King: So... real quick. First, Google Translate gave me the names in question. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

Knox: What about the other thing?

King: I'm getting to that. See, I had an idea. The gang gets to leave the theater for a while for maintenance. While doing so, they'd get to visit Arcadia directly for a vacation. I don't know if I need to create a new story for it though. I want it to be canon to this story, so I don't want to require separate reading. Would you guys be okay with that? If I hold off on 'reactions' for a bit and have the crew enjoy a vacation on this story? It would be a multi-chapter process if so. Let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy.

Inspiration: Bleach (RWBY)

/\

There was no time wasted here.

The scene opened to an old paper screen wall with a dark wood base and support. It slid open to show an old man sitting in a room of wood. He dressed in a balck shihakusho with a long white Haori coat with black diamonds at its base. His white hair was long and wrapped back over his shoulders to tie into a braid at his chest. His face showed age beyond anyone the viewers had seen, likely well into his Twilight years, maybe his midnight years. Yet, despite being older than dirt, he gave off a presence of power. It was as if he could put you down without needing to bother worrying about the failings of his age.

Maria whistled, "Wish I aged that well."

The man let out a breath before looking back up to those around him. In two rows before him were a group of ten dressed in similar uniforms and coats, though the camera held in a way that hid their identities. There were seemingly three spots that were empty among the lines. At the end of the column was a duo of individuals. The first was Penny, standing in a black shihakusho, with a body that was more (let's call it) filled out and with longer hair. The man next to her was sitting in a wooden wheelchair, and the camera swung back to show his face and reveal Pietro Polendina. Pietro was also wearing the same uniform with the white coat.

Ruby leaned to her robotic friend, "Is that your dad?"

Penny smiled and nodded, "Yes. That is indeed my father."

Nora thought for a moment before a loud gasp escaped her, "Is this the Zanpakuto world?!"

King chuckled, "Yes, but not the same one. This world finds their anchor on Remnant rather than a world called Earth. This world followed a different set up."

"Okay, but with the coats?" Coco could tell it was important given the group all having similar styles.

"That would mean they are all Captains, the highest rank of their units."

Pietro looked back over the column, not certain what he was about to say but knowing something had to be said.

The elderly man at the head of the line tapped his cane against the ground, revealing the infamous cane of a certain headmaster.

Ozpin blinked, not exactly certain what he was expecting with his elderly years. But that probably wasn't it. He honestly didn't think he'd get to live that long.

Ozpin sighed before he addressed the group, "I thank you for answering my summons. Recent events have left us without captains. Captain Tora's retirement has been a momentous celebration in his successes. However, we also lost Captain Aoki to a Hollow attack. In that attack, Captain Polendina was also injured beyond recovery."

Pietro hung his head a bit more. A Hollow attack was easy to deal with, but this was something else. The Hollow was a strange creature with some kind of Reishi disruption ability. Pietro lost any sensation and use of his legs as a result.

This got those out of the loop to wince at the idea. Those in the know about Pietro's situation had a similar if subdued reaction. But Pietro lost use of legs fairly early in life and, as he told it, in a fairly painless fashion. Everyone was just used to it. The Pietro on screen however lived a life with his body intact, only to lose feeling in his legs in battle of all places. There's no way that wasn't excruciating at the time.

Pietro looked back up to the man at the end of the room, "Head Captain! Permission to speak."

Ozpin nodded, "Speak as you wish."

"I request continued involvement with the Research Department of Squad 12. I wish to continue helping our cause. I have so many ideas and experiments still in progress. I would at least like to complete these."

Ironwood tapped the armrest of his chair in thought. "So, as a civilian contractor?"

"It would make sense." Winter nodded once, "Pietro might as well be a civilian contractor in our world as well. Considering…"

Ozpin was silent at first. But soon he nodded, "I acknowledge your wishes. However, this will be the purview of the Captain to replace you. I will give you three months reprieve, but if the new Captain chooses to remove you from your position, you will not argue the issue. Is this understood?"

Pietro bowed his head as far was he could in his chair, "Thank you Head Captain!"

"Back to the matter at hand. We have three positions to fill as soon as we are able. We cannot allow a vacuum of power to remain."

