AN: TIME FOR...Wiess.
Crystal of White part 1
Meanwhile on Earth…
Weiss groaned, her head pounding as she slowly regained consciousness. The last thing she remembered was trying to help her friend Jaune Arc to cross the bridge they were using to evacuate to Vacuo. the next thing she knew, she was falling through a void, with the last thing she could see was her sister, Winter, attempting to use her new Maiden powers to save her but she already fell too far.
Now she found herself lying on cool grass, a gentle breeze rustling her white hair. As she pushed herself up to a sitting position she took a look at her surroundings. She was in some kind of park, surrounded by lush green trees and neatly manicured grass but she could see the buildings of a city beyond the foliage. the air felt different as well, without the ever-present Grimm or the Dust that seemed to permeate Remnant's atmosphere, despite clearly being in the middle of a city it seemed almost cleaner. as she stood up she noticed her rapier, Myrtenaster, was embedded in the ground a little bit away from her. as she approached her weapon something sparkled in her peripheral vision.
There, nestled in the grass beside her weapon, was a small white crystal. It pulsed with an otherworldly light, and it seemingly was calling to her. Instinctively, she reached for it, and as her fingers closed around its cool surface and lifted it up, is when everything seemed to happen at the same time.
A surge of energy coursed through her body as visions flashed before her eyes: unfamiliar worlds, strange creatures, and warriors in colorful suits fighting against an overwhelming darkness. She saw glimpses of her teammates with Blake transforming in a flash of purple light leading a group of fighters, Yang standing beside a man in red sunglasses and red clothing. The images came faster, almost too quick to process. A jackal-headed being of darkness. A mysterious figure in white and gold armor, A massive spaceship, and at the center of it all, a swirling vortex of chaos threatening to consume everything.
The visions suddenly changed as she found herself in the same park she awoke in before but it was different, everything was in darkness and everything was dead. oddly despite the darkness she could still see everything, the trees were withered, the grass was dried up, and even the sounds of animals were silenced. Her Scroll suddenly dinged, which startled her, and when she opened it up a transmission was coming through. while the screen showed static, a voice came through but she could barely make out the words being said. Weiss strained to make out the words through the static on her Scroll. The voice sounded desperate, urgent:
"...need help...Corinth is under attack...overwhelmed...Grimm everywhere...can't hold out much longer..."
Then a much more familiar voice came through.
"Team RWBY if you're hearing this...Earth is in danger...find the Rangers...only hope...stop the Grimm..."
Her heart raced as she recognized Ruby's voice, but she didn't know how it was possible. she turned towards where she saw the city before but they were no longer there but there was something else. she felt herself shaking with fear before she even registered what it was she was even looking at. a massive towering creature of darkness with veins glowing like lava, standing where the city once was, with glowing red eyes that were looking down directly at her! she felt a coldness form around her as it spoke to her, its voice sounding like it was coming from everywhere at the same time.
"You have come too far"
Weiss gasped as the vision of the dead park faded, leaving her back in the lush green reality. Her hand trembled slightly as she gripped the white crystal, its energy still pulsing through her, but leaving her disoriented and confused. What had she just seen? Where was she? what did it all mean? In a fit of panic she threw the crystal away from her as she turned to walk away, only for her to feel something smack her in the back of her head hard enough to make her stumble. she looked for the source only to find the crystal she just threw in front of her again. The pulsing energy emanating from it seemed to grow stronger, more insistent.
"What are you?" she whispered, reaching out to touch it once more.
As her fingers made contact, she heard a voice in her mind, clear and resonant: "I am your destiny, Weiss Schnee. The power you need to face the coming darkness." Weiss jerked her hand back, her eyes wide.
The voice continued, seemingly unperturbed by her reaction. "I am a fragment of the Morphing Grid, the source of power for those who stand against the forces of evil across the multiverse. You have been chosen, Weiss Schnee, to join their ranks."
Weiss's mind reeled. Multiverse? Morphing Grid? It all sounded like something out of a science fiction. Yet after everything she had seen and experienced on Remnant, she couldn't simply dismiss it.
