RWBY Rangers: Remnants of the Grid

by DareDreamer

The Earth is under attack once again: this time from creatures that almost brought another world to its knees! Just when they thought their fight was over, Ruby and her friends must morph into action against a Grimm invasion that threatens to overwhelm Earth! With many more Power Rangers standing by their side, they must unlock hidden powers to defeat this threat... and another.

14. Dying Light

(A/N: WARNING. Heavy-duty emotional baggage ahead.)

Inhale. Five seconds. Exhale.

The internet was exploding and world leaders were at a loss. Jen's eyes were glued to the screens and monitors that showed purple-eyed Grimm rampaging through cities, easily overpowering militaries. Just as many monitors showed a single Red Ranger doing the same thing, burning men and monsters alike with raging flames. Jen toggled between feeds - both Internet and Grid-provided - only to be met with the same sights everywhere. Chaos, destruction, devastation… any news stations still on the air were asking the same question: why the Power Rangers weren't doing anything.

Inhale. Five seconds. Exhale.

The answer was a bitter pill to swallow. Jen could barely look at the flickering and shuddering Grid-provided monitors. She had to switch them off to preserve power: what little was left, anyway. The other feeds showed Jen a nerve-wracking visage: Rangers writhing and convulsing as their bodies fractured and cracked with light until their suits shattered and their unmorphed forms slumped to the ground, weakened. Those victims were alone… and there had to be some 21st-century irony here, but Jen saw those Rangers as the luckiest.

Because she saw others having their powers eaten by the Grimm, or ripped from them by that Red Ranger. The count was rising by the minute, showing no signs of stopping or being limited by one Ranger at a time. From what Billy and Jason had described to her, the Morphin Grid itself was infected with Grimm energy slowly spreading and destabilizing it. It was eating away at the light, consuming and devouring until nothing was left but darkness. This was the Power Rangers' darkest hour… yet some held on to hope and believed they would triumph.

But Jen was a woman of action, not belief.

"Dana. Status report."

The comms crackled, and a sigh escaped from the other end. "The Astro Megaship just dropped them off at the Aquabase," she reported. "Two of the crew have decided to stay with me for now. The kids' vitals are stabilizing, but Jen, after what they've been through... I'm not sure they'll be the same."

"They have to be," Jen replied. "We need every Ranger we can get. We're losing too many; they must be at full strength soon."

The voice stuttered. "Jen, please, I… w-we need to go easy on them. This was a hard loss on them and at such a young age…"

"They're warriors, Dana. They'll endure."

"Warriors in training." she clarified. "A training that's not even close to complete. They weren't ready for something like this."

"Everybody loses," Jen reminded her. "You, me, we all did. But dwelling and moping on it isn't going to help. So suck it up."

"I… I'll try. But with the rate the Grimm are spreading, folks are getting worried about how much longer the base can remain-"

"Focus, Mitchell," Jen sternly stopped her. "I've already ordered Carter and Vesper to meet up with you to help Ruby and Blake. Talk to whoever you need to find out who Yang and Weiss are comfortable with. As for Jaune, Ren, and Nora… make sure you keep an eye on them."

Dana exhaled through the comms. "Right. You should step back for a minute, though."

Jen frowned. "I'm as focused as I need to be."

"I don't think so…" Dana muttered. "...because you forgot to mention Pyrrha."

The world paused for Jen and she raised a brow. "I… I'm sorry?"

"She held her own the longest but took a real beating. You don't need to worry about her; her worst is several bruises. But whoever that Red Ranger was… god, the way they wiped the floor with-"

Jen closed the channel and sat back, her mind a whirl of thoughts. Her eyes were wide with confusion, then concentration… and finally, suspicion as she wrangled her thoughts back to order. She rose from her seat and marched off, her Chrono Morpher already activated.

"Circuit."

"Here, Jen!"

"I need you to monitor the Remnantians' activities and keep tabs on this Red Ranger," she announced with a strict tone. "We've got a breach."

The robot turned quiet. "Uh... b-breach? You mean-"

"Yes," Jen declared. "And there can't be any others."

…

Fire. Smoke. Ash. Everywhere.

Screams from faces she can't see. Dark clouds that black out the sky. Buildings burning and crumbling down. Blackened bones, wails for help that go unanswered, her own calls dying in a dried throat.

Strands of blonde hair. A cracked earring. A torn black ribbon.

She steps on something: shards of something gold.

Someone rises from the flames, higher and higher as fires blaze from their hands. Their body ignites like a demon rising from hell, draped in fiery wings while a terrifying shriek rings from a blazing beak. A fanged smile unfurls beneath ashen hair…

…and amber eyes snap open, raging fires highlighting a frightened, soot-covered girl with dull silver eyes. There's something behind her. She whirls around… where still, motionless bodies are burned beyond comprehension. Bodies that were once people she knew.

She turns away, unable to look at them. But the demoness disguised as a woman is there, scalding talons wrapped around her throat. She screams hoarsely as a maniacal cackle leaves her infernal throat.

"YOU COULDN'T SAVE THEM," she whispers in a threatening and inhuman tone that echoes louder than the screams. "JUST LIKE YOU CAN'T SAVE ANYONE. YOU THINK YOU'RE A HERO? WELL, HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS TO HEROES. HEROES DIE."

She shrieks as her entire body bursts into flames, eating away at her very being while the tormenter howls with demonic laughter. She screams from the heat that swallows her up and consumes her world…

…and she wails long after she wakes up.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Ruby! RUBY! HEY! Calm down!" A voice cut through the noise, and Ruby could feel someone shaking her back to her senses. She first saw Carter's concerned face, then the bed she was lying in… and then the rest of her team and friends, all just as shaken as she was. Yang sprang with a jolt, a cry of terrors leaving her lips before Summer helped calm her down. Blake and Weiss were woozy as they came to, Nora and Ren looked worse for wear, Pyrrha had her head hung low, and Jaune looked completely pale, his haunted eyes gazing distantly.

Ruby noticed they weren't alone once more of her focus returned. Aside from Carter and Summer, several more familiar faces were in the medical bay with them. She recognized Vesper near Blake's bed and saw Dana tending to Nora, with Tommy standing over Ren. Next were the three people she didn't recognize: a woman in white overseeing a woozy Weiss and a pair she assumed were Red and Pink Rangers. A long-haired man stood near a woman with dark blonde hair. Upon closer inspection, Ruby saw that none of the Rangers had morphed.

Ruby shudders as she tries to push the painful visions of that woman down. "Wh-wh-what… where…"

"It's okay…" Carter whispered while kneeling by her side. "You're safe now."

Vesper audibly scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous, Grayson. None of us are safe, not even them."

The man scowled at her. "It's called being optimistic, Ves. You should try it."

"I hate disagreeing with you, Carter…" Dana droned, her features falling. "But she has a point. Even I'm having difficulty keeping myself together with all… this happening."

Loss and confusion filled Ruby's eyes, emotions reflected in each of her friends as they glanced at the other Rangers. Blake was the first to speak up, albeit awkwardly. "W-wait… what's going on?"

Nobody answered her at first. The adults avoided eye contact and pursed their lips together, stopping any explanation from emerging as their eyes darted in uncertainty. Summer ran a hand through her hair, and Vesper opened her mouth to shut it again instantly. Dana tripped over whatever words she was about to say, her breath coming out in shaky intervals. Even Tommy was at a loss, and a dreary sigh was all that left him.

Surprisingly, what wasn't said spoke volumes for the Remnantians, who shared silent and worried glances at one another. In the ensuing silence, Ruby heard a gentle yet exhausted exhale from the woman in white, who moved to leave Weiss' side.

"I-"

A single glance was all it took to reduce Dana back to a silent, awkward mess. She stepped back and bashfully glanced at the floor as if it had become more interesting than before. With that out of the way, the woman focused on the Remnantians.

"Noble warriors from the planet of Remnant," she spoke calmly. "My name is Udonna, sorceress and White Mystic Ranger. Or rather… former White Ranger, as I have given up my powers to restore Miss Schnee's to full capacity." She turned to Weiss, who gave her a grateful smile and nodded despite her battered condition. "The foul beasts you know as the Grimm were responsible for depriving her of her Blue Ranger powers… and it is a terrible action that continues to unfold."

"Yang…" Tommy whispered. "You remember what happened to Shane at the Wind Ninja Academy?"

The blonde rubbed at a weary eye. "You mean when his powers went all crazy and disappeared before… before it fell…" She muttered that last part in quiet disbelief, yet everyone else heard it loud and clear from the lack of other sounds. The room's mood plummeted further, especially for Ruby and Jaune. Dana visibly swallowed when she saw their faces.

"Uh, w-well, it wasn't… w-we managed to get some survivors out of there. The- the sensei, the samurai teacher, the robot… oh, and the dog! Because nobody likes a dead dog and… and…" Her posture fell when Carter touched her shoulder. "S… sorry… I said I was having a hard time…"

"One of your bases is… gone?" Ren whispered, causing Vesper to shake her head. "No. Not just one."

Jaune's breath hitched. "H-how many-"

Tommy abruptly cleared his throat, stopping him. "L-Let's not… get too off topic here." The other Rangers shrank at his words, and Ruby could tell they wished for just that. At this point, Ruby wasn't sure she wanted to know what they were all hiding if it was this disastrous. "Uh… well, for Shane… his powers were gone. Permanently."