Suddenly, the meeting was interrupted when the paper doors slid open very quickly. A few steps in, the figure fell to her knee and lowered her head, "Head Captain! Please excuse me interruption!" It was revealed to be Glynda Goodwitch, dressed in the attire of a Soul Reaper with an armband holding a wooden badge. A white vest identified her as the Squad 1 Lieutenant and thus the right hand to Head Captain Ozpin.

Qrow let out a snicker, "Some things never change."

Glynda, however, felt a certain pride in this fact. It was impossible to deny that she was influential and easily the most competent Huntress on Remnant and her position showed this. Sure, sometimes she missed the field, but it was nice to teach the next generation.

Ozpin's eyes narrowed, "Speak Lieutenant!"

Glynda raised her head up to face the Head Captain, but kept her kneeling position, "Sir! Multiple high level Hollow signatures were located in Area 99 of the Rukon!"

"99?" A Captain spoke up, the camera confirming his identity as James Ironwood, Captain of the Fifth Squad.

Ironwood smirked knowing he'd made such a high position in this world.

"We should count our blessings." A new voice and camera angle showed Squad 13 Captain Qrow Branwen. "District 99 is basically just an open field."

Qrow paused before blinking in surprise. He expected to be another Lieutenant, not a full on Captain.

"It would still be in our interest to deal with this before it gets out of hand." A new Captain was revealed as Squad 10 Captain Oscar Pine, a prodigy Soul Reaper significantly younger than those around him, and yet he remains one of the thirteen best of the Soul Society.

Oscar was taken aback. A prodigy? Him? Alternate universes and all that, but still! He wasn't special.

"I'd beg to differ." The Ozpin in his head answered back. "Oscar, no one is born special, they are born lucky. It is how we use these gifts and abilities that make someone 'special.' Given what you've done to our point, I'd think you'd qualify."

That made Oscar a bit more self conscious and embarrassed, but also a bit better.

"How old is he anyway?" Nora asked. "He kind of looks like he's… what? 13?"

"I'm 14." Oscar answered.

King chuckled. "Not in this world. He's about… 387? Give or take."

Everyone paused. Processed. Then all shouted, "WHAT?!" And this time, it was everyone.

King laughed. "Yep. And Ozpin is about 10,000. They aren't humans, they're Soul Reapers. Every single one of them is dead and living in their version of the afterlife, called the Soul Society."

Ozpin nodded, "I agree! We shall treat this as a direct attack but prepare for a secondary assault. We will send out a forward squad to hold the line and attempt a counter assault! We shall initiate the Delta Defence plan! Move out!"

The Captains all shouted in unison, "YES HEAD CAPTAIN!" They all instantly disappeared to prepare for battle.

Nora gapsed, "Are we all going to see our powers! Those Zan-pack-too things?"

"Zanpakuto." King corrected. "And let's find out."

The scene changed to show a large open field with a wooded area nearby. An explosion rocked the screen to show Ruby as she got thrown by the impact. She was, of course, dressed in the same attire as all the other Soul Reapers.

Ruby's turn to gasp as she got excited to see her weapon.

Opposing her was a large creature with dark hair and an eerie white mask. It had giant claws on its right hand that extended a good two feet. It stood up on its hind legs, showing it had a wide frame and a large hole in its chest. It laughed as it ran its claws against each other, creating sparks between them. "Is that all you can do, Soul Reaper?"

Yang shivered, "That thing can talk?!"

Knox nodded, "It's a precursor to the Hollow versions of Jaune, Neptune, and Raven you saw before. That is a standard Hollow. The others were Hollows who were able to gain Soul Reaper-like abilities and lose most of their masks. These are called Arrancar. That is not one, but Hollows that survive long enough start to gain more sentience and power."

"Well that sounds familiar." Port laughed.

The Hollow looked down on Ruby as it seemed to grin, its mask shifting to show it. "Now, why don't we put you down?!" It raised its right hand and prepared to shred the Reaper apart.

Ruby swung her katana upward to block the attack and held the stance and kept the Hollow at bay for a moment, but it was starting to push her down. Ruby closed her eyes in strain before shooting them open again. "Shimmer!"

The Hollow seemed confused.

"Mikazuki!"