"Chosen for what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"To become a Power Ranger," the voice replied. "To fight alongside others like yourself, defending not just your world, but all worlds from a threat beyond your imagination."
Weiss's hand unconsciously moved to Myrtenaster's hilt, drawing comfort from the familiar weapon. "I'm already a Huntress. I have a duty to protect Remnant, to find my team..."
"Your team is already engaged in this fight," the voice said. "Blake Belladonna has already accepted her power, Yang Xiao Long fought alongside the Jungle Fury Rangers, and Ruby Rose... her destiny is still unfolding, whether for good or for ill, her fate will be a matter of…'timing'."
At the mention of her teammates, Weiss felt a surge of determination. If they were out there, fighting this new threat, then she needed to be there too.
"What do I need to do?" she asked, her voice growing stronger.
"Take the crystal," the voice instructed. "it will take time to resonate with this power but when that time comes, you will know what to do."
Weiss hesitated for just a moment before reaching out and grasping the crystal firmly. This time, instead of overwhelming visions, she felt a warm energy flow through her, a renewed sense of purpose and strength.
As the energy settled, Weiss noticed a sleek white device had appeared on her wrist, the crystal, now shrunk slightly, securely embedded within it. She recognized it from her visions, a morpher, the tool of a Power Ranger. suddenly, Weiss heard a distant explosion, and some familiar growling.
Weiss's head snapped up at the sound of the explosion, her hand instinctively tightening on Myrtenaster's hilt. The growling was unmistakable, The Grimm.
"They're here," the voice from the crystal said urgently. "The vanguards of the darkness, much sooner than expected. the Power hasn't had a chance to resonate with you fully, even your original powers are not yet working."
Weiss mind was already set with determination. She may be in an unfamiliar world, but protecting people from Grimm was something she knew how to do, even without powers. "well, as a friend of mine would say, 'I have this sword'" She started running towards the source of the commotion as she drew her rapier, her heels clicking against the pavement as she left the park behind.
As she rounded a corner, she saw chaos unfolding. People were running and screaming as a pack of Beowolves tore through the street. Cars were overturned, windows shattered, and the air was thick with fear and confusion. A Beowolf notice her and charged, with practiced precision, she struck immediately and while the creature stumbled back, it didn't die and turn into dark smoke like it usually would. The other Grimm turned their attention to her, red eyes gleaming with malevolence.
"What in the world?" she muttered, dodging a swipe from the Grimm's claws. it was in that moment she heard a voice shout out "Vortex Blaster!" as the Grimm in front of her got shot by a blast of pink energy bolts.
Weiss spun around to see the source of the energy blast. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of three figures in colored suits with white as a secondary color, one in pink, one in red, and one in slightly darker red with black as a secondary color instead of white. Their helmets concealed their faces, but their stances radiated confidence and power.
"ah...Power Rangers," Weiss breathed, recognizing them from her visions.
"Looks like we've got some unexpected help," the one in red called out, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "You okay there, miss?"
Weiss nodded, her grip tightening on Myrtenaster. "I'm fine, but these Grimm, they're stronger than usual."
The pink-suited figure tilted her head curiously. "so these are The Grimm? looks like they finally made it here."
"You know about the Grimm?" Weiss asked, surprised.
The pink Ranger nodded. "We were warned they might be coming. But let's talk after we deal with these monsters."
Weiss nodded, falling into a fighting stance beside the Rangers. Despite her unfamiliarity with this world, the presence of Grimm and the act of fighting alongside others gave her a sense of normalcy.
The battle was intense but brief. Weiss found her physical abilities were slowly improving, moving and reacting faster than she had before. her new powers even allowed her to use her glyphs, just her basic glyphs, but it was enough to enhance their movements and provide platforms for aerial attacks. The Rangers, in turn, used their advanced weapons to take down Grimm that seemed resistant to her normal attacks.
As the last Beowolf fell, dissolving into black mist, Weiss felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She leaned on Myrtenaster, catching her breath.
The Red Ranger approached her, "That was some impressive fighting," he said, extending his hand. "and who might you be miss?"