Blake leaned forward. "Hold on… permanently?"

"Technicians tried everything with his morpher," Vesper told her. "And nothing. It's an empty piece of metal now."

"But how?" Ruby asked.

"It wasn't just him, either," Summer continued, darting her eyes away from Ruby the second her question came out. "Other Rangers have reported a sudden loss or disappearance of either their powers, enhancement modes, Zord connections…" she groaned and urged herself to continue. "Hell, even their entire link to the Grid. Meaning no comms and no teleporting. They're out there all alone, and we can't help them."

Nora shrank back at this, the ginger-haired girl uncharacteristically quiet. Weiss spoke up next. "The Grimm. A Beowolf bit into my coin and… and ate my Blue Ranger powers like a snack! And then there was that cloud that absorbed every Grimm that power spread to! Is that what's happening here?"

Udona sighed when nobody else answered her. "Oh, my dear child, it is far worse than that. What is happening out there… if it were not for my sacrifice, perhaps my connection to the Grid would have also been stolen away. Not even the White Light of Goodness can stand against it…"

"What is happening out there, anyway?!" Nora snapped from impatience. "What could possibly have you all so… riled up like this?!"

"I… w-we…" Dana shuddered. "We don't know how to tell you this…"

"Then we don't tell them," the long-haired man spoke up as he strode to the center of the room. The unfamiliar woman followed him with a hurried stride as he tapped something into his wrist morpher. "A-Andros, wait. Are you sure-"

He paused and turned around. "Do you have a better idea?"

The woman couldn't respond and retreated, brushing her bangs out of her face with an anxious exhale. The man resumed what he was doing with his morpher. "What you're about to see… well, it's disturbing."

"Well, what is it?" Yang asked, slightly annoyed. The anxiety was starting to get to her.

"That's easy," The man met her eyes with a grim stare. "It's the beginning of the end." With one final input, his morpher projected a holographic image…

…that showed everyone a dark and malicious matter with purple hues within the Morphin Grid. It spread like a virus, a wave of blackness washing over everything it touched. Every light that it passed went dark in seconds, never to shine again as the darkness expanded its territory. Sometimes, the light resisted and pushed back… but the darkness breached those walls sooner or later, consuming all within reach.

The Remnantians felt their souls leave their bodies, their eyes locked on the fading lights of red, blue, yellow, pink, black, green, white, gold, silver, and every color in between.

"Grimm…" Ruby's voice barely squeaked as she recognized the black tar-like mass oozing across the Morphin Grid.

"The Grid…" Tommy finally announced. "It's being consumed. Eaten. Absorbed. That dragon and its minions have absorbed so much Grid energy that their essence has entered the Grid itself. We're trying to hold it back, limit its spread, but it keeps adapting to all our countermeasures and returns to smash through any defense."

"And we're holding onto the remnants," Vesper added. "Remnants that the Grimm will steal if this goes on."

"And if it does go on, it's over," Andros continued. "The Morphin Grid is dying. And our powers are going with it."

"Then you can't remain idle," Pyrrha stoically announced. "You must act, and now."

Vesper whirled on the Gold Ranger with frustration in her eyes. "Well, what the hell are we supposed to do?! We've had our backs against the wall before, but this is different! This isn't an attack on the planet anymore; it's an attack on us! On our source of power! And once the Grid is gone, boom! No more Power Rangers!"

"You're not wrong, Pyrrha," Carter said. "But like Vesper said, our options are limited. We've lost powers, our Zords have malfunctioned because of the infected energy…"

Summer grunted with eyes squeezed shut. "Rrgh, this is Venjix all over again. I don't know about you guys, but I am not gonna have a repeat here." She made eye contact with Tommy. "Tell me the docs are making progress with Project Hunter. If that's still happening, it needs to happen now."

The veteran Ranger held up a reassuring hand. "I-I can't guarantee an immediate completion, but Billy knows what's at stake. He's working on transferring and reserving whatever power he can collect from the Grid right now."

"Wait," Weiss spoke up. "What's this project?"

"Something I hope will still be there when we show you," the other Pink Ranger begrudgingly answered. "Andros, is this how you felt when…" The woman froze mid-sentence before looking away in shame. "N-never mind, I-I shouldn't have…"

"Karone."

She slowly looked up to meet his comforting eyes. "It's alright. We've been over this."

She sighed. "You're right… I'm just…"

He took her hands in his. "We all are, sis…" Ruby couldn't help but glance at Yang, who was… worse than Ruby had ever seen her. She had this faraway look in dull lilac eyes, her features distraught. The blonde squeezed her eyes closed and looked away, her body heaving with a quiet sob. Ruby felt hesitant to ask her sister what was wrong, especially when she looked like the only one who noticed.

"Right. So…" Summer cleared the air. "Ideas? Anybody?"

"I don't know…" Dana muttered. "This force is doing what no other has done before. They're attacking the Grid directly and removing our powers, leaving us helpless against it. And we're all that's left, too!"

"It's complete chaos worldwide," Carter groaned. "Militaries destroyed, looters taking advantage, people turning on each other to survive… heck, maybe some are standing out on the streets holding signs that say 'the end is nigh' or something like that."

"And here we are, forced up against the wall," Tommy finished for him. "The question is, how are we gonna get out of that spot?"

Nobody answered.

He sighed. "Yeah, well… don't all speak up at once."

The doors suddenly swished open, but Ruby didn't have it in her to see who was there. Deject and despair were pouring into her soul at how worse this situation was becoming. Earth was getting one step closer to Remnant's ultimate fate long ago, but there would be no Dust to save this world. They couldn't use anything to fight back, not even their strongest weapons. As far as Ruby knew, the planet already belonged to the Grimm and they had just one thing to do: mop up any pockets of resistance.

"Pardon me, Tommy, but Billy would like a word with you."

The older man breathed through his nostrils and turned towards the entryway… where the voice's source took Ruby and her friends aback. Rather than someone who awaited the veteran Ranger by the door, there was a floating white sword with a tiger head, hovering expectantly as if possessed by a ghost. Despite the many emotions flowing through her, Ruby's mind could not properly process what she was looking at.

She wasn't alone, though. She heard a faint "Uhhh…" from Nora and saw Weiss blinking quickly as though she was trying to dispel a hallucination.

"Right," Tommy muttered. "Tell him I'll meet him at the bridge in five."

"Acknowledged. And as for the rest of you… well, may the power protect you."

Vesper crossed her arms and frowned. "What's left of it."

"Of course, Black Ranger…" sighed the sword. "Even I am uncertain if that will be enough."

"Regardless of how much weight those words hold in this dark time," Udonna piped up. "We appreciate your sentiment, Saba. Hope is a resource we must cherish… even when it dwindles."

"And that goes for you guys, too," Tommy addressed the Remnantians as he walked out into the hall and took the sword into his awaiting hand. "Whatever your teachers told you about that, you'd best hold onto it." And with that, the doors closed behind him.

Udonna was the first to notice the students' faces and smiled. "I have heard your world is filled with many wonders… but now I am safe to assume that sentient swords are not among them, correct?"

"A talking weapon," Weiss muttered to herself. "Sure, why not? It's not like our stay here can get any more weird…"

"Um… on another note…" Dana turned her concerned eyes to Ruby. "Are you sure you're alright? Your vitals are steady, but…"

"No," Jaune sniffled from his bed, his face buried in his hands. "W… w-we're not okay." Ruby knew just what the blonde boy was talking about, and so did the others. The adults took a little longer to put the pieces together, but it clicked for Dana.

"Panorama City…"

"It was horrible…" Blake moaned, a palm against her forehead. "First, that Grimm took control of us and forced us to fight Ruby. It was an unpleasant experience I never want to go through again."

"Seconded," moaned Weiss. "My brain still hurts when I think about it."

Yang said nothing and averted her gaze from Ruby.

"And right after that…" Carter continued. "The Red Ranger again. I'll be honest: with everything that happened with the Grimm's infection of the Grid, most of us had forgotten about them."

Ruby felt a pang shoot through her body. Forgotten? The Rangers had forgotten somebody just as dangerous - perhaps even more dangerous - than the Grimm when she was finding it difficult to think of anything else?!

Ruby could have used their help back there… but they were too occupied with an attack focused on them instead of their world. She couldn't stop the spite that rose in her heart at the fact that lives were lost and a city was decimated all because the Rangers believed that this wretched woman was not worth their time.

And they thought that fighting and pushing back the endless waves that would keep coming would solve everything. Ruby wanted to ask herself what they had done to stop the woman, but she already knew her answer…

…and she asked herself how anyone could admire the Power Rangers when they believed a foe was out of their league, a foe they were supposed to stand against regardless if they were more powerful. It wasn't Ruby's fault all those people died; it was theirs.

"What happened there was a disaster," Carter mumbled. "But with the Grid infected, we were hit from everywhere. We're crippled, and there wasn't much we could've done against that Ranger."

"Nothing about that Ranger is making sense!" Summer suddenly shouted. "How come their powers didn't disappear? They're not one of us, but… they're like us! And every time they show up on our radar, they're somehow stronger than before!"

