, their golden pauldrons shining in radiance as they held out their hand, directing the Power Coin to float towards its target.

"Lie Ren," they began. "Despite your shattered origin, you remain calm and serene. But I sense within you the potential to redefine yourself; to shed the traumas of your past and grow into a humble soul. The temptations you hold deep within are strength, but they are not what define you. You are a patient and tranquil soul who will guide others through their journeys… but you are also swift and deadly when you are opposed."

Ren gently took the Power Coin between his fingers… which held the image of a coiled snake with sharp fangs ready to strike, an ominous hiss echoing through the Grid. "I present to you… the Jade Serpent. Strike as quickly as this sleek predator and no force shall overcome you."

The next of the Morphin Masters to speak was the figure clad in pink. The Power Coin they held drifted away, carried on an invisible wind. "Nora Valkyrie. You are filled to the brim with inspiring positivity and boundless enthusiasm. You have moved on from a time you have spent lost and alone, lifting yourself from sadness and sorrow. Never before have I seen such a pure, compassionate, and free-spirited heart. But beneath your cheerful exterior lies a strong soul who refuses to succumb to any obstacle… and goes beyond any limitations set for her."

Entranced by the coin with twinkling eyes, Nora swiftly snatched it out of the air and opened her palm… revealing a horse rearing back on its hind legs with wings spread wide. Somewhere off in the distance, a high-pitched whinny touched Nora's ears. "Behold; the Thunder Pegasus. May its wings lift you to greater heights and may its strength embolden your own deep within."

Next up was the Yellow Morphin Master, who turned their eyes to the blonde before releasing the Power Coin they held. It floated aimlessly in the given direction as if it believed it was in zero gravity. "Yang Xiao Long," said the being. "You are strong in both body and mind, fiercely protective of all those around you. But within you, I sense great intelligence, an adventurous spirit, and a hardened resolve… one developed far too early for someone such as yourself. You have lost many things, and perhaps you will lose more in the future. But you are never weakened, never broken down, and never succumbed to weights that would crush others. You do not hesitate to reinforce spoken promises and are brave beyond comparison. You have a blazing heart and a mighty soul…"

Yang took the coin, which showed her a long, coiling image of a great fire-breathing dragon. "...so I give to you the Burning Dragon. Harness its flame and fury wisely, for its wrath is both defensive and destructive." A faint bellow reverberated through her ears.

The Black Morphin Master continued, the Power Coin they held floating towards its chosen target. "Blake Belladonna. A child of two worlds; shunned for your very existence. For your entire life, you have lived in the shadows… and you flee from one you fear you can never escape. You wrestle with doubt, allow mystery to shroud your mind, and you hide yourself from the world. But do not deny the attributes that others have used you for. You began this journey because you believed in doing what was right for your race. You are stronger than you realize, you refuse to abandon your beliefs, and you protect those in need to realize your long-sought dream: a better future between the peoples of your world."

Blake opened her palm and allowed the coin to rest within… and she was met with the image of a snarling great cat on the prowl. A low growl broke into a roar that sounded like it was coming from the coin. "With this, the Obsidian Panther, you will utilize the shadows for your benefit. No longer will you have to fear them… and perhaps one day, you will no longer need to hide your true self both within and without."

The blue being stepped forth as their partner retreated, the coin they possessed floating off into space. "Weiss Schnee. Everything about your life has been decided for you, leaving your voice unheard by those who forge a destiny you do not desire. You belong to a legacy that has been twisted into an unrecognizable state, staining both your name and your world. Yet you seek to break the shackles that bind you down that road. You are wise and intelligent with the potential to bring about great transformation. You seek to erase a canvas so that you may paint on it yourself, with no room for corruption or deception. For these qualities…"

Weiss gently retrieved the coin and saw the image of an owl in flight, its wings open and its talons extended. Somewhere off in the distance, a short bird-like shriek touched her ears. "...I give you the Blizzard Owl. Utilize its grace well and any enemy you face will freeze like the heartless beings they are."

Last but not least, the Red Morphin Master slammed its staff onto the ground and sent the final Power Coin towards the only member of the group who had yet to receive one. A pair of hands were cupped together, eagerly awaiting the artifact's arrival.

"Ruby Rose. After admiring the heroes of your world, you sought to become one yourself. You are selfless with a strong sense of justice, yet others often underestimate you to be something you are not. You have extraordinary courage and independence, looking out for the rest of your teams as if they are your family. And to you, that is exactly what they are. There is nothing you will not do for any of them, even if they squabble or break apart."

The coin landed in Ruby's outstretched arms… and she stared into the face of a proud, stoic canine with a fierce, protective glare in its eyes. A long and proud howl spread through Ruby's being, the girl gently exhaling as she stared back at the animal.

