"So what have we got, Billy?"

Jen's question reminded the depowered Ruby and her friends that they weren't here to sightsee. This new Command Center had more than a few improvements over the original, which according to Billy had been destroyed in 1997. Its computers were more advanced and its walls were adorned with space-themed wallpapers while numerous screens displayed live video feeds of Grimm attacks and an image of the Earth that highlighted various cities. Finally, Ruby spied a plasma tube just like the one that contained Zordon's head… only this one was empty, a long crack running along the glass.

Suddenly, Ruby realized that neither Tommy, Billy, nor Zack had mentioned their mentor. The silver-eyed girl made a note to ask later; they had business to get to. And Billy was right in the middle of discussing said business.

"Time Force was correct about the Grimm spreading worldwide. We're already starting to see greater numbers converging in multiple locations. Harwood County, Silver Hills, Stone Canyon, most of the major cities… so pretty much everywhere."

"Which is very, very bad," summarized Nora.

Billy gave the girl a look of agreement. "Affirmative."

Carter crossed his arms in thought. "Any word from Andros and Zhane?"

"I heard from them just before the Grimm hit Angel Grove," TJ answered. "They got nothing. No sightings on Aquitar, Triforia's clean… they scanned as many systems as they could throughout the galaxy."

"So it's just us. Again," Kat sighed. "Why is it always Earth? Can't the forces of evil just pick another planet to terrorize or are they just that picky?" A troubled expression crossed Wes' face before he turned to Zack. "Have Doctors K and Morgan reported back?"

"They… also report negative," came the grim reply. "I don't know if I should be lucky Rita's spell didn't reach that far or not." Ruby didn't have the slightest clue what the two adults were talking about… but again, that wasn't what mattered right now. The concepts about Earth that she didn't understand were insignificant because an entire world was at stake, and she marched up with a stern face.

"Where do you need us, Billy? What place is getting hit the most?"

"Right now," he began. "The Power Rangers are spread thin trying to keep this contained. We're the jar and the Grimm are very close to breaking out. Entire teams will be having trouble when they do… so we'll need to split you up if you're gonna be the most helpful. Are you up for that?"

The girls paused, as did Nora and Ren. Going solo and not having others beside them? That sounded almost alien, given Professor Ozpin's preferred ideologies… but as bizarre as that sounded, Ruby was still confident. These powers had already turned her into something beyond a Huntress; a superhuman warrior able to fend off dozens of attackers at once. At least, that's what she felt like; she had no intention of seeing if that was true.

"We can do that," Ruby confirmed.

"Good. Now listen up," Billy moved away from the instruments so that the Remnantians had a full view of the screen displaying the globe and the most affected cities. "Things are bad, but they're not worse… not yet, if what Time Force tells me is true. Right now, they're just packs of wild animals that are running rampant. We haven't begun to formulate a plan to get rid of them, so our priority is simple: keep them out of majorly populated areas. The Command Center's systems are telling us that New York is about to be swarmed within the next ten minutes."

"Is that where we need to be?" Yang asked.

"Where some of you need to be," Billy corrected. "Some of our Ranger friends have already responded to this request. Ruby and Yang, I'm sending you two to join them. It's a big city, so they'll need the help to get the Grimm out."

"Alright," Ruby said.

Kat stepped up. "There's also an ongoing infestation in Silver Hills. It's relatively small compared to Angel Grove, but it still needs to be taken care of. Nora, Ren, you're coming with me for cleanup."

"Eh," Nora shrugged. "Doesn't sound so bad. As long as I get to smash something instead of waiting around." Ren wore a thoughtful expression. "And with a threat level that low, it could be a perfect opportunity to experiment. After all… we are still new to being Power Rangers."

Kat smirked. "Precisely."

"Alright, moving on," Billy reminded everyone, zooming in on a rather peculiar portion of the Earth: a piece of land that seemed to be separated from the rest of the planet. "My systems have been detecting traces of dark matter on the Animarium. And with the princess still sleeping, we need somebody to investigate."

"Who do you have in mind?" asked Blake. She was met with a confident Zack. "Well… I was thinking we could send you up there."

Amber eyes widened. "Me?"

"Of course!" Zack replied with a shrug. "The Animarium's a wild place if you know what I mean."

"I… don't."

"Eh. Figured," the veteran Black Ranger dismissed her confusion. "But I wouldn't stress about it too much, we've already made sure you won't be alone up there." He shot the girl a confident wink, which did nothing to ease Blake's concerns. From what she had just heard, there didn't seem to be any Grimm activity in that place… but she knew it wouldn't stay that way. As long as it was taken care of, Blake supposed she would be enough.