A small text box appeared reading [Translation Note: Crescent Moon]

Ruby's sword started to glow, causing the Hollow to back off. Ruby swung herself to her feet as her weapon's transformation completed. Ruby was now holding a scythe with a white blade and dark handle. The blade itself extended further passed the grip to create a full crescent. She swung the weapon around with a flourish, particles of light shimmered along the path like stars.

Ruby was starry-eyed so much she was practically radiating stars. "Oh my gosh that is so cool!"

Yang rolled her eyes with a grin, "You would have a scythe."

Ruby slammed a foot on the ground and swung her weapon up and created an arc of energy that sparkled with red and white stars. It tore apart the arena in its path and toward the Hollow.

Yang blinked at first before grinning, "Okay. That is cool though."

Ruby was having a conniption from excitement.

The Hollow laughed and held its right hand up to catch the attack in its claws, "Pathetic! Is this is all you can do Soul Reaper!" It squeezed its claw against the attack and shattered the attack.

Ruby groaned, "Oh come on!"

The Hollow's grin fell as it felt something fall against its shoulder. The camera moved back just far enough to show Ruby had jumped behind the Hollow with her scythe draped over its left shoulder. Her weapon started to sparkle like her previous attack before she swung the weapon down and through the Hollow like a knife through butter. The Hollow was cleaved in half and fell to the ground before starting to dissipate.

Ruby's mood did an instant 180. "That's more like it!" She then saw the Hollow's fate, "Wait, they disappear? Like the Grimm?"

King nodded, "Funny that, isn't it?"

Ruby couldn't relax though. She jumped away in time for the area to burst. As she slid to a halt, another Hollow was shown. This one was humanoid, dressed in the white uniform of the Arrancar. The remnants of his mask covered the area over his eyes (a masquerade mask). He grinned down toward Ruby as he stood with no visible stance and his arms behind his back. "I'll admit, that was interesting. But don't get too comfortable. That was little more than a weakling I conjured up to test how you'd handle yourself."

Ruby's eyes narrowed toward the Arrancar before she grinned, "What's your name, Arrancar?"

The Hollow raised an eyebrow, "And why should I tell you that?"

"Um, because it's polite?" Nora answered the rhetorical question.

But Ruby had a different answer, "Because if you're going to end someone's life, the least you can do is tell them your name. I am Ruby Rose! Unseated member of Squad 13!"

Ruby's friends, family, and general acquaintances all kind of blanked on that reason.

The Arrancar gave his own grin before starting to laugh. "I suppose that's as good a reason as any. I am Masima Lishiran!" Masima held his arm to his mouth and bit down hard enough to cause bleeding. He then swung his arm forward and created pools of his own blood that began to solidify and expand into lesser Hollows. "And you will die!"

The scene turned black before they heard someone speak. "Chill. Shiroi Kōri!" [TN: White Ice]. The Lesser Hollows were all frozen in place and the camera swung to show Weiss holding a rapier with a snow-white handle and crystalline blade of ice. "Honestly Ruby, you're part of Squad 13 now. The least you could do is drop the Squad 11 mannerisms."

Yang started to laugh. "The Ice Queen retains her title!"

Weiss groaned and held her head in her hands.

Masima chuckled. "And who are you then? Even if you don't follow your friend's logic, you can at least be polite."

Weiss sighed, but relented. "I'm Weiss Schnee. Fourth Seat of Squad Six."

"Aw…" Ruby let out a disappointed groan, "We're not all on the same team?"

King shook his head. "But you were all in the same year at the Soul Reaper Academy."

Neptune let out a chuckle, "And she gets to be an officer."

Masima smirked and tore the skin on his other arm. "Good. But if you're an officer, I'll have to go bigger!" He splattered his blood back behind him and it all pooled together into a single form. As it blended together, it grew to a gigantic form of a Menos Grande.

"What the hell is that?!" Qrow shook. He could feel something was off about that thing. Something awful.

"Menos Grande." King explained. "A class of Hollow referred to as the Gillian. It's an amalgamation of many Hollows, without a mind or personality. Rarely ever will one appear, but if they do they can become more powerful and become Adjuchas. There's also another step over this, but the Vasto Lorde is even rarer and likely simply born as such."

"How do they get more powerful?" Ozpin could feel it would be bad, but he wasn't ready for the answer.

"They eat each other."

"Well that's disgusting."

"Question." Jaune really hoped to change the subject. "What are the Arracncar then? Where do they fit into that? We know that they got the more human forms and abilities like theirs, but where do they fit into this?"