"The Carmine Wolf. An alpha who loyally protects its pack. You see great things ahead of yourself, Ruby Rose… but take heed," The girl looked up at the Morphin Master, whose next words were spoken sternly and seriously. "As a Red Ranger, you will be tasked greater than anyone else in your team. There will be times when you will need to make difficult decisions for the good of all. No matter how difficult these situations may seem… you must trust yourself to choose the outcome you believe is best."

Ruby clenched her fist around the coin. "I will."

"Very well. We all bid you luck on your journey… and may the power protect you all."

The world around the teens erupted with a bright flash… and Ruby found herself back in the Command Center. The Power Coin was no longer in her hand, but she now found it resting within a device that had strangely appeared on her waist. Her friends were discovering similar devices, examining both the coins they contained and the words "POWER RANGERS" along the rims. Ruby brushed a hand over her newly-acquired morpher, blinking to assure herself of the reality…

"Ah, you have returned," Zordon boomed. "And with Power Morphers of your own. Excellent. Now, you are all ready to rejoin the fight."

"It was crazy in there…" Yang told the sage. "We ran into these guys calling themselves… the Morphin Masters?"

"I am familiar with those beings," Zordon explained. "Ancient sorcerers dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of the Morphin Grid and preserving its existence. To gain their attention- let alone their respect- is no easy feat. But they have blessed you with the power as much as I have. Now, to unlock the power you now possess, hold out your morpher and call out the name of the creature the Grid has chosen for you. Only then will you finally be a match for the Grimm in this world."

Ruby turned to her friends with an eager smile, waiting to see which one of them would be the first volunteer. Yang checked her morpher one last time before everybody slowly turned to Ruby with expectant looks. The silver-eyed girl's face fell. "What… what are you all waiting for?"

"You, you dummy!" Nora laughed. "You gotta say the thing!"

Ruby blinked. "Uh, what thing?"

Yang grinned at her sister. "Remember the alley?"

"Wait… I'm supposed to say it?"

"I mean…" Weiss rolled her eyes with a chuckle while Blake nodded. "You are the red one. Start us off already!" Upon seeing her friends awaiting her command, Ruby felt an excited tingle running down her spine and she locked eyes with all of them. "Okay… Team RWBY…" She briefly peeked over to Nora and Ren before steeling herself. "And you two… IT'S MORPHIN TIME!"

The Remnantians thrust their morphers forward, the energy waiting to be unleashed.

"JADE SERPENT!"

"THUNDER PEGASUS!"

"BURNING DRAGON!"

"OBSIDIAN PANTHER!"

"BLIZZARD OWL!"

"CARMINE WOLF!"

The Command Center exploded with multicolored light and the power seeped out of the morphers, wrapping each of the teens with pure energy and supercharging them down to the molecular level…

…

Jason slashed one Grimm and fired his Blade Blaster at another, hacking at those that got too close while firing at others that rushed towards him. Billy held back a Beowolf with his Power Lance, keeping a snapping pair of jaws at bay. "Rgh… not to be pessimistic…" he grunted. "But I really wish I still had my shield Semblance!"

Trini was knocked to the street by a Sabyr and grabbed the Grimm's jaws, trying to keep them forced open until a boot slammed it away. "Agh! Jason, there's too many of them!"

"And they just don't quit!" Zack shouted, blasting a bunch of them with his Power Ax's Cosmic Cannon. Purple laser bolts downed the forefront of attackers, but those in the back took their place in seconds. Kimberly found herself surrounded and fired as many arrows as she could… but the Pink Ranger was too late to react to a Beowolf that swiped a claw at her. "AGH!" Sparks flew from her body and she tumbled to the street. Seeing his friend in trouble, Tommy rushed over only for a Boarbatusk to broadside the Green Ranger. Tommy smashed against a car and slumped to the street with a weary groan.

"Guys!" Jason cried out, rolling away from a Beowolf and shooting it in the head. "Hold on! I'm-urk!" An Ursa grabbed the Red Ranger in its forelimb and smashed him to the street, the teen bouncing on asphalt before coming to a stop. A Creep swatted Billy away with its tail and a Goliath brought its foot down on Zack, cratering him into the road. Trini tried to flee only for a pack of Sabyrs to pin her to the ground, her Power Daggers sliding out of reach. "No…!"

"Aw, man…" Tommy moaned. "These things are way tougher than I thought they were! What now, Jason?" The Red Ranger didn't have anything for his friend. They couldn't retreat lest they leave Angel Grove to the Grimm, and their powers would give out if they fought like this for too long. "I don't know… maybe we can lead them away?"

"And then what?" Zack countered. "Things aren't looking good for us either way! We-" He didn't get much further before a crackling boom shook the street, making every Grimm in the area turn away from the Rangers. The monsters parted, giving the teens a clear view…

…of six colored beams raining down from the sky like meteors.