"And finally," Billy concluded. "We have some readings on the outskirts of Briarwood. There have been reports of monsters in the woods… and not the usual kind. With everyone else's assignments, that only leaves Weiss to patrol the area and eliminate any Grimm she finds in there."

"Only me?" the heiress questioned. "You won't be helping out?"

"Unfortunately," sighed the man. "Each of us needs to get out there and help in our own ways. With any luck, you might catch a glimpse of us in the field."

Zack placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "But we get there are still things about our line of work that you don't understand. We'll have somebody on hand with any questions you might have."

Tommy was already smirking. "Someone familiar… almost."

"And somebody who is so excited to see you all again!" Everyone spun around at a new arrival marching into the room: a small robot with a golden saucer-like head flashing with red lights while a mechanical arm happily waved at them. "Ah, just like what is stored in my memory banks!"

"Alpha!" A bright smile crossed Ruby's face as her silver eyes twinkled in astonishment. She hurried over to the small robot and got down on her knees, wrapping him in a warm hug while her friends gathered around her. "Wow… you look almost the same as when we last saw you!"

"Heh heh! Almost, indeed!" he chuckled before giving the Remnantians a salute. "Alpha Nine, reporting for duty!"

Yang went still. "Alpha Nine?"

"Long story," Zack answered. "Really long story."

"Alright then," Tommy spoke up. "Everyone knows what they gotta do?" Carter and TJ both replied with firm nods. "We'll see you out there, Tommy."

"Yeah!" Ruby cheered, pumping a fist in determination. "Your world will be Grimm-free in no time!" Weiss, Blake, Yang, Nora, and Ren all shared her confidence while Billy downloaded coordinates into the Rangers' respective communicators. "Okay, we're locked in. Good luck, Rangers… and may the Power protect you all."

"Alpha," Zack instructed. "The Command Center's yours. Keep tabs on the kids."

"You all be careful out there," Kat reminded them. "And let's get this done."

"We'll do our best!" Yang promised.

"I expect nothing less!" cheered Alpha. "Now Go Go Power Rangers!"

Colored light flashed through the Command Center, whisking everyone away at lightspeed…

…

A pair of red and yellow beams touched down with an electric crackle, depositing Ruby and Yang in an alleyway. A nearby cat yowled in alarm before bolting away and discarded pieces of trash were blown away from the impact site. The blonde brawler's face fell the second she took in her new surroundings. "Uh… he couldn't have picked a better place to put us?"

"Well, it's better than the streets," Ruby said. "You remember what they said about secret identities? The people here would freak out if they saw two bright lights strike the road and two girls are all that's left when they're gone."

"That'd make sense…" Yang mumbled. "But anyways, are we sure this is the place?"

GRRRAAAAAWWWWRR! A deep bellow thundered down the city block and dark shapes swooped above. Griffons darted across the sky while police sirens and terrified screams vanquished the momentary silence. But while civilians were filled to the brim with fear, Yang and Ruby remained unfazed.

"Yep," the blonde said, popping the p. "This is the place, alright."

The brunette narrowed her silver eyes. "Then let's get down to business, Yang! IT'S MOR-"

WHAM! Something blindsided her from out of nowhere and pinned her against a brick wall, the girl yelping in alarm as she stared into the burning gaze of a single Beowolf. The Grimm's jaws were already wide open and inched closer to Ruby's face…

"RUBY!" Yang screamed, throwing herself at the Grimm and locking her limbs around its torso. The monster responded by bashing the blonde away with a sweep of its free arm, smashing Yang against the opposite away. The black beast turned back to Ruby with a low growl, ready to finish the job while she helplessly squirmed and tried to reach for her morpher.

"NO! BAD DOG! BAD!" The monster snapped its head around while Ruby and Yang turned in the direction of the new voice… which was a young blonde-haired woman who appeared to be a few years older than the girls. She was clad in a leather jacket over a yellow shirt marching down the alley while stern eyes fearlessly glared at the Beowolf. "Not a chew toy! DROP IT! Drop it RIGHT NOW!"

The monster snarled, apparently not a fan of being yelled at, and responded by hurling a screaming Ruby right at the stranger. The girl acted fast, snatching Ruby and spinning around to set her down on the alley floor. "Hey! You the new girls?"

Things were moving too fast for Ruby. "Uh…"

The young woman glanced at the snarling Beowolf that was already charging her way. "Scuse me, gotta housebreak this thing!" She cartwheeled away and the Grimm dove through empty air, skidding to a halt while the woman sprinted for the beast and drove a rushing knee into its jaw. A few swift strikes and a spinning kick staggered it before the girl hoisted herself onto its back and locked her ankles around its neck.