"Arrancar are usually the strongest of all the Hollows. They were usually Adjuchas, but often the Vasto Lorde based Arrancar are the most powerful. Some can even become Arrancar from Vasto Lorde from pure power evolution."

The Menos opened its mouth and began to charge a massive energy blast, referred to as a Cero. Ruby and Weiss both moved their weapons to a ready position. But the blast went off and flew straight toward them. The ground erupted in a massive explosion. Masima laughed as he saw this. "Glorious power! Imagine taking a real attack from a Hollow more powerful! Are you still alive in there, Soul Reapers?! Or did you die from something so weak?!"

The smoke cleared and revealed a wall of ice with several layers clearly blown apart at the point of impact. Ruby then jumped to the side, her weapon sparkling again. She swung up to the Menos and the stars flew forward toward its face, shredding apart the white mask and forcing the Menos back.

"What?!"

"Booyah!" Ruby cheered.

Masima shook in rage and turned back to the two. "Fine! I'll kill you both myself!" As he reached for his weapon, the screen showed everything in inverted color, only to slash down from head to toe. The inversion fell away to show Masima fall in half.

The sound of bells signaled two new figures had arrived. One was Adam Tauras with his blade held down as though he'd just slashed downward. He had the badge of a Soul Reaper Lieutenant on his arm as well. His sword was a bright white with a red hilt, a simple, but beautifully formed katana named Tsukihime [TN: Moon Princess].

Adam felt like this was appropriate in a way. But those he dealt with snickered at the dissidence between himself and this blade.

The other was a Captain, shown by the coat wrapped around her. Her black and red hair flowed likely in the wind from Adam's attack. Ribbons fell from her hair with bells ever signalling her presence to anyone she would battle. Captain of Squad 11, Summer Rose, often referred to as the Kenpachi. Physically, she is the strongest of all the Soul Reapers.

Raven wanted to strangle someone over that. It was always about Summer! Sumer was always the best one on her team! And it pissed her off! And now she was still being better from beyond the fucking grave!

The rest of the family, though, was cheering.

Summer huffed. "Hardly worth our time. Adam, deal with any stragglers."

"Yes Captain!" Adam disappeared to continue his work.

Summer turned to the two lower officers. "Where's the rest of your team?"

Ruby, formerly a member of Squad 11, was instant to answer, "Blake and Yang went off to fight another Hollow to the North!" Ruby always looked up to the woman gifted with the moniker the Sword Demon.

"Wait! Are we not related?" Ruby asked, a little disappointed.

King shook his head. "No. You both lived in the same district of Rukon, District 33 commonly called the Rose Garden. So, you both took the last name Rose. It's pure coincidence."

"Then what's the Sword Demon thing?" Tai asked, concerned in his own way.

"The Captain of the Eleventh Squad is always called the Kenpachi, or Sword Demon, and is the only position one can earn by defeating the previous Captain. By doing so, you become the new Kenpachi."

Summer sighed and looked back over the battlefield. "Alright. Get back to work. As long as there's Hollows, we're not done here."

Both non-Captains straightened up, "Yes Captain!" And ran off to fight.

The scene moved to show more Hollows being torn apart. The camera showed Nora as she slashed through a Hollow with her sealed Zanpakuto.

"Yes!" Nora cheered. ""Yes! YES! Come on! Show the power!"

Nora growled as more Hollows started to swarm. But then she grinned. She held her weapon over her head and shouted, "Roar on the Storm Winds!" Her weapon glowed before expanding into a new form. When it stopped, she was surrounded by drums connected to each other by an ethereal ribbon arching over her shoulders. She also had two sticks in either hand and seemed held to the ribbon's ends. "Kaminari Taiko!" [TN: Lightning Taiko Drum]

Nora's head tilted, "Drums?" She was still excited to see what they could do though.

Nora smirked and swung a stick into the nearby drum, the sound resembling thunder rather than a drum. For a good reason. Lightning shot out from the drum and fried many almost instantly.

Nora was drooling now. Unrepentantly drooling over this show of awesomeness.

The camera angle changed to reveal she wasn't just a Soul Reaper, she was the Lieutenant of Squad 10.

Nora cheered, as per usual.