Weiss shook his hand, noting the firm grip. "Weiss Schnee, Huntress of Remnant."
The Red Ranger seemed to recognize her name, "oh, so you're the one." Weiss was confused by that reaction, were they expecting her?
The Red Ranger reached for his morpher and said "power down" his suit disappearing to reveal a rather handsome, slightly older man with short blond hair. "I'm Wes Collins, Time Force Red Ranger."
The Pink Ranger's suit disappeared, revealing a woman with long brown hair. "Jen Scotts, Time Force Pink Ranger," she introduced herself.
The darker red Ranger kept his suit on but inclined his head respectfully. "Eric Myers, Quantum Ranger."
Weiss looked between the three Rangers, her mind racing with questions. "You said you were expecting the Grimm. How? And... were you expecting me as well?"
Wes and Jen exchanged glances before Wes spoke. "It's a bit of a long story. We should probably get somewhere safe first. There might be more Grimm around."
Jen nodded in agreement. "We can take her to the Clock Tower. It's secure, and we can explain everything there."
As they made their way through the city, Weiss couldn't help but marvel at the differences between this world and Remnant. The technology seemed both more advanced in some ways and less so in others. There were no visible dust crystals powering anything, and the absence of defensive walls or constant vigilance against Grimm attacks was striking.
"This city," Weiss said as they walked, "it's so... peaceful. Even after that attack, people seem to be going about their day as if nothing happened."
Wes smiled sadly. "While it's nothing new, It's still been years since we've had to deal with anything like this regularly."
They arrived at a clock tower that seemed to be built to deliberately appear old but it still seemed new. Weiss found the contradiction odd while climbing the stairs to a spacious loft area. She was surprised to see it outfitted with advanced computer systems and what looked like a small armory.
"Welcome to our base of operations," Wes said, gesturing around. "It's not much, but it's home."
Jen pulled up a chair for Weiss. "You must have a lot of questions. We'll do our best to answer them."
Weiss sat down, her hand unconsciously moving to touch the crystal on her wrist. "Yes, I do. Starting with how did you know about the Grimm, and why…well more like, How were you expecting me?"
Wes took a deep breath. "a few months ago, we were informed by other Ranger teams about a message from the future, given to them by a white ranger from an alternate dimension. they warned us about an incoming threat, creatures of darkness called Grimm that would begin appearing across our world."
Jen continued, "The Grimm started appearing all over the world not long after that, but in small groups, not in a unified army like we thought, at least not until a few days ago."
"where your friend Yang, assisted the Jungle Fury Rangers against a massive Grimm invasion." Eric finished for them, finally de-morphing.
Weiss's eyes widened at the mention of Yang. "Yang? She's also here on this world?"
Wes nodded reassuringly. "From what we heard, she fought alongside the Jungle Fury Rangers and helped push back a major Grimm attack in Ocean Bluff. She's on her way to find one of your other teammates that ended up on a different planet."
Weiss felt a mix of relief and concern wash over her. At least Yang was safe, but what about Ruby? And how did they all end up scattered across this strange world?
"As for how we were expecting you," Jen continued, "the message the Ranger gave mentioned the names of four warriors from another world who would play a crucial role in the coming battle. We've been keeping an eye out for any unusual energy signatures or portal activity."
Weiss suddenly remembered that she might know where Ruby is and asked "there is one more thing I would like to ask. what is…or rather where is Corinth?"
Wes, Jen, and Eric looked very surprised that she knew that name so Weiss continued to explain "when I arrived, I found a white crystal next to my weapon. when I picked it up it not only showed me images of events in this universe, but I think it might have sent me through time…somehow. I don't know how far forward, but a message was sent to my scroll." she pulled out her scroll and searched for the message, taking note that the scroll was indicating 'no service'. she found the message and played it for them to hear.
"...need help...Corinth is under attack...overwhelmed...Grimm everywhere...can't hold out much longer..."
Wes, Jen, and Eric exchanged concerned glances as they listened to the distorted message on Weiss's scroll. When it finished, there was a moment of tense silence.
"Corinth," Wes said slowly, "is a city from an alternate dimension."