"Roll over!" She yelled, throwing her weight to the side and taking the Beowolf with her, causing the Grimm to tumble along the ground. The growling creature scrambled back to its feet, but the girl was having none of it. "Uh-uh! Sit!" She leaped over a claw swipe and stomped the monster's back, driving it down again.

"Stay!" She shouted again, keeping herself planted atop the Grimm until it violently threw her off. The Beowolf was on the girl before she could recover, smashing her face against asphalt before hurling her into some trash bags lying against a far wall. Dazed from the impact, the blonde shook her head and met the snarling beast with a disappointed scowl.

"Now don't you make me break out the big guns…" she warned. "Lie down or I'll force you to!" The Beowolf roared in irritation while Ruby and Yang got back to their feet, impressed at the stranger's audacity. But none of them believed the Beowolf was happy at being given commands like a household pet, even if it was capable of understanding insults.

The blonde sternly shook her head. "Bad boy… maybe you'll listen to him." She jerked her head to the side. Ruby and Yang were seconds away from following her gesture… but a volley of crimson laser bolts bombarded the Beowolf, causing it to howl in pain and stagger away from the girl. Using its arms to block the shots, the monster roared at its new attacker.

A young man in a red jacket charged down the alley while peppering the Grimm with red shots from a yellow blaster, disorienting the Beowolf. It swiped its arms wildly, prompting the man to duck, dodge, and weave once he got in close. He fired precise shots at the monster's limbs to stagger it further, grabbing a bony hand and twisting it. The Beowolf lunged at the boy, who countered by grabbing it by the snout…

…and firing three shots down its open mouth. With a final yelp and a whimper, the Beowolf disintegrated into dust while the smirking boy blew smoke from his weapon. Meanwhile, the girl stood and dusted herself off before eying the ashen remains of the creature.

"You could've at least let me say 'play dead'!"

He shrugged. "Well, it wasn't really 'play' dead, was it?" He holstered his weapon until he noticed Ruby out of the corner of his eye, his facial expression widening in surprise. "Oh, hey! You must be the new Rangers I've heard about! From outside the Grid, yeah?"

"Um… yeah," Ruby answered with a nod. "My name's Ruby. Ruby Rose."

The boy gave her a puzzled expression. "Wait… like the actress?"

Ruby was about to express her confusion until the boy shook his head and took the girl's hand in his own, giving it a firm shake. "Y'know what, not important. I'm Tyler. Good to meet a fellow Red Ranger." The corner of Ruby's mouth lifted in a smile as she returned the handshake… before a groan from her sister made him look past the boy.

"I am never going to get used to being Aura-less… I'd never get knocked around by a Beowolf back home." The other blonde helped Yang stay upright, brushing off her jacket and readjusting it while assuring eyes stared back at her. "Heh, well, you do look like you come from tough stock, miss… uh…"

"Yang."

The other blonde smirked. "Gia."

The sisters smiled at the two Rangers before Ruby cleared her throat. "Really appreciate the backup, but we should get going and-"

GRRAAAAWWWWRRR! The distant roar of a furious Grimm made Ruby jump out of her skin… but Tyler and Gia were barely fazed, the latter jerking her head in the roar's direction. "That?"

"Uh… y-yes. That."

The four of them hurried out of the alley and into a massive intersection several city blocks in length and filled with digital billboards. Some of them were already damaged as winged monsters perched atop them while shrieking civilians were scrambling for safety. A Goliath bashed aside a yellow taxi and a massive tanker truck blocked off a road, hordes of black monsters roaming and terrorizing as they pleased. The dying wails of a police cruiser faded into silence as a Boarbatusk tore through the vehicle and unholy screeches echoed through the cityscape.

Gia sighed exasperatedly as she leaned against a wall. "Never thought I'd see New York attacked outside of movies."

"Billy wasn't kidding when he said this place was hit hard," Ruby commented, taking cover behind a wrecked car. "Where are we supposed to start?" Yang couldn't take her lilac orbs off the horde. "Well… we could use more than just the two of you guys. You're both part of Ranger teams, right?"

"Yeah," Gia answered. "But mine's split up all across the country. Ty?"