Jaune and others chuckled at her antics.

Nora grinned and jumped up to slam another bolt into the ground to rip apart the Hollows around. As Nora landed, she struck two of the drums to create a massive shockwave that flew forward and fried a few more lesser Hollows. She stood again and smirked out over what was left. "Is that all you got?!"

The Hollows began to part to reveal another Arrancar. This one was a female with long orange hair and a purple eye. The other eye was covered by a mas piece resembling a half mask. Her face was even and seemingly devoid of emotion. "I apologize for wasting your time Soul Reaper. I would have appeared sooner, but I assumed these would be enough of a challenge for you." She swung her hand to the side and all of the Hollows around her disappeared. "Masima's little pets might be weaker than normal Hollows, but they work together far better. I assumed that would make up for their failures. But you seem too strong for that to matter." She changed her stance and leaned her weight to the side with her arms wrapped over her mid-torso. "I am Christine Phantasma. I'm sorry, but I have to kill you."

Nora's smirk just grew. Another Soul Reaper had snuck in behind Chirstine and swung his blade toward her. Christine ducked under the attack with little effort before kicking him away. As he landed, he was revealed to be Jaune, standing as Lieutenant of Squad 7.

Nora jumped up, "Booyah! Lieutenant Squad!" She leaned over with her hand up toward Jaune.

He just chuckled and gave her the high five she seeked.

Jaune adjusted his stance and held ready for a counter, but it never came.

Christine just slowly returned to a neutral position before turning to him. "How interesting. And who are you, then?"

Jaune's eyes narrowed, "Jaune Arc. Lieutenant of Squad 7."

"Seven? That sounds familiar…" Christine tapped her chin in thought before snapping her fingers in her Eureka moment. "Oh right! That guy in the coat."

This caught Jaune off guard. "What?"

"Yeah… Ao-something."

Jaune started to shake, "Aoki… Captain Aoki of Squad 7."

"That's it."

Everyone took in a sharp breath. They could see where this was going.

"You… You're the one who killed Captain Aoki?"

Christine nodded, her features remaining neutral. "I was. For what it was worth, he died honorably, if uselessly. I was still able to at least cripple the other one."

Penny practically snapped her chair's armrest. The idea that she was responsible for hurting her father made her feel odd. She'd never felt this before. So this is anger…

Jaune's shaking faded, but he called out to his fellow Lieutenant. "Nora. Handle the other Hollows. She's mine."

Nora saluted before jumping up and using lightning attacks to bounce around in the air.

Christine's face didn't change, "I see. So it's revenge you seek. Then I suppose I have to give you the chance to avenge your Captain. But if I must do so, I won't hold back." She drew her sword and called out, Ópera Fantasma." [TN: Phantom Opera]. Her body erupted with light before reforming to show her wearing an ornate stage costume akin to a noble, complete with cloak. Her visage also changed slightly to show emotions, particularly a grin. "Are you ready to join your Captain, Soul Reaper?"

Jaune held his weapon up and called his blade, "Carve your path through evil! Tengoku no Moeru Ken!" [TN: Heaven's Burning Blade]. When it finished its transformation, it revealed a straight, double bladed arming sword. He snapped his weapon to the side and fire erupted at the blade's edges.

Yang snickered, "Hey Ruby! Fire Sword."

Ruby didn't really care about her sister's attempt to tease her over her geeking out about weapons when they arrived at Beacon. She only had one thing on her mind, "That's so cool!"

Jaune jumped to the side and ran toward her, small wisps of fire flying off his weapon. As he approached, Christine smiled and swung her arms outward to either side. A loud tone played out from her cape, the cord of a church organ, as sent Jaune flying back. As she swung her arms about, she created a song that formed physical attacks with each note.

Penny clapped her hands together, "I get it now! Her Phantom Opera is so named because the music plays without any visible orchestra. Like a ghostly music line."

Knox snickered to a joke only he and King understood.

Christine let out a manic laugh as she upped the tempo and started to beat Jaune back. "Is that all you can do Soul Reaper?! Cry! Cry to the heavens and sing your symphony of anguish!"

Jaune started to slash through each note as best he could, but it was proving difficult. "Damn it. If I could close the gap…" He grit his teeth and swung his weapon up before disappearing and reappearing nearby, using the Flash Step technique to get closer. He wasn't as good at the skill as some of the other Soul Reapers, but it worked for what he needed. He got close and prepared another swing, only to find another wave of sound sending him flying.