"Because the Grimm aren't the only ones doing this to you!" Ruby snapped with steely eyes, another painful memory flashing before them. "So is she."

The adults paused, their stunned faces turning to Ruby. Summer blinked in disbelief. "...she?"

"You saw their face?" Carter asked in equal shock. Ruby kept herself from rolling her eyes. Now, they were focused on the woman because Ruby and her friends had learned something they didn't. First, they used her to hold back the Grimm while working on a solution they refused to share. And now this.

Ruby couldn't believe this. After all this time working with them, fighting alongside them, bonding with them…

She wanted to lie, to keep what she knew hidden to see how they liked it. But even she knew that wasn't the right thing. And so, Ruby swore to herself that this would be the last favor she would ever do to these "heroes" who had failed their people, failed their cities, and failed their world because they were too scared to act.

"I did," she spoke lowly, her cheerful demeanor long gone as she stared into the adults' eyes coldly. "That Red Ranger is from my world. I've seen her before."

Jaune peeked over at her. "You… you did?"

"...what?" Yang finally croaked. "W-when?"

"Do you know her name?" Dana questioned. "How much can you tell us?"

"I don't know her name," Ruby retorted. "I saw her at Beacon Academy, and she told me she was a student from another academy who was attending the Vytal Festival. She was a fellow Huntress… someone I could trust."

What an idiot Ruby was to believe that. And what an idiot she was for thinking the same thing for the people prying this out of her.

"We tried everything to stop her," Jaune whimpered through his tears. "B-but we were too late. She killed so many people and burned the entire city to the ground and we could do nothing!"

"It wasn't just that," Ruby didn't bat an eye at her friend's sorrow. "She tried to sway me to stand by her side, telling me that she was building a new world where the people would be safe from invaders and themselves."

"Well… that…" Summer sighed and hung her head. "She's not wrong there. I know how horrible people can be and what the consequences of their actions can lead to. I trust you all know of Alphabet Soup?"

Vesper met her eyes with a disdainful scowl. "That creepy government organization that kidnapped smart kids for military experiments - including your Doctor K - and was responsible for Venjix's creation in the first place? Yeah. I remember."

Yang's eyes widened. "Y-your own people made…"

"Yes," she answered without question. "A bunch of corrupt, selfish people who abused talent for their own gain and deprived those kids of the freedom they should have had. Hell, they even told them they were allergic to the sun!" Summer turned back to Yang with hatred in her eyes and fists clenched by their side. "And you know what's worse? The US government granted them free reign to do whatever they wanted as long as they got results. They saw the abductions as acceptable… and where everyone would see bright minds capable of spearheading the next generation, they saw assets that would make them money."

Blake and Weiss were shuddering in anger and disbelief, the former's amber eyes reminding Ruby of the woman's fiery orbs while the latter had her teeth bared. "And I thought my father was a cold-hearted prick who did anything for money."

Summer glanced in the heiress' direction with a solemn look. "Well… that makes two of us."

Weiss was about to ask more when she heard an agitated growl from Blake, who was baring her teeth and clutching her forehead with tears in her eyes. "Humans had their racist reasons for what they did to the Faunus… but how could they do this to their own people?! And to kids, no less?!"

"The hearts of mortal men are easily swayed," Udonna explained with a hint of scorn. "Easily manipulated, easily corrupted, and easily susceptible if it leads to personal benefit. Their obsessions for fortune, renown… and most of all, power drive them to commit the most unspeakable sins. It is why most of them would be deemed unworthy by the Morphin Grid." Her eyes turned back to Ruby. "And I realize now that this demon wearing the skin of a woman holds that same desire where her heart once was."

"Her promises didn't excuse what she did," Ruby growled. "She turned dozens of people to dust right in front of me-" she noticed Yang tensing up at these words. "-and expected me to be her partner." She sniffled before looking back at her friends with tears in her silver eyes.

"That hurt more than our defeat at her hands."

The woman had wanted to use Ruby… just like how the Rangers were using her.

"Argh, losing is the worst!" Nora whined from her bed. "There I am, being all 'she can't take us all at once!' And then, BAM! She takes us all at once! For the second time! When I see that psycho again, I am gonna smash every bone in her body!"

"Not that it would do any good," Ren grumbled. "This woman, whoever she is, has more than fire-based abilities. She can regenerate."

"Regenerate?" Karone repeated.

"I ran my spear through her chest, and the wound was sealed up," Pyrrha explained as she gestured to herself and two others. "Jaune here cut off her arm right as she was about to land a fatal blow. It grew back in a matter of seconds. And Yang gave her the beating of her life - including a broken leg - and she healed from all of it. Stood right back up like it never happened."

"Oh, and let's not forget that she can freaking breathe fire!" Nora ranted. "If it weren't for that whole super-durability thing, Jaune would have been burned to a crisp!"

Carter narrowed his eyes in thought. "This isn't adding up. No Ranger should be able to do any of that, so how the hell can she do it?"

"I don't know for sure…" Ruby muttered. "...but I might have an idea."

Andros crossed his arms. "We're listening."

Ruby pushed through the urge to stay quiet. "I said earlier that the Grimm and the dragon aren't the only ones giving you trouble. While she was beating us all-"

"Badly!" Nora chimed.

"She said my powers were 'never mine'… and she tried to take them."

The adults gasped in unison, with Dana shaking her head. "Good god… not her, too…"

"So now we have two enemies draining our powers?!" Vesper growled. "That's it, I'm calling it. We're officially doomed."

"That means the Grimm didn't drain some of our fellow Rangers," Carter surmised. "She might have gotten to them, too."

"Which explains why she's growing stronger," Andros added. "If the Grimm don't kill the legacy, then maybe she will."

"The light is not out yet," Udonna reminded him. "And we must not wait for it to diminish completely."

"Amen, magic lady," Summer agreed, scooping something up from a nearby table. "Nobody saves the world by sitting on their ass. And if we're gonna go out, I want us to go out fighting." She placed one of the objects in Ruby's hand, which she held to reveal her Carmine Wolf Power Coin. When Ruby looked up from the sight, she saw everyone else having their own coins. Most of them looked worried, and Ruby couldn't blame them. They were a part of the Grid now, too… so how long did they have before their powers were gone? How long until they were rendered powerless, just as when they arrived on Earth?

And if the Rangers couldn't save this world in time… could they?

"We've had to pull every Ranger we still could out of the field," Summer explained. "And it was a difficult decision to make. There were objections about abandoning civilians and those who had their powers stolen… not even I agreed to it."

"And you…" Jaune whispered. "...went through with it?"

Summer stared at him for a moment… before turning away. "I'd say the whole planet's going to hell, but that's not true. Hell's coming here, boys and girls, and everything we've been doing to stop it is-"

PING! Something hit the wall and startled everyone before the object clattered to the floor. Silence returned to the medical bay as all eyes looked down at the object.

The Burning Dragon Power Coin lay motionless.

Yang breathed heavily, tears running down her red cheeks, and her right arm was held outward. Ruby's thoughts turned to worry and concern, everything else dropping back while she watched her sister abandon her bed and stomp towards the door. Ruby was tempted to follow, her legs swinging off.

"Don't," the blonde snapped, her tone making Ruby shrink away. "Just don't."

If Blake still had her cat ears, they would be flat as paper against her skull. "Yang… what are-"

"I need to be alone," she muttered, turning to walk out until she felt somebody grab her right hand. Yang opened her eyes to see Summer standing there, confused and uncertain as she held the Burning Dragon Power Coin in Yang's palm.

"You're not doing this," she whispered. "Not now. You're better than this, Yang. I know you are. You don't just roll over and let-"

"You," Yang spat back. "...are not my mom."

"No, I'm not," Summer agreed. "So I'm not gonna try and understand. What I am going to do is tell you that if you're going to fight like I am, you'll need this."

Yang narrowed her eyes and fought to keep herself together as she looked at Ruby's worried face and her friends' concerned, injured expressions. She finally turned back to Summer…

…and shoved the coin back into her chest, the woman nearly stumbling over as she clutched it.

"It was supposed…" Yang sniffled, trying to keep her voice from breaking. "...to make me strong again…" The blonde just shook her head with a wet inhale. "...but it wasn't enough." She spun on her heel and marched for the doors.

They unexpectedly swung open, revealing a trio clad in white uniforms with three-pointed badges. The dark-skinned woman Yang almost ran into had a yellow stripe around her arm; her eyes lit up in surprise. With her were two men with blue and green stripes around their arms, the latter having his hair dyed that same color. Neither said a word, but the woman's eyes trailed to Yang's right arm…

…and they narrowed suspiciously.

Yang grunted and shoved past her, storming out into the hallway until the sounds of her stomping boots grew quiet. The woman silently stared in that direction for a long moment.

"Katie?" Summer spoke up, bringing her back to attention. "What's this about?"

"Jen wanted an update on the Remnantians' condition," she readily replied.

Dana rolled her eyes. "I already told Jen that they're physically fine. But as you can see…" she gestured to the door. "Not mentally. The last thing they need right now is all of Time Force checking up on them when the situation is well under control."

"Or almost all of them," Carter corrected. "Where's Wes?"