"Already on it," The boy reached down to his belt buckle and detached a rectangular device with a metallic dinosaur face, holding it up to his own. "Guys? I need you at the Big Apple and not for souvenirs…" Ruby peeked out from behind her shelter, a hand already on her morpher. She only hoped backup would come quickly or else this city would be the first to fall…

…

Two pink beams and a green ray of energy struck solid asphalt, vanishing faster than lightning as Kat, Nora, and Ren surveyed their new surroundings. Silver Hill's streets were quiet at first glance… but the woman knew it wouldn't stay that way.

"Okay, kids, keep your eyes open. This place isn't as bad as Angel Grove was, but it's still invaded."

"And given enough time," Ren added. "It will be just as bad. Our best bet is to hunt the Grimm down and eliminate them before they have a chance to spread."

A grin split Nora's face. "Sounds good to me! I bet I can smash and zap every last one of-"

"NO!" Kat suddenly shouted, her objection forcing a squeak-yelp mix out of Nora. "Going all-out from the start isn't just against the ways of a Power Ranger. It also has serious consequences."

Nora blinked. "Uh… consequences?"

Ren had a calm and thoughtful stare. "You were always a loose cannon, Nora. But we're out of our element here. The rules were different for Jason's team when they came to Remnant… so I believe it's the same thing for us on Earth, right?"

Kat placed a steady hand on Nora's shoulder and made eye contact with the girl. "You can't be careless and reckless as a Ranger, Nora… especially one like you. Let me tell you something Kimberly once told me; something she heard straight from Zordon himself. Too much pink energy is dangerous."

"What?! Why?!" Nora whined. "Being a Pink Ranger rocks!"

Kat rolled her eyes in amusement before recomposing herself. "True… but you need to be careful. There have been instances where a link to the Morphin Grid can be disastrous if used improperly. Multiple connections to the same Ranger, duplicate morphers, attempting to morph with a fake or damaged morpher… or attempting to draw on all of your power at once."

For once, Nora had no response while Kat solemnly hung her head with a regretful sigh. "No Ranger has ever dared attempt such a thing… but please: for all our sakes, don't be the first. Conserve your strength for when you need it the most, Nora. Restraint can not only save your life but save others as well."

Nora needed a moment to ponder this. All her life, Aura had no repercussions; it needed to be recharged once she had expended too much of it. Even when it was broken, it would slowly regenerate and she'd be back to normal in no time, leaving her with nothing to worry about. On Remnant, Nora was free to hold nothing back and cut loose against the Grimm.

Earth was already different enough, but this? She didn't know what to think. If she did the same thing here… she would die? It was an unfathomable thought to her. But if that was what she needed to do… "Okay, I… I can handle that."

"I'm not worried about that," Kat reassured her. "Rangers always fight their foes on equal terms. Never escalate unless you're forced to, right?"

"Right."

"Then I've got one more question for you both," Kat said. "Given your titles on Remnant… were you taught to actually hunt Grimm?"

Ren shook his head. "Not really, but they don't tend to hide. All we need to do is follow the sounds of screaming, roaring, destruction…"

The veteran Ranger smiled. "I'm feeling better about this already. C'mon, kids… time to clean up this town." Kat hurried down the street with Nora and Ren right behind her, keeping her eyes and ears open. The first few blocks were clear… until Kat rounded a corner and saw a small group of Beowolves, Boarbatusks, and Griffons prowling around a store, searching for a way to reach the terrified people within.

Kat turned to the Remnantians with an expecting look. "You know the drill by now." There was a firm nod from Ren while Nora had a giddy grin and was bouncing on her heels, her morpher already in hand. The golden coin within glinted in the sunlight, as if it had the same anticipation as its wielder.

"It's my turn to say it: IT'S MORPHIN' TIME!"

"JADE SERPENT!"

"THUNDER PEGASUS!"

"ZEO RANGER ONE, PINK!"

The shouts and flash of colors instantly drew the Grimm's attention and the monsters rounded on the three Rangers, their weapons in hand and ready for action. The beasts wasted no time in abandoning their current victims and converged on the trio, who swiftly charged towards them before sides met in the middle of the street.

…

A violet beam of light crashed down in the middle of a jungle, leaving Blake surrounded by wild foliage and tall trees. Not entirely what she was expecting… but she didn't know what to expect in this world. Well, she supposed she should be used to a floating landmass in the sky, but wherever she was looked like the complete opposite of Atlas: dominated by nature instead of technology.

What did Billy call this place again? The… Animarium. The word was equal parts alien and mysterious, but there was also a sense of longing. No, wait, not from the word… that was from Blake herself.

It was back. Blake noticed she was running a hand through her dark locks again, a tiny portion of her brain hoping to find a smooth and furry lump that had now been erased from existence. A small sigh was lost in the wind; not for the loss of her ears, but for her continuous habit.