Jen nodded, her expression grim. "Corinth is humanity's last stronghold against a devastating machine army called Venjix. the team of Rangers there managed to defeat it and have been slowly rebuilding."
Eric crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "If the Grimm are invading them too, things are worse than we thought."
"There is a bit more" Weiss continued the message.
"Team RWBY if you're hearing this...Earth is in danger...find the Rangers...only hope...stop the Grimm..."
As Ruby's voice faded from the scroll, a heavy silence fell over the room. Weiss's hand trembled slightly as she closed the device, her mind racing with implications.
Wes was the first to speak, his voice soft but urgent. "This confirms our fears. The threat isn't just to our world, but to multiple dimensions."
Eric paced the room, his posture tense. "We need to inform the other Ranger teams. This isn't just about defending our Earth anymore."
Weiss felt overwhelmed by the scope of the threat they were facing. It was one thing to protect Remnant from Salem and the Grimm, but this... this was on a scale she could barely comprehend.
"I don't understand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "How did the Grimm even get to these other worlds, and why am I here?"
Wes turned back to Weiss, his expression softening slightly. "I know this must be overwhelming for you. You've been thrown into a completely different world, separated from your team, and now you're faced with a threat that spans across different dimensions."
Jen nodded in agreement. "The Morphing Grid is the source of our Ranger powers. If it has chosen you, it's because you have a crucial role to play in this fight."
Weiss looked down at the morpher on her wrist, feeling its energy pulsing in sync with her heartbeat. she straightened her posture, lifting her chin slightly. "I'm a Schnee and a Huntress. I've faced overwhelming odds before. I'll do whatever it takes to protect this world and find my team."
Wes smiled encouragingly. "And we'll help you learn to use your new abilities. You're not alone in this, Weiss."
Weiss took a deep breath, feeling a mix of fear and determination settling over her. "Alright," she said, her voice growing stronger. "Where do we start?"
Jen moved to one of the computer consoles, typing rapidly. "I'm going to send a message to Time Force. we're probably going to need the rest of the team…" she suddenly paused, her confidence faltered.
Wes was the first to notice "Jen?"
Jen didn't answer right away, instead she started typing rapidly again mumbling with a tinge of fear in her voice "it's not on our end, so why isn't it working?!"
Wes walked over to her to see what had her so worried. the screen that would normally show static if they couldn't establish a connection was only showing darkness. not a blank screen, Wes realized, but a transmission showing the future obscured by darkness.
Wes's face paled as he stared at the dark screen. "This can't be good," he muttered, his voice tight with concern.
Weiss approached cautiously, sensing the tension in the room. "What's wrong? What are you seeing?"
Jen turned to face her, her expression grave. "We can't establish contact with our future. It's like... it's not there anymore. Something has happened, or will happen, that's altered the timeline significantly."
Eric's fists clenched at his sides. "Is it the Grimm? Have they somehow managed to overrun everything in the future?"
Wes shook his head slowly. "I don't think it's just the Grimm. This level of temporal interference... it's like the future itself has been shrouded in darkness."
Weiss felt a chill run down her spine as she remembered the vision she had experienced earlier, the dead park, the massive creature of darkness where the city should have been. Could that be connected to what they were seeing now?
"I... I think I might have seen something related to this," Weiss said hesitantly. All eyes turned to her as she recounted what had happened when she received the message, describing the desolate landscape and the towering creature of darkness.
As she finished, a heavy silence fell over the room. Jen was the first to break it, her voice tight with concern. "If what you saw is a potential future, we're dealing with something far more dangerous than just an invasion of Grimm."
Weiss felt a weight settle on her shoulders as she processed the gravity of the situation. The threat they were facing wasn't just to her world or this one, but to the very fabric of time and space itself.
"So what do we do now?" she asked, her voice steady despite the fear churning in her gut.
Wes ran a hand through his hair, his expression troubled. "If we can't contact the future, we'll have to rely on our current resources and allies."
Eric nodded in agreement. "I'll contact the Silver Guardians, put them on high alert. We might need all hands on deck if things escalate."