"Checking what bases are still operational," answered the man in blue. "The Silver Hills Clock Tower and the Shiba House were the latest to go dark. That leaves the Animarium, the Cranston Tech Command Center, Grid Battleforce, the Astro Megaship, and this place."

Summer placed a hand on her hip. "Corinth and Amber Beach are a definite no, Lucas. I don't care how many people say it's a good idea, we can't-"

"That doesn't stop them from asking." he sighed. "And speaking of Wes, he wants all of you to help out wherever you can if the kids are all good to go. Trip's got the assignments and Eric's on standby."

"Well, anything's better than nothing," Andros sighed. "Where are we needed?"

The green-haired guy didn't answer… until Lucas saw him staring at one of the beds and elbowed him in the shoulder. "Mmph! Huh? Wha-"

"Is there a problem?" Ruby noticed that he had been staring at Pyrrha's bed, the redhead lifting a brow in confusion. The green-haired guy couldn't shake his head fast enough. "No! No, no, no problem! At all! No problem at all!" Katie shot him a glare while he awkwardly rubbed his head. "Sorry… let's, ah, give these kids some space, yeah?"

Carter turned back to Ruby and patted her shoulder. "Hey… we will get through this. Don't let anyone make you think otherwise."

Ruby stared back at him, memories of fire, chaos, and blackness swirling through her mind. "Don't worry… I won't."

The adults bid farewells and promises of safety to the teens… but amidst their departure, none noticed Katie slipping away after Lucas gave her a signal. The Yellow Ranger ducked into a storage room, looking around for curious eyes… and once she was in the clear, she raised her morpher.

"Jen, it's Katie. We have a second breach. I say again: a second breach has been confirmed."

…

The cafeteria was quiet and abandoned, a far cry from Beacon's crowded equivalent. Windows gave potential diners an open view of the vast, expansive ocean, but it was hard for Ruby to enjoy the sight she had been amazed by since her arrival on the Aquabase. It was bright and blue before, teeming with life… but now the sea was dull and gloomy, with no marine life in sight, not even a tiny fish.

Ruby wondered if it was the world that reacted to emotions or just some cruel irony that the universe decided to use to mess with her.

Even after everything Ruby had (begrudgingly) shared with the Rangers for them to do who-knows-what with the knowledge, one memory of the recent events still weighed heavily upon her. She had called her friends to meet up with her here… and though she expected it, Yang's absence still made her heart sink to her stomach. Whatever issues she was dealing with, Ruby believed Yang would refuse to speak of.

Her sister would come later. Now, Ruby needed to share a revelation.

"So… what did we miss after that fire freak kicked the living color out of us? Again?" asked a bored Nora.

"After I was the only one left standing," Ruby began. "That Grimm dragon appeared. It took me and the woman by surprise."

"You took on both of our enemies alone?" Pyrrha whispered, but Ruby shook her head. "No… I couldn't fight anymore… so I had to run. To live. Those two didn't just tag-team me; they quarreled with each other over which of them got to kill me."

Ren hummed. "Grimm take no sides but their own. That's no surprise."

"Then I'll give you one," Ruby added. "The dragon got a few good hits in… and it was smiling. It was enjoying what it was doing to me."

Blake paused. "What?"

"And that's not all. The woman screamed at it and told it I was hers to kill. That my power was hers to take, just like every power."

Ruby turned to her friends with distant eyes, still not believing it herself despite witnessing it. "And the dragon, it… it spoke. It yelled back at her."

Her friends were dead silent, not even blinking. The silence remained for a few seconds until Weiss rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips, icy eyes freezing Ruby on the spot. "Grimm don't talk, you dunce."

"Yeah?" Ruby glared back. "Well, this one did. I heard it say 'no' very loud and clear before it knocked the woman into a building and brought the whole thing down on her."

"If that's true, Ruby…" Pyrrha muttered. "Then the Grid energy it's absorbed changed it further. We've seen stronger Grimm, smarter Grimm… and now, a sentient Grimm?"

"Able to speak and express emotion?" Ren echoed. "That's… ominous."

"Ugh, terrific," Weiss moaned. "So that's outnumbered, the risk of permanently depowering, and two major threats that will stop at nothing to destroy us and each other if they get in their way. What are we supposed to do against that?"

"Maybe we let them have at it?" Nora suggested, only to be met by a frown from Pyrrha. "There's a very low chance they could destroy themselves, Nora, and whoever emerges victorious could simply drain the other's power and become even more dangerous. None of them can be allowed to wield the power of the entire Grid, even if they can withstand such immense energies and weaponize it."

"The Rangers are at a loss…" Blake whispered dishearteningly. "And I hate to say it, but so are we." Ruby wanted to object but knew Blake was telling the truth. Here she was, a Red Ranger and a team leader… with no idea what to do next.

Would Ozpin be ashamed of her? Would Zordon?

"Hey," Weiss piped up. "Where'd Jaune go?"

Ruby kicked herself out of her head and found that the heiress had a point. She saw five where there were once six, the blonde Silver Ranger nowhere to be found. A quiet breath left Pyrrha's nostrils. "He was hit harder than the rest of us… I could see it in his eyes."

"Should we go after him?" Nora asked, worry written all over.

"No," Pyrrha objected. "It'd be too overwhelming, even for Jaune. Let me take care of him. We… we could both use a moment." She glanced down at her heart.

Weiss sighed. "Agreed… with everything that happened in the city…" She and Blake cast their eyes to the floor. Nora and Ren silently nodded in understanding while Pyrrha walked out of the cafeteria, bidding good luck to her other two teammates. Blake was the next to depart, never uttering a word as Nora and Ren left together, their eyes locked with concern and worry. Weiss was about to go as well… until she noticed Ruby staring off into the ocean.

"Hey," she whispered. The only response she got was silver eyes turning to her reflection. "How are… how are you holding up, Ruby?"

"I'll be fine," Ruby muttered. "Nothing we can't get back up from. I just… needed it off my chest. Thanks for listening."

"You're welcome… but what-"

"Weiss," Ruby cut her off. "Let me worry about that. Please."

She saw Weiss' reflection swallow. "Ruby, that woman… she-"

"Won't get to me. I'm smarter than that," Ruby finally turned around. "You need some time to yourself, too, Weiss. Don't get all worked up about me." Her gaze told the heiress that she wouldn't argue about this. She watched Weiss hesitate, words stopping before they could leave her lips and icy blue eyes swirling with emotions. It took too long for Weiss to sigh. "Fine. Just… don't take a lot of time." She turned on her heel and walked away. "None of us has much left…"

Silence filled the cafeteria as Ruby turned back to the window, opening her inner dam to the river of thoughts that began rushing through her brain. She didn't like lying to Weiss, but she needed to. Leaders need to be strong and focused, with no room for their followers to be worried about them. But as Ruby reflected on recent events, the water she stared at was a blank canvas featuring her reflection…

…and Ruby's mind painted on it. The murky depths became a chaotic cityscape, swarming with crazed violet-eyed people. Weiss, Blake, and Yang were among the horde, expressions either cold or aggressive as they lunged at Ruby with weapons drawn, tears running down her face.

The moment they struck, the city burst into flames and Ruby saw ashes covering her broken, traumatized features. Talon-tipped gloves rested on her shoulders while hellish amber eyes burned through the smoke, the clouds blending within dark hair. She remembered crackling voices and the low, dominating voice that drifted with it.

"You. Didn't. Matter. To anybody. You were never a student or a hero… you were just something to be kept under the thumb of a higher power. A power that reined you in. A power that kept you from what you needed to be. What you should be."

Ruby saw herself being swarmed by the enraged horde, unable to bring herself to fight back against civilians who beat her down with anything they could find. She could barely make out her crying face as she wordlessly pleaded for them to stop… but their screams and roars drowned her out.

"They fight amongst themselves for the stupidest of reasons, discriminate against their own kind just because some don't look the same, and seek to destroy everything they fear or everything they see as beneath them. And that includes us, people from another world. Aliens. If they ever figure out you're from another planet, one where its people have more power than they ever will, they will hate you. They'll want you to go back, and if you can't, they'll kill you."

Ruby saw herself battling the Grimm in Angel Grove… then in New York… then Brazil… city after city, all while colored hands pointed outward in an unspoken command: a command she followed without question every time.

"All that talk of duty and destiny, and this is what you think it is? You could be so much more than that… much more than an asset who obediently follows everything you're told."

Ruby fought side-by-side with other Rangers…

"You tell yourself that you need to help them, that you need to save them."

Ruby fought side-by-side with her friends, just like back on Remnant…

"What you are doing is following the same rules for a different game board."

She fought… and fought… and fought…

She fought when she was all alone, with no Ranger present to help her.

"Being soft gets you nowhere here…"

"And for all that power given to them, the Power Rangers settle for standing by…"

She fought while they gathered around, discussing and bickering with themselves. They were thinking when they should be acting.

"But you're not like them, Ruby Rose. You have the chance to do what they shy away from."

She returned to base to rest and recover. She received her next assignment. And when they pointed their fingers and gave the order, she followed it.

She obeyed.

And they sat back and talked while people died.

"I believe in destiny more than anything else. It's not something chosen for you… it's something you get to choose. You've been told about right and wrong all your life, but what is the right thing to you?"