It shouldn't matter anymore. Not only did her panther-themed Black Ranger helmet sport a pair of cat ears, but she felt complete ever since she had morphed. Her natural senses were restored and everything, and now she was human once again. She was adjusting, of course, but the process was slow.

She wandered through the jungle, distant birdsong gently piercing the quiet while flowers brought color to the landscape. The quiet of the world that she barely believed possible. Was this how everyone else experienced their surroundings? Although she preferred silence herself, Blake noted that everything she heard around her was diminished.

She felt… out of sync with the natural world.

The jungle wasn't as tropical and the air wasn't as humid, but Blake thought back to memories of her home. Menagerie was barren- covered in dunes rather than trees- and couldn't come close to achieving such an environment, but it was flourishing with life nonetheless. The small Faunus community amidst sparkling beaches, lush palm trees, and so many people getting along with each other, including the little girl she once was and her pa-

Blake decided she was going to stop right there.

She brushed aside some leaves and foliage… and what she saw beyond them might have stopped her thoughts instead. The former (why did she need to think that?) Faunus' golden eyes rested on a massive and ancient temple, decorated with statues and carvings of various animal species. Curiosity took over from there: Blake had never seen many temples in her life; the only ruins she could recall from memory was Mountain Glenn. But she couldn't deny a temple in the middle of a vast jungle beat a desolate wasteland of a city any day.

She saw the visages of animals as she strode through the foliage, the dirt under her feet giving way to solid stone. Small fountains produced crystal-clear water and directed them through carved passageways and vines blended in with the architecture. Throughout all of this, Blake was met with still and perfectly sculpted images of what had to be Earth's greatest creatures. Ferocious predators, high-flying beasts, nimble hunters, and ocean-dwelling organisms lined corridors and stood proudly atop pillars and walls. The sight was almost enough to take her breath away…

SKRREEEE!

And that forced all the air out of her lungs. Blake gasped and shot her head skyward, but she only caught the tail end of an enormous shape that cut above the tree line. Panic shot through her being as she recalled why she was brought here: evidence of Grimm activity.

And they were already here. Blake pulled out her morpher and opened her mouth…

…until she heard somebody laughing from behind her.

"Relax, kid!" Blake turned around and spotted a woman standing atop a tree branch, leaning against its thick trunk with crossed arms. "That's just one of the locals. Nothing to worry about."

Blake needed a second to ease her pounding heart, clearing her throat and putting her morpher away. "Uh… hi," She finally uttered. "Billy Cranston sent me. I'm Blake." The woman somersaulted off the branch and expertly landed on her feet, revealing a white jacket draped over her body. Blake quickly examined the outfit… but only one aspect of the jacket caught her eye.

There was an image of a large white wildcat on the upper-right side, accompanied by the words "NOBLE TIGER".

"Oh, yeah! Blake Belladonna," the woman said with a smile. "From that other world. Billy and Tommy said you were… part cat?" Her smile dropped briefly, and Blake could tell the woman was hoping she had been informed correctly.

Blake had to fight the urge to look at ears that were no longer there. "Y-yes, I'm… or, was what the people of my world call a Faunus. On Remnant, they appear human… but each of them carries the trait of a certain animal."

"Wow…" somebody else exclaimed, drawing Blake's attention to a stone archway that a tall man was walking through. "Human and animal rolled into one. That's a story the princess would love." He adjusted a pair of glasses and greeted the woman in white with a nod. Blake spied a black jacket similar to the woman's, with another animal on the right side and more words.

It was the image of a dark bull with the words "IRON BISON".

Blake's blood immediately turned cold the second she saw the horned creature. Horns just like it flashed in her mind, resting atop a white mask decorated in blood-red lines…

"So you're this new Black Ranger, huh? I gotta say, the color is perfect for someone like you."

The voice made the image in her brain pop like a balloon and she regained control of her body. "O-oh, ah, I guess so." She cleared her throat again and recomposed herself, commanding her mind to focus on the objective. "And you are…?"

"Oops!" the woman chuckled. "So sorry about that! It's just very nice to meet you, Blake. My name's Alyssa Enrilé."

"I'm Danny," the man added. "Danny Delgado. We're the Black and White Rangers of Wild Force."

"And this," Alyssa said with widespread arms. "...is the Animarium! Enjoying it so far?" Blake's golden eyes panned over the temple. "I guess… what exactly is this place?" Danny stepped forward to explain. "The last remnants of an ancient kingdom called Animaria, where humans and animals coexisted peacefully. There was harmony and an immense respect for nature."