Weiss felt a weight settling on her shoulders. The scope of this threat was far beyond anything she had imagined. "I want to help," she said firmly. "But I don't even know how to use these new powers yet."
Wes turned to her with a reassuring smile. "That's where we come in. For now, the best thing you can do is focus on getting acclimated to this world and learning to use your new powers. that crystal, your morpher, chose you for a reason, and we need you at your best."
Jen nodded in agreement. "We can start with some basic exercises to help you get a feel for how your abilities might work differently here. first, we need to make sure you're fully recovered from your interdimensional journey. get some rest, Weiss. We'll start your training tomorrow."
As the others began to move into action, Weiss felt a mix of determination and uncertainty wash over her. She was used to having a clear goal, a defined enemy to fight against. But this... this was something far beyond her experience.
As the Rangers busied themselves with contacting other teams and analyzing data, Weiss found herself alone with her thoughts. She stared out the window of the clock tower, watching the city below. It was so peaceful, so unaware of the darkness looming on the horizon.
She thought of her team, scattered across dimensions. Of Ruby, whose voice had warned her of the coming danger, of Yang, fighting alongside other Rangers, of Blake, whose fate was still unknown to her.
"I'll find you," she whispered, her hand unconsciously moving to touch the morpher on her wrist. "Whatever it takes, we'll face this together."
Later, as night fell over the city, Weiss tried to sleep, but her mind was too active. The events of the day, the visions, the weight of her new responsibility, all swirled in her thoughts. Eventually, she gave up on sleep and made her way to the main room of the clock tower.
To her surprise, she found Wes there, staring out the window with a pensive expression.
"Couldn't sleep either?" Weiss asked softly, approaching him.
Wes turned, offering a small smile. "Too much on my mind. I imagine you're feeling the same."
Weiss nodded, joining him at the window. "It's all so overwhelming. Yesterday, I was fighting to save my world from Salem and the Grimm. Now, I'm in a different dimension, with powers I don't understand, facing a threat that seems to span across time and space."
Wes chuckled softly. "I know the feeling. When I first became a Ranger, I had no idea what I was getting into."
"How did you handle it?" Weiss asked.
Wes turned to face Weiss, his expression thoughtful. "Honestly? I took it one day at a time. I was just a rich guy wanting to be a hero and Jen had to knock some sense into me. I learned to trust my team, to believe in the power I'd been given, and to always fight for what's right, no matter how impossible the odds seemed."
He paused, studying Weiss for a moment. "You know, you remind me a bit of Jen when I first met her. Determined, disciplined, maybe a little too serious for your own good."
Weiss raised an eyebrow. "I'll choose to take that as a compliment."
Wes laughed. "It is, even among all of the Rangers I've met, Jen is one of the strongest people I know, and from what I've heard about you and your team, you've got that same strength."
Weiss felt a warmth in her chest at his words. "Thank you, It's just...after the year of fighting on my world, and now ending up on this one, it feels like we're fighting against chaos itself."
Wes nodded solemnly. "That's the thing about being a Ranger. Sometimes how to defeat the enemy isn't clear, and the path forward is uncertain. But we keep fighting anyway, because that's who we are."
Weiss considered his words, thinking of her own journey. How she had defied her father's expectations, chosen to become a Huntress, to fight alongside her team.
"I think I understand," she said slowly. "Back on Remnant, we have this saying: 'Keep moving forward.' No matter what obstacles we face, we keep pushing on."
Wes smiled. "Sounds like a good motto to live by."
They stood in companionable silence for a while, watching the city below. after a few minutes Wes said, "you should get some rest, Weiss. Tomorrow, we start your training in earnest."
Weiss thanked Wes for talking with her as she headed back to her temporary room in the clock tower. she felt a mixture of emotions swirling within her, the conversation with Wes had helped calm some of her anxiety, but the enormity of the situation still weighed heavily on her mind.
She lay down on the bed, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling. Her thoughts drifted to her teammates, wondering where they were, if they were safe. Ruby's distorted message played over and over in her mind. Despite her racing thoughts, exhaustion eventually won out, and Weiss drifted into sleep. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she was determined to face them head-on.