"Not only are you blind, Ruby, you refuse to open your eyes. You'd rather follow the rules like a 'good little girl,' never considering what you want to do."

The water was back and Ruby realized she was clenching her fists. Quickened breaths turned quiet as she returned to focus… well, not entirely. Her previous frustrations had returned, and Ruby had put all the pieces together.

The woman was right about one thing: she was blind.

This crisis was weakening the Rangers. The Grimm had stretched their numbers thin, making them nervous. They couldn't be everywhere at once, so they had Ruby and her friends fight in their place while they argued about the best course of action. Now, with an infection in the Grid that threatened to drain their powers, their morale had sunken. They couldn't bring themselves to fight.

So, the Power Rangers scrambled to salvage what little power remained, leaving their planet to die… and their people to suffer.

Ruby's heart broke as she realized this. The Power Rangers weren't heroes… they were cowards. Whatever they were trying to learn about the dragon, they weren't sharing with her - because they didn't trust her. They had Ruby and the others fight constantly against an enemy that would always keep coming, and they were doing nothing to address the root of the problem.

Once, they were a band of courageous youths seeking to protect their world. Now, they are nothing but an organization that relies too much on its precious power instead of the reasons it was chosen. Ruby hated agreeing with the woman on this, too, about the Power Rangers never deserving what was given to them.

And speaking of the woman, what were they doing about her, anyway? Nothing, because they could only focus on the Grimm infection sapping away their strength. They claimed they would be "powerless" while paying no attention to whatever strength lay within them like Ruby had been taught since childhood. They didn't believe in such strength here, as if it didn't exist.

For all Ruby knew, maybe it didn't. If so, how could the Rangers (as well as all of Earth's people) protect themselves from external invasions and each other?!

"You already know how to protect them from outside threats like the Grimm, but ask yourself this: how do you save these people from themselves?!"

This may not be what the woman had in mind, but Ruby knew her answer.

She set her sights on this solution as she marched out of the cafeteria with a steel heart…

…and her resolve was so great she failed to notice a dark jellyfish distantly looming in the depths.

…

What good is power if it fails you?

What does it mean when strength is not enough?

How can you be a protector if you can't protect the ones you love?

Yang Xiao Long waged a one-woman war with herself in one of the Aquabase's living quarters, her bruised fists clenching and unclenching as she sprawled out on a couch. Her aching chest heaved with ragged breaths and sweat glistened on her skin, the punching bag she had been wailing on for the past ten minutes dangling out of her peripheral.

Yang had never felt this tired and weary in all her life. Back home, her Aura would already be recharging and she would be good to go again. But here, she felt nothing, the same nothingness that had been with her since she first arrived. No Ember Celica, no Aura, no Semblance, and no strength. She was weak, a remedy only one thing could cure…

But Yang never wanted to see that Power Coin ever again. Not when it…

Not when its full potential wasn't enough.

Despite how tired she felt, Yang refused to let sleep claim her. Every time she closed her eyes, it was the same thing: blazing fires that made her yellow flames look like sparklers, the screams of her friends drowned out by that madwoman's pleasured laughter… and Ruby weakly reaching out with a desperate plea in her silver eyes with Yang unable to do anything to save her from the woman's wrath.

Fight back the tears. Be strong…

…but how can she?

They had gotten lucky, that's all. If it weren't for the Rangers, they would be dead and it would be all Yang's fault. She couldn't protect them; she couldn't protect her little sister because no matter how hard Yang had hit that woman, she just took it. Every bone Yang had broken had snapped back into place, every mark she made vanished as if it had never happened, and that damn woman had smiled and thanked Yang before using her own power against her.

Yang's heartbeat quickened as she thought about what she would do to that wretch the third and last time they would meet. But would it even matter? Would she just heal from those, too? Yang could beat, bash, and burn her to kingdom come - hell, her dreams had her do just that, but she always. Kept. Coming. BACK.

A hole in her chest would be patched right up. Yang would tear out an arm only for it to grow back. Her strongest uppercut that took the woman's head clean off and that… that demon would just keep on going even as her head rose from the ashes on her neck.

She couldn't stop the tears from welling up as she grasped at her forehead, her anger and grief boiling up into an explosive release…

…until she heard the door swish open. No matter how painful it felt, Yang was forced to shove it all down. Power through the pain, just like she had done so many times. Power through and grow up so that the new arrival wouldn't see; wouldn't see her so weak-

"I don't care about the risks," a familiar voice seethed while on the verge of a sob, piquing Yang's interest amidst pounding footsteps. "I'm going out like I should have, and when I find that bastard, I'm gonna-"

"Gia, listen to me," someone else said. "You being there wouldn't change anything. That Red Ranger would've taken the powers of three Rangers instead of two, and with the Grid as it is right now, there's no telling what'll happen to-"

"I'll tell you what should be happening, Jake," The young woman's tone was filled with guilt and sorrow. "That sorry excuse for a Red Ranger deserves to have their powers taken away, so they'll know exactly what they put Emma through!"

"Hey, I'm upset about Troy, too, but none of them would want us to charge out there and-"

"Really?!" Yang heard Gia shout. "Did you see him when they brought him, Jake?! Just like I saw Emma? If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought they'd been put in a coma… or worse." She spat the word out like a stain on her tongue. "Emma's been my best friend since we were little, Jake… I-I know her better than anyone."

"Just like she knows you… what do you think she would say to you if she were awake? Right now?"

"Don't," Yang heard her snap. "Don't you dare play that card."

"Okay then. We would say that this… your need for constant success… doesn't work that way. There's no easy win to get here, Gia. But that doesn't mean there's no win to get at all."

"So what?" she sniffed. "I just… wait? Like everyone else who's doing their damndest to fix the Grid? All while both of our enemies are laying waste to the world and us?"

Something within Gia's words struck a chord with Yang, but she shrank within herself at the reminder of her own helplessness.

"Don't get me wrong here, Gia. Your take-charge attitude, your confidence… heck, you even led us against Psychotick when he took Robo Knight, remember? Without Troy?"

Yang heard Gia sigh. "Yeah…"

"All of that is the reason we got together. And it pains me to see the toughest and coolest member of our team so… so down like this." Yang slowly lifted her head from the couch, moist eyes turned to the other girl. Her thoughts turned to Ruby, Weiss, and Blake and what their faces would look like if they saw her in such a state.

Would… would acting like this hurt them, too? If so, then she couldn't let them-

"Look, Gia…" the guy on the other end continued. "Troy's the leader, Noah's the brains, but you? You're the heart. You - Harwood County's resident Miss Perfect - step up when no one else can and-"

"But I'm not perfect, Jake."

"And that's okay! We take hits and bounce back! You told us what happened in the Antiverse, and you're not the only one fooled by a Terminator Tommy. He captured other legends, and you still stopped an interdimensional invasion with them. So if you keep doubting yourself like this, Gia… you're doing more damage than you think."

There was silence. Yang couldn't speak up. The boy's words resonated with her. But how could she fight to protect her friends when all she had was… was…

"Is… please tell me… that Emma's gonna be okay."

"She's your best friend, Gia. You tell me."

More silence, followed by a sniff and a sigh. "She… sh-she'll be fine."

"That's my girl. Now pick yourself up and… huh?"

Both girls went quiet again.

"Uh, right. Okay. Can I just… yeah, thanks."

"Jake? What's going-"

"I gotta go, Gia. The new green guy, uh… Ren, I think. He wants me to spar with him, y'know, to get the load off."

"A-are you sure that-"

"Gia. Calm. Down," His tone was firm. "At the slightest hint of our suits going crazy, we demorph. Simple as that. Catch you later?"

"Y-yeah, I… catch you later." Yang heard Gia sigh as she switched her communicator off, shuffled over to the couch… and almost plopped down on top of Yang's legs.

"GAH! Jesus!" the other blonde hissed while Yang sharply drew her legs back, both eyes wide with shock. Neither of them spoke in the awkward moment, silently staring at each other while still as statues.

"W-were you… there the whole time?"

Yang nodded.

"So… you… heard…"

"Yeah…"

The other girl groaned and slumped down next to Yang. "I… I take it you're handling this as well as I am…" she murmured.

"Something like that…" Yang quietly uttered.

Gia hung her head low and sighed. "Hey, do you… ever wish you could've done more, too? For somebody?" Yang didn't answer at first, but the way she turned her eyes away was enough of an answer for the girl. "Well, glad we've got something in common…"

"You didn't fail someone…" Yang muttered. "...I did. I failed the one person I swore I never would fail."

Gia perked up, confusion etched on her face. "Huh?"

Yang's next breath was shaky. "I was supposed to protect her… but even with all that power… I couldn't. Not for the first time, and not this time." She sniffled. "I-I failed my little sister… twice. And now she's hurt because of me."

"Wha- because of you?" Gia shot from her seat so fast Yang's reflexes nearly kicked in. "Nononono, no. No." She tapped Yang's chest with a finger. "You are not to blame for Ru… for your whole team to be beaten down by that Red Ranger. Wh-why would you even think it's your fault?"