Blake was more intrigued with the tale than she thought; it almost sounded like one of the old Faunus stories her mother would read to her. But if all her reading expertise had taught her anything, this peace wasn't eternal. The moment she had that thought, the raven-haired girl caught a look of sadness on Alyssa's face.

"What happened?"

"The Orgs happened," Alyssa answered, continuing as soon as she noticed an amber orb glinting with curiosity. "Horrible creatures born from man-made pollution. They sought to destroy Animaria… and to save it, five brave warriors- the Wild Force Ranger's predecessors- raised a small valley within the kingdom up into the sky, far from the Orgs' reach. Here, our team made our stand against them and defeated their master, ending his war against humanity."

"And now we're facing another war," Danny concluded. "Against these… what did you call them again?"

"The Grimm," Blake clarified. "And they're the reason I'm here. Billy suspects some of them are on the Animarium."

"What?!" Alyssa gasped. "How is that possible? Aside from teleportation, there's only one way in and out of the Animarium!"

"And if they were here," Danny muttered. "The sacred waters would've warned us by now. Why haven't they-"

"Uh…" Blake interrupted, pointing a finger to a nearby corner. "It wouldn't happen to be that water, would it?" The Rangers turned to where she was pointing: a tiny stream that served as one of the many places where the sacred water flowed. Alyssa and Danny didn't give it a second thought… until they got a closer look.

Blake saw how they both tensed up in shock and horror, with Alyssa shaking her head in denial. "No…" Blake was just as stunned as they were; the sparkling crystal-clear water she had seen just a few minutes ago was slowly becoming anything but crystalline or clear. The water was turning dark and murky, tainted by something alien and unnatural.

"The… the sacred waters…" Danny whispered. "They're poisoned…"

"Billy was right," Blake murmured as she dipped a hand into the water… and examined the black substance that coated her hand when she extracted it. "...Grimm."

Alyssa spun towards Danny, her stern face trying to avoid breaking out into a panic. "Danny, get the others. Now." The man was already off and away. Blake wasn't sure if she should follow, but a steady grip on her arm turned her back to Alyssa. "No matter what, Blake… we can't let them corrupt the Animarium. Any advice?"

She blinked. "Advice?"

"Those creatures are from your world. What do you suggest we do to stop them?"

Blake had a ready reply based on everything she had learned at Beacon so far… but it stopped halfway up her throat when her golden eyes landed on the animal statues. The proud roaring face of a lion stared into her, its presence a symbolic and mighty one. The snarling face and bared fangs were enough to make Blake pull out her morpher, where the growling and ferocious expression of a panther joined its genetic relative in resonating with Blake. These two predators were connected to Blake, down to her DNA. She could hear them speaking to her, the two beasts and the very atmosphere of the Animarium giving Blake exactly what she needed. She finally turned to Alyssa, her amber eyes gleaming as she gave the woman her answer.

"We hunt."

…

A bright blue ray of light sparkling with sapphire lightning thundered through the forest, scattering birds and small creatures in the instant it took Weiss to appear in the serene woodland. The heiress grunted as she dusted herself off and muttered to herself. "How does Ruby deal with that?"

Weiss took a deep breath and looked around the woods, mentally backtracking to recall her instructions. According to Billy, she was supposed to be outside a city called Briarwood, and there were rumors of Grimm sightings in these woods. If Weiss remembered correctly, some Grimm were known to aimlessly roam forests like wild beasts back on Remnant. If that were true here, this would be a matter of tracking them down and eliminating them. No hordes or groups would be present, but Weiss still needed to be cautious.

Minutes passed as Weiss trekked through the forest, keeping her blouse away from any low-hanging branches and thorns … until she realized she was already getting nowhere. A frustrated and dejected sigh escaped her; she was in unfamiliar territory with no way to properly navigate. Perhaps once she was finished here, she could figure out how this blasted teleporter functioned for a quick exit. But as for the job, she saw two outcomes: she would either find the Grimm… or they would find her. They were probably sensing her anxiousness already.

What felt like a loss would be a win, but Weiss needed to ensure she followed through by wiping them out. And for that to happen, she needed to be alert. With her morpher in hand, the heiress scanned the forest around her. Her blue eyes swept over tall trees, thick foliage, and dark shadows that could be a sufficient hiding place. She swore she saw movement in some of these shadows, but Weiss dismissed them as tricks of the light…

…but there was something that didn't fit. Did one of the shadows look… human? Weiss turned to look, but the shape was gone in a split-second blink. The white-haired girl silently chastised herself; she was already seeing things. She slowly crept down a dirt path, her icy gaze alternating between both sides while she put her senses on high alert. The glint of her Power Coin gave Weiss some reassurance; the words on the tip of her tongue for when the moment came.