"I don't think getting close is happening." Tai flinched at the impact.

Jaune slid across the ground before going into a spin from the force.

Christine laughed even harder now. "Sorry Soul Reaper! But you're nowhere near strong enough to get through my Sound Barrier!"

Yang and Tai snickered. The others, not so much.

Christine laughed before she licked her lips. "Prepare to die, Soul Reaper!" She began to move her hands and the physical power began to pool above her head. This was going to be a big end, a grand finale.

In the distance, Summer watched on with her arms crossed. This might just be it. Too bad he couldn't avenge his Captain. She sighed and shook her head, bringing her hand to her blade, Guess I need to step in.

Ruby was torn. Yes, she'd get to see her mom fight, and likely be awesome. But at the same time, it meant Jaune had to fail first. It was hard to be totally happy about it.

Jaune growled and slowly rose up to his feet again. "I was hoping to save this… But I also refuse to die to you." He brought his weapon up and held it before his face.

Summer's muscles lost tension and she raised an eyebrow. What's he doing?

Jaune closed his eyes and let out a breath. As Christine swung her hands down, the wall sound flew toward Jaune. Everything seemed to slow before Jaune spoke again. "Bankai."

"What kai?" Nora asked.

King seemed confused by their confusion before he snapped his fingers. "Oh right! You never saw a Bankai. Well, you did, but not the transformation process. A Soul Reaper's weapon has three stages. The first is the sealed form. This is the original version you saw at the start. The second is the Shikai. This form is attained by forming a synergistic union with the spirit within their weapon. The final, fully awakened, form is the Bankai. This is achieved by bringing the spirit within to heel and to take full control over its power. It could take some Soul Reapers centuries to achieve."

Ruby only really picked up one part of that, "Spirit in the sword? You mean they're alive?!"

"Yes and no. They are a part of the Soul Reaper. They are of one soul. But, the spirit is also separate. They can communicate between themselves and can take shape within the soul."

"This just keeps getting better!"

Jaune's body became wrapped in fire as the sound was blown apart. When they could see him again, flames flew about his body and his weapon disappeared. A scarf of fire wrapped over his neck and shoulders and a section seemed to fly off in the wind. Fire was flowing out from his wrists and down from his waist like a belt. "Ten no Ikari." [TN: Wrath of Heaven.]

Mercury actually let out an impressed whistle, "That is pretty metal, not going to lie."

Cinder actually started to get some ideas. Maybe figure out a permanent, flame-based accessory. It would help her intimidation factor.

Christine chuckled, "Is that supposed to scare me?" She swung her hand aside and a tone of sound flew through the air.

Jaune snapped his hand upward and a pillar of fire ripped through the ground and created a shield. Once done, he swung his hand back down and sent the wave of fire over to Christine. Christine jumped up over the attack, only to find Jaune waiting for her with crossed arms. He swung his hand aside and backhanded her back into the ground. He brought his hand back upward and created a ball of fire before swinging down and sending it onto Christine before it exploded.

"Holy crap!" Elm shouted. "This is nuts!"

Harriet still didn't see anything too crazy. It wasn't their world, and it had different rules.

Christine pulled herself out of the scorched ground and roared in anger. "What the hell?! Where is this coming from?!"

Summer blinked in surprise at what she was seeing as she waited nearby.

Jaune looked down on Christine with eyes that burned with fury. He held his hand out toward her, "This ends. Now." He swung his hand up and another pillar of flames tore the ground beneath Christine and into the sky. The flames ended to show a scorched Christine as she twitched in pain. Jaune returned to the ground and swung his hand at her neck, causing her body to dissipate to ashes. With the battle won, his blade returned its sealed form.

Summer crossed her arms and leaned her weight to the side. I'll give you this, Aoki. I think your squad is in good hands.

The scene faded out to end here. For now.

"Ah man." Yang groaned good naturedly. "I was hoping we'd get to see my power too."

Knox shrugged, "Maybe next time. It's in the Achieve, so we can come back later."

Blake nodded, "That's fair." She wouldn't say it out loud, but she was interested in seeing what she could do as well.

But it'll have to wait for now.