"Because I'm supposed to be the strong one!" Yang snapped back. "I've always been the strong one! I-I've kept Ruby, my friends, and everyone I've ever cared about safe!" Tears were welling in her purple eyes, too much to be held back. "And that… that woman beat me down like I was nothing! M-Maybe because I am nothing, just like when I got to this stupid planet and couldn't do a damn thing, and that Power Coin was supposed to change all that! It was supposed to make me strong again, but… but…"

Yang slumped in her seat with a heavy heart. "If I can't be strong… if I can't protect the ones I love… then what good am I?" No answer came, just as she expected. Yang closed her moist eyes, her heart aching at the thought of her sister and friends lying beaten and bruised, all because she couldn't protect them. Because there was someone stronger than her, someone who cast Yang aside like a nobody, and someone who beat her into the dirt, all while her attacks only made their power grow.

Yang was scared. And she wasn't supposed to be scared because being scared means you're weak and that's exactly what she was to this-

"What happened?"

A confused Yang looked up… where Gia's face was tight and stern.

Yang blinked, feeling completely lost inside. "Wh…what?"

Gia held up a finger. "One. Big. Loss… and it turns you into that." She gestured at Yang's pitiful state. "Because of someone stronger than you? Trying to stop an inevitable outcome? No… there's something else." She glared at Yang suspiciously. "I know you're gonna try to hide this with that tough exterior, Yang… but something messed you up. Something that's eating you up inside and winning. This need to protect your sister, to always protect her?" She crossed her arms. "You just heard me struggle with Emma… but this is different. So. What. Happened?"

Yang shouldn't.

It's not Gia's business to know. It's always been her to keep everything together, it's always been her to smile, it's always been her to joke and laugh it all away so that nobody can know…

Yang wants to deny, deflect, and change the topic and ask if Gia's friend is okay… but something about the other blonde stops her. Yang remembers her previous conversation with this "Jake" person and recalls how broken and saddened she sounded over someone she believed needed her. She remembers words about how teammates would react to see the strongest wallowing in despair.

It hurts… but Gia's right. The pain is winning.

So Yang decided to overcome it in front of the kindred spirit.

"You remember my mom?" It was faint, but she heard it nonetheless. "Yeah… the other Summer, right? You said she left on a mission and never came back?" Yang nodded while blinking away tears. "Ruby was too small to remember."

Gia sighed. "But everyone pulled through, yeah?"

Yang met her gaze sternly. "I pulled through."

Gia blinked… before shaking her head. "What do you mean? Your dad must've gotten you back on your feet and-"

"No," Yang solemnly cut her off. "Losing her was too much… he shut down." Horror flashed across Gia's face until she cleared her throat. "O-okay, then maybe an uncle?"

"Drowned himself in booze."

Gia twitched in place for a moment. "Um… aunt, then?"

Silence. It only unnerved Gia more. "G-grandparents? Cousin? Distant relative? Anybody?"

"No one," Yang spat, even as her thoughts turned to the one person who should have been there. "I needed to take charge, so that's what I did. I raised Ruby from that point on, telling her all I knew of Mom so that she would remember her. As long as she was happy… then I was happy."

The look on Gia's face was devoid of color, her eyes wide in shock and her mouth slightly open while she stepped back. "But… b-but… b-b-but what about you?"

Yang steadied herself. "This wasn't about me, Ruby needed-"

"OF COURSE IT WAS ABOUT YOU!" Gia suddenly roared, Yang flinching at her tone. "YOU lost your mom, too! BOTH of you! Yes, Ruby needed someone to help her, but who was there to help YOU?!"

"I didn't need it," Yang growled. "I sucked it up and kept going, for Ruby's sake."

Gia bawked at her in horror. "Sucked it up?! SUCKED IT UP?! The only person who needed to suck it up was your dad at a time when both of his daughters needed him!"

Yang rose from her seat and glared into Gia's unflinching eyes. "He was mourning!"

"For too much and too long while you weren't mourning when you should have!"

"When I should have?!" Yang echoed incredulously, taking a step closer while Gia remained firm. "I didn't have time to-"

"Yes. You. Did," Gia spoke firmly. "You were just a little girl when it happened. You should've cried, you should've screamed, you should've wept in your father's arms, but that's not what happened. Instead of letting your pain out, you buried it like he buried himself."

"I needed to because Ruby-!"

"Needed her sister and her father, who both needed to raise her. And you turned your body into a cage that your buried pain is trying to break out of, pain that you should've released years ago."

Yang couldn't stop her trembling fists from tightening at every word. "We needed to keep moving forward…"

"Yes, but you also needed to take a break!" Gia countered in disbelief. "Which you never did! You were just a kid and never got to be a kid! Because you thought picking up the slack was a good idea! And once you started, you never stopped! Jesus Christ, Yang, what are you doing to yourself?! And what are you doing to Ruby?!"

"What I've always done!" Yang growled with hot tears in her eyes. "I'm protecting her!"

"Protecting her?!" a baffled Gia repeated. "By obsessively worrying about her and everyone else like a helicopter parent?! What kind of sister does that?!"

"Y-You think I can't do it?!" Yang shouted amidst a pounding heart. "That I can't look after my baby sister?!"

Gia frowned and shook her head. "No, that's not what I-"

"She's my family! I won't let what happened to Mom happen to her!"

Gia's own frustration grew. "I get that, but-"

"Someone has to be there for her, and it sure as hell wasn't Dad! So I gotta be!"

"Yang, listen to-"

"It hurt to see her like that! I won't let her-"

"Yang, you need to STOP!"

"DON'T YOU TELL ME TO STOP!"

"IF YOU DON'T, YOU-"

"SHE'LL BE HURT!"

"SHE ALREADY IS FROM WATCHING YOU BREAK TO PIECES!"

"AAAAAAGH!" Something inside Yang snapped and she drew back a fist…

…but something stopped it

Yang whipped her head over her shoulder, where a second young face met her tear-stained purple orbs. It didn't meet her with anger and disbelief like Gia but still bore through her eyes. Her grip was tight, and Yang wouldn't have pulled free even if she tried. If only she still had her Aura and wasn't weak-!

"Then don't stop," Minh gently whispered. "Just slow down for a minute."

Yang saw tired amber eyes full of frustration and determination in an empty classroom, but a sound behind her shattered the sight. "She's tearing herself ap-"

The younger girl shot daggers from her eyes. "SIT. Down."

It froze Gia where she stood, her eyes darting between Minh and Yang. After ten seconds of staring, Gia squeezed her eyes shut, bared her teeth with trembling arms… and then kicked the wall with a loud bang before marching over to the couch, grumbling. Minh never let go of Yang as she gently coaxed the blonde over, though not without some muttering of her own.

"God, it's like seeing two boulders crash into each other…"

Minh set Yang down on the couch's far end, placing herself between her and Gia. Yang couldn't take her eyes off the other blonde still scowling at her. The truth of her words was carved into Yang's heart, leaving her with a rising urge to pound her face.

"She has a point, you know."

Yang scoffed. "About what?"

"You never healed right," Minh told her. "You just wanted things to be happy and normal again… especially for Ruby."

Gia rolled her eyes. "Ruby this, Ruby that, boo-hoo. She never thought for herself and it's killing her."

Minh turned back. "A coping mechanism that went too far. She wanted Ruby to grow up happy."

"By giving up her childhood and passing it down to her," Gia spat. "She surrendered everything to Ruby. She's got nothing for herself but the strength she had to build up in its place."

Minh looked her in the eye. "Yang won't stop fighting for what she loves, just like you."

"She needs to, Minh," Gia whispered angrily. "Before it destroys her, before she ends up doing what she swore she'd never do."

"What she needs," Minh countered. "Is to talk to someone who's also lost a mother. Someone who also knows her pain."

Gia was silent… before she sighed and lowered her head into her hands. "Fine…"

Minh turned back to Yang and slowly grasped her hands. "Yang… what was your Summer like?"

The blonde hesitated before giving her reply. "She was… incredible. She had this cool ax-rifle, made the best cookies… silver eyes that twinkled occasionally… Dad liked talking about those."

"Eyes… like your sister?"

Yang nodded. "Well… yeah."

"So… you see your mother in Ruby, then."

"I… I guess? Wh-what makes you say that?"

Minh pulled something out of her pocket. "Because I see mine in this."

The Sabertooth Tiger Power Coin gleamed in her outstretched palm. Yang got lost in its surface before Minh pulled it back. "You told me Summer left. Well… Trini always left me growing up. She disappeared at the most inconvenient times, even for days on end. She never told me where she was going or what she was doing… leaving blanks for what could have been happy moments. It upset and frustrated me, and I wanted answers more than anything."

She stared at the coin. "I only found out why after she died." Her thumb gently brushed the coin's surface in remembrance until she reestablished eye contact with Yang. "The mission Summer went on… do you know what it was?"

Yang only shook her head, to which Minh hummed in thought. "So she was trying to protect you, too."

Yang didn't get it. "From what?"

"Something she didn't think you were ready for," Minh answered. "Yet. Like how I wasn't ready." Yang didn't say a word at this, a silent urge for Minh to continue. "If you learned what happened to Summer and figured out how she died… what would you have done? If someone was responsible, what would you do?"

"I… I-I…" Yang's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't given much thought to that. The sudden disappearance, the whys and the hows, the question of whether she was really dead or just missing; all those unknowns left Yang's mind blank. But if someone had caused it… if her mother's blood was on a pair of hands… Yang scowled at that thought.