Weiss walked until darkness surrounded her, the massive trees blocking out the sunlight while the distant birdsong grew still and quiet. She could feel the shadows closing in, the darkness staring into her soul… and red orbs the color of blood eyes her hungrily. Weiss' icy blue orbs stared back, already aware of what came next.

The silence was shattered when a Beowolf pounced from the foliage, its fangs and claws slicing through air as Weiss rolled to the side, bounding into a steady stance and a frown on her face. The monster turned with a hungry gaze, but Weiss didn't hesitate to show the creature she was no helpless victim.

"BLIZZARD OWL!" A sapphire flash of light erupted into the forest, banishing the shadows and making the monster flinch. Once it faded to reveal Weiss clad in her owl-themed Blue Ranger suit, the monster immediately went on the attack and lunged at the heiress. Weiss dropped low and used her legs to throw the Beowolf away, sending it crashing against a thick tree and breaking its bark-covered surface. The Grimm woozily staggered back to its feet and shook its head, with Weiss bracing for another attack.

AWOOOOO! The Beowolf instead threw its head back and howled into the air, causing a cacophony of echoing howls and demonic snarls to emerge from the forest. Weiss couldn't suppress a chill running down her spine as the darkness was broken by dozens of red lights and moving shadows. An entire pack of Beowolves backed up by lumbering Ursai crept into view, glaring at the Blue Ranger with malicious intent.

For once, Weiss was glad to be in another world. If she were back home, she would have doubts about achieving a solo victory. But here- as a Power Ranger and a warrior who fought with the strength of an entire Huntsman team- Weiss felt confident about her current odds. Her helmet's metal mouthpiece remained still when she smirked underneath the helmet and held out her arms, channeling Morphin Grid energy into a chilly aura that coated her arms.

The first of the pack to rush her were halted in their tracks when beams of sub-zero temperatures blasted from Weiss' palms, solidifying them into icy statues. Those she didn't instantly freeze were on the Blue Ranger in seconds, forcing her to cartwheel away and blast them as she retreated. Weiss launched herself off a Beowolf that dove at her and grabbed onto a tree branch, swinging around while bashing another Grimm in the face with both feet. Once she landed, she froze the branch and broke it off to utilize as a makeshift club, striking down a few more Beowolves and earning a pained yelp when she smashed one across the skull.

The hard strike shattered the frozen branch, but Weiss quickly repaired the damaged half into a sharp icicle and hurled the branch like a spear. The improvised weapon sank into an Ursa's eye and the beast howled in agony while staggering back. Another Ursa shambled toward Weiss, who caught its paw and froze the entire limb before shattering it with a quick punch. Leaving the monster to dissipate, Weiss conjured forth a wall of ice and threw a charging Beowolf into the barrier.

Before the beast could get its bearings, Weiss rushed up and kicked the Grimm through the ice wall, shattering it instantly and finishing the creature. More of its packmates converged on Weiss, who conjured an icy pathway for her to slide away while shooting blue bolts from her blaster. Once she came to a stop and drew her saber, she noticed none of the Grimm's numbers had diminished.

There were more of them than she had anticipated, already filling the gasp left behind by their fallen brethren. Weiss' prior thoughts about an easy victory were dashed and she let out a sigh. She supposed that like Huntsmen, even Power Rangers had their work cut out for them. But on the bright side, she felt far from exhausted and readied herself once more, running two fingers over the sword's blade to charge it with blue energy.

It was an energy she directed at the Grimm with swift slashes, blue arcs of light striking their targets and freezing the areas of impact. This wasn't enough to deter the Grimm as they charged for the Blue Ranger, who elegantly avoided and spun away from claws and fangs alike while striking wherever she could. A clean slice decapitated a Beowolf while another deprived an Ursa of its right leg. Weiss diced Grimm to pieces while freezing others and shattering the remains to bits…

…but it was her turn to freeze when she heard the distant sound of roars and howls. Something wasn't right here; first the Megoliath in Angel Grove, a Grimm that couldn't have been on Vytal when Rita brought them to Earth. And now… no, it was impossible for her to transport so many Grimm to this world. There was something Weiss was missing, but that had to wait.

She held her saber in a protective stance, contemplating whether to keep fighting or make a tactical retreat. But before she could make a decision, a tiny snowflake danced through the air right in front of her face, giving the Blue Ranger pause. That snowflake was followed by several more… before bushes and leaves were blown by a gust of cold wind. Weiss was at a loss; she didn't believe herself capable of summoning such gales.