A bright emerald ray struck the earth, revealing a green-clad figure with black patterns and a helmet styled after a snake's upper jaw. Two long fangs trailed down both sides of his visor and jade pauldrons similar to Tommy's shield rested on his shoulders. The figure rose to a stand, emerald gloves twirling a pair of green teeth-like daggers with an ominous dark coloration.

A pink pillar of light smashed the street beside him and faded, showcasing a pink figure with white detailing, a flowing skirt, and winged pink boots. A large hammer with a lightning bolt on it hung by her side until it was heaved over her shoulder. Her helmet was molded after a horse, its defined muzzle taking up most of the forehead. Slim-yet-muscular limbs stood out the most among the newcomer's figure along with lightning decals along her suit. Leftover energy crackled and sparked off her form, adding to the effect.

A yellow beam slammed down and vanished, revealing a yellow-clad figure touching down in a superhero-esque landing with one bright yellow fist on the ground and legs spread apart. Her dragon-styled helmet with flames on the sides of its open mouth jerked up and she rose to a stand, pounding a pair of fists decked out in golden gauntlets stylized after twin dragons. More muscular than the pink figure, her suit was decorated in orange-yellow flame decals down the limbs and heavy yellow boots. The figure visibly cracked her neck and rolled her shoulder before getting into a combat stance.

Beside her, a violet ray beamed down and deposited a feminine figure dressed in black. Two midnight-colored swords rested in black palms, purple lightning crackling off her body. Purple rims trailed over her paw-like gloves and boots and her helmet took the shape of a roaring panther… except for a pair of dark cat ears resting atop the helmet and sharp fangs along the sides. Her sharp blades glinted in the sunlight and she leaned into a proper stance.

A blue beam pounded the street next to the yellow figure, disappearing with only a blue-clad swordswoman in its place. A pristine blue skirt with a white trim hovered over her waist, a pair of blue high-heeled boots rested on her feet, and a blue mid-length cape bearing a white snowflake symbol flapped on her back. Her helmet resembled an owl, its beak draping over the center of her visor much like Kimberly's helmet. A long saber with a blue hilt and a brilliant, shining blade rested in her left hand.

Finally, a red beacon of light touched down in the very center, revealing a feminine figure crouched down. She rose to her feet, revealing a red suit with black detailing, a crimson skirt with black trim, and a flowing red cape donning a silver rose emblem. Black gloves and crimson boots covered her hands and feet. Unlike the others, her exposed face stared down the horde of Grimm with glinting silver eyes.

Jason's helmet disappeared, revealing a stunned expression. His friends followed shortly after, unable to believe what they were seeing as shock crossed their features. When Jason found his face, it was a bewildered whisper. "Ruby…?"

The girl shot the Red Ranger a smirk and a wink before a helmet materialized over her head: a wolf's head with pointed crimson ears and two pairs of short fangs on both sides of her visor. She held out a hand and crackling red energy appeared out of thin air, forming into a massive crimson scythe that resembled a predator's claw. Twirling its black-red length in the air and slamming it into the street, Ruby remained motionless and her friends readied themselves in combat-ready stances.

KRAKA-BOOOOOM! A massive explosion erupted from directly behind the transformed teens, rising high into the air to give them a spectacular and heroic ambiance… and it would have worked, too, if the sudden blast didn't make them all jolt in surprise and whirl around to see the humongous cloud of fire and smoke.

"No… guys…" Kimberly moaned, pressing a palm to her face. "You're not supposed to look back!"

"They…" Billy stammered. "They're… they're Rangers?! Zordon made them Power Rangers?!"

Ignorant of the others' reactions, the Remnantians' eyes turned to Yang, who held up her hands defensively. "I did not do that."

"Technically, you did do that!" came a high-pitched voice through their helmets. "All of you, in fact! It comes from the residual energy runoff that's necessary to clear your suit's biofield channels during the morphing sequence!"

"In the form of a six-story-high fireball?!" Yang exclaimed in alarm. "Why didn't you warn us about that, Alpha?!"

"Uh, speaking of warnings…" Nora piped up. "Does that happen every time?"

"Um… not always. As for any further questions you may have, I am free to guide you while you… well… do what you do best!" The communication channel closed off, leaving the new Rangers to stand off against the roaring, bellowing horde of blackness that charged directly for them like a wave of evil. Instead of showing fear, Ruby narrowed her eyes as her helmet's head-up display completed its boot-up sequence.

"Alright, RWBY Rangers! LET'S DO THIS! HYAAAAH!" Everyone shot for the Grimm at full charge, Ruby barreling directly for a howling Beowolf as the morphed otherworldly heroes began their stand against the invasion. If it was the last thing they did, they refused to let this world suffer at the hands of the Grimm as theirs did.

The people of Earth could bet on that.