"I… know exactly what I'd do," she finally whispered, her voice low. If one person was to blame for so much pain to herself and her family, then that person…

"Well… I did it," Minh whispered back. Yang saw the girl still staring at her morpher. "Once I learned what happened - that Rita Repulsa killed my mother - I dreamt of nothing but vengeance for over a year. And when I saw my chance, I took it. I took Trini's Power Coin and tried to fight back… but only got into more trouble. And if it weren't for Billy, Zack, and the other Rangers… that would've been it."

"Where are you going with this?" Yang asked her.

"I was hurt," Minh explained. "And you were hurt when it happened to you. Now, you had way more years than me dealing with this… and had no one to help you. Maybe you thought you didn't need it, given how you took everything on alone. Heck, you might've managed better than me, raising your sister and whatnot."

"You got over it," Yang told her. "I did, too."

Minh raised a brow. "Did you?"

"Alright, it took me a while," Yang huffed. "But I got over Summer."

"And then there was her," Minh's words made Yang pause. "Someone you found comfort in, to keep you grounded. Someone to take care of… and without Summer there, you stepped in."

Yang's eyes brightened in realization. "Ruby…"

"You did what any older sibling would and looked after her," Minh said with a smile. "You helped her grow up, told her stories of your mom so she would be remembered… and you became the mature one."

Yang chuckled. "Heh. Sure did."

Minh's smile dropped. "And that's the problem."

"H-huh?"

"Maturity comes at a certain age, Yang…" Minh told her. "And you were far from that requirement. You forced yourself to grow up too fast and pressured yourself with things no kid should worry about. You piled on so much weight that you tell yourself you can handle. You say you have to carry it so your family doesn't fall apart even more. And even when your dad got out of his funk and got his stuff together, you were still willing to sacrifice yourself to make Ruby happy."

"But… but that's my whole deal," Yang said. "My Semblance lets me absorb damage to dish it right back. I take the hits meant for her and my team."

"Exactly," Minh continued. "Now, Ruby is… what? Fifteen? The same age most Rangers are when they're chosen? And you're still holding her hand?"

Yang bawked. "I'm not… that's not what I-!"

"You're not holding her hand; you're coddling her."

"Gia! Would you please-!" Minh had to pinch the bridge of her nose and gently exhale. "Alright, she's not technically wrong there. The point is; Ruby's not a little girl anymore. If she says she wants to be a hero, she must learn to be one without having her big sister breathe down her neck. She needs to learn some things that don't come from you."

"I…" Yang's face paled. "I can't just up and leave Team RWBY!"

"No, no, no, that's not it," Minh gently calmed her. "Let me repeat myself. Gia and I… we don't want you to stop what you're doing. We want you to slow down before your overprotective habit becomes too much to bear… for Ruby, you, Blake, and Weiss."

"You're putting yourself through hell to keep all of them safe," Gia affirmed. "When they're more than capable of looking after themselves." She sighed and straightened herself. "Look, we get it. You lost someone and don't want a repeat. Because of what happened to your mom, you wanted to keep everyone else you loved close to you."

"But you're squeezing them too tight," Minh added. "You don't want to let Ruby go and you don't want to see her hurt, but I want you to step into her shoes for a moment. Say that you're her and you're up against something big. Something deadly."

"Like that Red Ranger?"

Minh nodded. "You're holding your own, giving it all you got. They're about to strike… but the strongest person you know leaps in the way. They take the blow meant for you and they're down. They might not get back up. What do you think Ruby's reaction was when she saw you, her older sister who's been there for her all her life, get into harm's way? How do you think she looked when she saw you lying there, beaten and broken?"

Panic flashed across Yang's face. "Sh-she wasn't supposed to see me like that."

"But she did," Minh confirmed. "And you know what I think? Seeing her proud, brave, strong older sister lying at the Ranger's feet because you tried to make sure no harm came to her… I think that hurt her more than any monster or villain ever will."

Yang remained petrified at Minh's words, her sister's horrified expression lodged in her mind.

"And one day, Yang… because you overexert yourself like that so much, there's gonna be some form of punishment that's too much for even you. It'll be the thing that breaks your back while you try to protect Ruby, Blake, Weiss, and anyone else. And if that day comes… Ruby is going to watch her sister die right in front of her. One final memory of tragedy and sorrow that will ripple through every memory she has of you. And it's going to be Summer all over again."

Yang lost the ability to blink or breathe. The thought of her motionless body lying before a broken Ruby, a horrified Weiss, and a distraught Blake brought forth a new wetness in her eyes that encountered no resistance. "Ruby will have lost her mother and her sister… and your friends will have lost the one who has made up the heart of their team, their shining light. And this time, there will be nobody to put them back together because no one can ever fill the hole that comes with your absence."

Minh pressed a palm to Yang's cheek. "Do you want to make Ruby happy?"

"M-m-more than anything…" She barely recognized her own voice.

"Then don't do that to her. Please don't throw away your life in exchange for hers. You know how good Ruby is in a fight, and it's not your job to win her battles for her. You can't protect Ruby from everything, Yang… because she needs to protect herself."

"And what she can't protect herself from," Gia added. "...is her sister beating herself up over not being strong enough. You hurt her more than you realize that way, just like Jake told me. Don't focus on being stronger than that Ranger, Yang… focus on being strong enough for your friends."

"You're a Power Ranger," Minh continued. "A finger of a fist, one half of a whole. Besides, isn't that the Huntress gig, too?"

"I… y-yeah?"

"Then trust Ruby. Trust your friends. Trust that they can make it out of a scrap. Some foes beat you down, but are you really going to finish their work yourself?" Minh asked. Gia nodded in agreement as she rose from her seat and knelt at Yang's side. "You asked yourself what good you were without strength. Well, what good are you if you just give up? What good is anyone?"

Yang sniffled and wiped at her eye. "Well… not only would Ruby be upset, but Blake would return a favor I did for her, and Weiss would chew my ear off."

"See?" Minh chuckled. "You're thinking about their reactions already. Off to a good start."

"You need them as much as they need you," Gia added. "Teamwork 101 right there."

Yang glanced at her fellow Yellow Rangers with a bright smile… and a happy sob escaped her as she enveloped them in a caring hug. Laughter rang out from all three girls' embrace, with Yang shedding tears of delight this time. "Thanks, girls… it feels nice to be on the other end of a pep talk."

"Awww, you're welcome, you big softie," Gia smirked.

Minh winced from Yang's hold. "O-okay, remember what I said about squeezing your friends too tight?" The laughter continued even as Yang released her grip on them, Gia exhaling in relief while Minh rolled her shoulder. "Mmph… alright, now that we've got the heavy stuff outta the way…"

Yang felt something being placed in her hand, and she didn't need to look to know what it was. Lilac eyes stared suspiciously at Minh. "Your Summer told you to bring it back, didn't she?"

"What? No!" Minh innocently objected. "Just found it lying around and…" Gia elbowed her in the arm. "Ha ha, okay! Guilty!"

"Can we get back to figuring out how to save the world now, please?"

"Please." Gia and Minh giggled in unison before turning to leave. Yang stood behind momentarily, staring proudly at the Burning Dragon Power Coin within her Power Morpher.

"You guys go on ahead…" she called to the girls. "I've got a sisterly chat to do."

…

If it were any other day, Ruby wouldn't have minded a tour of Cranston Technologies. She would have spent hours frolicking the building, asking questions about the various projects and machinery. Perhaps she could have talked with Billy about his research to improve everyday life on Earth… but Ruby felt she couldn't look him - one of her first friends from another world - in the eye.

Part of Ruby told her this couldn't be his fault. Nor the other Rang- Mighty Morphin Rangers, she corrected herself. Maybe they could've objected to what the others were doing, holding back when action needed to be taken and demanding to be the heroes everyone thought they were…

Maybe they did. And maybe they failed.

So, instead of the central building's many halls, exhibits, and labs, Ruby found herself in the basement, calling out one of the few names her gut knew she could trust—someone who was always dependable in a time of need.

"Alpha? Alpha, are you here?"

"Oh!" came the familiar automatic voice, the domed head jerking up from a console. "Hello, Ruby! What brings you back to the Command Center?" The robot's head swiveled around. "Er… let me rephrase that. What brings you back to the Command Center alone? Is everything alright?"

"It's okay, Alpha," Ruby smiled, patting his shiny domed head. "I won't be here long. I was just hoping you could help me with some questions."

"Ah, of course! I'd be happy to help!" Alpha was elated with delight. "Besides, I could use a break from adjusting the computers' Grid connection. Especially with… well…"

Ruby solemnly stared at the automation. "The Grimm infection."

"So you know about that," Alpha sighed. "In all my years of functionality, I have never seen the Morphin Grid itself under attack. I just hope the Rangers can do something about it before every last light is extinguished forever."

Ruby didn't want to doubt that… but after what she had seen, she had no choice but to. She couldn't stand this inactivity anymore. She needed to do what they couldn't. And to do that, she needed to know what she was up against.

Fortunately, Alpha stopped himself from getting far off-track. "So, what kind of questions do you have, exactly?"