Those thoughts were put to rest when she saw something emerging from between the trees: a cloaked figure whose presence was enough to make the Creatures of Grimm go still as they contemplated this new arrival. There was a faint glimmer of light in their hand, urging Weiss to take a closer look…

…where she noticed the figure was holding a bright wand with a snowflake-shaped tip.

"Hear me, horrid abominations from beyond this realm! The sacred land which you sully and taint with your evil essence is under my protection! Should you have a trace of sentient and intelligent thought, you will withdraw at once!"

The horde's answer was a savage snarl before a few Beowolves sprinted toward the cloaked figure, who remained motionless as they drew near. The Grimm lunged at the stranger… only for the figure to shoot skyward at the last second, causing the Beowolves to collide with each other in a mangled mass. Weiss' helmet retracted from her face, revealing her sapphire eyes wide in awe as she watched the stranger soar through the air, their wand raining bright energy blasts down into the horde.

The stranger's cloak was flung off at the height of their leap and they touched down in front of Weiss. A red-haired woman dressed in white garments stood protectively before the heiress, looking over her shoulder with bright green eyes.

"Are you unharmed, dear child?"

"Yeah, I… I'm fine," Weiss nodded. "Who are you? A Ranger?"

"My name is Udonna," answered the woman. "And I am far more than a Power Ranger; something these unspeakable monstrosities will soon learn." The Grimm were already closing in on the women, prompting Weiss to ready her saber… until the woman patiently held out a hand.

"You have done more than enough, my dear," she whispered. "You have fought honorably against these cretins, but please take a moment and replenish your energy. It is my sworn duty to defend these ancient lands from evil, and the evil I sense from them is unfathomably disgusting."

Weiss lowered her weapon and watched the woman's wand emit a bright glow… before the woman crossed her arms and raised her wand to the sky with a booming declaration.

"MAGICAL SOURCE… MYSTIC FORCE!"

A pristine glyph appeared over the woman's head and it slowly passed down her body, its energies absorbed into her being just as another cry made itself known to Weiss and the Grimm. "GALWIT MYSTO RANGER!" The woman's body was consumed by a blinding light that forced Weiss to shield her face… and when she lowered her arms, the woman was clad in a shining white outfit with a gleaming snowflake adorned on her helmet. Her wand had transformed into a shimmering staff and cold winds whipped around her while snowflakes fluttered down to the forest floor.

"FLURRY OF SNOW!" the woman shouted. "WHITE MYSTIC RANGER!"

She took a ready stance and pointed her staff at the growling Grimm, ignoring Weiss' awed stare. "Face me, demons… and I will introduce you to the numbing chill of your soulless pits."

GRAAAARRRGH! The Grimm charged like a black wave of despair, yet the woman remained resolute as she spun her staff and conjured up a blizzard-esque wind. A sharp thrust of her staff sent the cold gale crashing into the mass of Grimm, blasting those in the forefront off their feet while covering the monsters' black hides in stinging frost. Udonna sprinted into the scattered horde and struck at the beasts with her staff, firing freezing blasts from the tip that solidified any monster where they stood.

"Begone, foul creatures!" Udonna landed a spinning kick on a Beowolf's face before conjuring another torrential cold wind around her, blowing away the monsters that converged on her from all sides. "A talented sorceress such as myself shall not be vanquished by you vile devils!" Her staff was a spinning blur as she bashed and blasted at the Grimm, making sure to cartwheel and flip away from mindless and furious slashes.

A Beowolf scrambled up a tree and pounced on top of Udonna while she was occupied with the rest of the Grimm, the snowy sorceress keeping the beast back with her staff. The Beowolf's jaws opened wide while its red eyes burned… before a curved saber punctured its skull and caused the red lights to go out. Its disintegrating body was pushed aside and Weiss held out a hand, which Udonna gratefully took as the heiress helped her stand.

"Thank you, my dear."

"It's Weiss," the girl clarified with a smile. "Weiss Schnee."

"Ah, yes," Udonna replied. "You are one of the otherworlders from beyond the Grid. You are already adapting well."

Weiss glanced towards the Grimm as her helmet flashed back on. "Why don't I show you what I've learned, then?"

"By all means," The saber and staff hummed with sub-zero energies as the Grimm horde growled and snarled at the two Rangers. As an Ursa roared with untamed fury, the pack charged once again… and this time, Weiss and Udonna sprinted to meet them with the cold wind swirling around them.