"I've got a few," Ruby told him. "What can you tell me about evil Power Rangers?"

"Ah, yes. Right this way." Alpha led the girl to a massive monitor and tapped a few buttons on a keyboard-like panel. "I must warn you, Ruby. With the Grid infection, all connected devices are experiencing glitches and malfunctions. So whatever you wish to do, I suggest you do so quickly."

"This won't take long, Alpha. Promise." Ruby turned her eyes to the screen as Alpha finished inputting commands. The monitor flared to life with various pieces of footage, showcasing Rangers battling against their own. Alpha stood back and allowed Ruby up to the panel, watching the cataloged history playing before them.

"When it comes to Power Rangers turning evil," Alpha explained. "Most cases involve the work of a diabolical mastermind. The most infamous example? Brainwashing. Villains forcing Rangers to their side against their will." Ruby watched the monitor as it displayed a scene from inside a cafe, where someone dressed in ninja garb fired a blast of wind from his palm, knocking over a table and scattering its occupants while screams rang out. One of the diners slowly got back to his feet.

"Can I get you anything?" he quipped to the stone-faced trio. "A donut, maybe, or a muffin?"

"I try to stay away from sugar. Makes me hyper."

"Hey!" Ruby recoiled before jabbing a finger at the man. "Sugar is delicious, thank you very much!"

"Oh, I'd hate to see him when he gets hyper."

"Get up. We have some unfinished business to attend to."

True to the woman's words, the monitor progressed to underneath a bridge, where the six people were fighting in close quarters. They were using abilities similar to Semblances, too. Ruby counted super speed, running on air, enhanced jumping, impenetrable skin, underground burrowing, control over water, and a supersonic scream.

"Alright…" Ruby pondered. "What else is there?"

"Another edge for evil," Alpha answered as he inputted another command. "When a villain decides to create their own Power Ranger to tip the scales. And there is no better example than this moment that changed the Ranger legacy forever…"

Ruby held off asking what he meant as she looked back to the monitor… where a familiar screeching voice rang out.

"And now, morph into the Green Ranger!"

There was a puff of emerald smoke, followed by a Ranger Ruby knew all too well.

"To the fall of Zordon and the destruction of the Power Rangers!"

Ruby watched him materialize into the Command Center of the past, an otherworldly voice calling him on. "You know what to do…"

"Your wish is my command, Empress."

She watched him approach a familiar machine, silently extract a small CD, and slip it down the back…

"ALERT! ALERT! HOSTILE TAKEOVER!"

"Sweet dreams, tinhead!"

"ALERT! ALERT! ALERRRrrr…"

"Ay-yi-yi…" Alpha groaned. "My servos still shudder from that moment…"

Ruby shook her head and quietly groaned. As interesting as all of this was, none of it was what she sought. And she did tell Alpha she wanted to be quick, so she approached the panel, hovered her fingers over the keys, and typed.

"Evil… by… choice…"

"Ah, right! I almost forgot! It's hard to believe some chose to be evil independently!"

Really? Ruby found it easy to believe…

WHY WON'T YOU STOP?!

Why would I want to?

The following footage drove those horrible memories away. It was a team of Rangers facing down… their exact duplicates?

"We're not Power Rangers."

"Who are you, then?" Ruby recognized the voice. It was one of the men from the medbay… Andros, was it?

"Ha ha ha ha! You'll find out soon enough!"

The team burst into lightning and electric sparks… and something sinister emerged from the aftermath. They were dark and twisted figures wearing the Rangers' colors, yet had none of the heroic charm. Wicked laughter escaped all five of them, and Ruby felt dread race down her spine.

"We're the Psycho Rangers!"

"We're faster than you…"

"Smarter than you…"

"Stronger than you…"

"But we're evil!"

Their words held true in the ensuing battle. They were fierce, striking with no mercy, intending to destroy their counterparts through whatever means they saw fit. Their cruelty and lack of mercy reminded Ruby of the woman too much. Even when they grabbed the Rangers' heads…

…and started to drain their powers just like she did.

"Now, I'll know everything about your powers!"

Ruby felt something restrict her neck and hurried back to the keyboard. "O-okay, what else is there?!" She hastily typed another command, switching the scene before things got too ugly.

"Oooh, the Psycho Rangers were the meanest of the bunch!" Alpha commented. "Psycho Red was obsessed with destroying a Red Ranger. You should be lucky he no longer exists to hunt you, Ruby."

"Yay…" she moaned, memories of fire and amber eyes amidst nefarious chuckles flashing through her. "Lucky me…"

Finally, the monitor shifted to another Ranger team being addressed by…

Ruby's eyes almost popped from their sockets. "Is… is that a dog?"

"Oh boy…" Alpha uttered. "I'd brace myself if I were you for this one, Ruby. It's a true dishonor to the legacy."

"It's good to have you back, Rangers," said the dog man. "I had feared the worst. I have many questions for you…"

The Red Ranger glanced to the side, and Ruby saw that this one was a woman. Seeing a fellow female Red Ranger, she should've felt pride at this. But her first impression was tainted now… and Ruby saw her in the stranger's place.

"...and you may have as many for me." The dog man was unaware of a flash of light from behind him, revealing the Rangers in not just their costumes but also in tactical gear and armed with rifles. They assembled into a well-practiced formation.

"But for now, welcome back."

"You'll be coming with us, Commander Cruger," spoke the woman, the dog-man turning and falling short at those words. "You have an appointment with Emperor Gruumm." They all pointed their rifles at the stunned dog-man, whose features were filled with shock.

"Space Patrol Delta's A-Squad," Alpha lamented as the footage switched to an all-out firefight between that team and another. "Promising candidates turned traitor, Rangers gone rogue. Their reason? Well, in the words of their squad leader, Charlie… everyone wants to be on a winning team. She was proud of her superiority and saw everyone as beneath her. Greedy, arrogant, sadistic, and self-serving… she was everything a Ranger shouldn't be."

That was why Ruby couldn't focus on anyone other than her. Much like she saw that woman in her, she saw herself in the other Red Ranger sprawled at her feet.

"You never really thought you stood a chance against us, did you? After all, you're only the B-Squad."

"Meaning what?" the other Red Ranger dared to ask. Her teammates were happy to answer, standing proud over the weary Rangers.

"You're second best!"

"Second rate!"

"And second choice!"

"You're not even fit to shine our boots."

The B-Squad was undeterred and got back up for another round… more than Ruby could say for her own fight. As she continued to observe the showdown between squads, she envisioned herself and her friends going up against the woman for a third time. The only question was… would they be so lucky again? Or would she not hesitate to burn them all to ash at her feet?

"Alright, they beat these guys. And those literal psychos," Ruby mumbled to herself, her hands on the panel again. "Come on, how did they-"

BRRZZZAAAAAK! The panel erupted into sparks and the monitor started spasming, the footage erratically glitching. Ruby and Alpha yelped in alarm as computers buzzed and instruments blinked and flickered wildly. Ruby scrambled to regain control… only to watch the footage vanish as the monitor died out completely.

"NO!" She screamed, her only hope of stopping the woman lost.

"AY-YI-YI-YI-YI! THE CORRUPTION! IT'S DESTABILIZING EVERYTHING!"

"ALPHA, SHUT IT DOWN! SHUT IT DOWN NOW!"

"THE MANUAL OVERRIDE! HANG ON, RUBY!" Alpha hurried over to a massive red button, pounding it with a palm. Upon contact, the button shorted out with a loud zap, sending an electrical current through Alpha's body. Unintelligible electronic noises buzzed and sputtered from the robot's vocal processor, even as he collapsed and twitched involuntarily.

"ALPHA!" Ruby shrieked, her attempt to reach him cut off when a console exploded to her right. She hit the floor hard amidst a shower of sparks, one of which landed on her sleeve…

…and shorted out her communicator.

Ruby shot back to her feet in a panic, her silver eyes wide with horror at the sparking device flickering with red light. "GAH! NO NO NO!" The device beeped and blared alarmingly as Ruby shook her arm frantically, the light pulsing faster and brighter. The girl whipped her head around wildly, bolting for a potential exit as fast as possible. Her wrist communicator kept malfunctioning and pulsing madly…

…and Ruby Rose vanished in a crimson blink of light. No trace of her presence remained, even as the last sparks were coughed out and all systems died down. Darkness and silence filled the Command Center for several minutes.

Eventually, red lights accompanied a low humming sound.

"EEEEEEEEEMERGENCY REBOOT COMPLETE. INITIATE SYSTEMS CHECK."

Alpha Nine rose into a sitting position, a hand on his domed head. "Ooooh, my aching servos. I think my central processor is fried. Uuuugh…" The machine clambered to his feet and looked around the ruined chamber. "By the Masters, what a mess! Are you okay, Ruby?"

He received no answer… and realized he was all alone.

"Ruby? Ruby? Hello? Are you here, Ruby?"

Alpha searched behind consoles, under panels, behind pillars, and everywhere else he could look… but there was no sign of the girl. "Ruby?! Ruby, where are you?! Answer me, Ruby! Ruby?!"

He found nothing - not even a clue as to what had happened or where she had gone. And as Alpha Nine stood alone in the wrecked Command Center, he could only say one thing.

"Ay… yi… yi…"