Fall

Ozpin's office…

Professor Ozpin is seated behind his desk across from Pyrrha Nikos, as the last rays of twilight come through the clock-decorated windows.

"Well, it comes as no surprise that they've chosen you to move on to the final round of the tournament. Your performance was exemplary." Ozpin said, chuckling as he gestures to Pyrrha, his cane resting at his side.

"Thank you, Professor Ozpin, but I would have never made it this far without my teammates." Pyrrha said, humbly.

"Personally, I think it's the other way around." Qrow said, from his spot leaning against a column in the back of the room, arms crossed.

"I'm sorry, but I don't believe we've been introduced." Pyrrha said, turning around and gets up from her chair, trying to be formal.

"Name's Qrow." Qrow said, still rather hostile.

"Qrow is a trusted colleague of mine." Ozpin said.

Pyrrha looks at Qrow for another moment before addressing her teacher again, "Professor, if you don't mind me asking, why have you called me here?"

"Please, take a seat." Ozpin said, still smiling, and when Pyrrha sat down, he puts his fingers up to his lips, leaning back casually. "What is your favorite fairy tale?"

"I'm...sorry?" Pyrrha asked, confused.

"Fairy tales, stories from your childhood. Surely you must remember some of them."

"Well, there's The Tale of The Two Brothers, The Shallow Sea, The Girl in the Tower…" Pyrrha is put off by the question, but answers with nostalgia.

"What about The Story of the Seasons?" Ozpin asked, leaning back forward.

"Well, of course!" Pyrrha said, looking away in remembrance.

"Hello, Pyrrha." Jared said, removing his perception filter TARDIS key from around his neck.

Jared took out his phone and placed it on the table, loading up a hologram screen of color silhouettes of four young women coming across a house on a hill with a single figure in the doorway, "Why I'm here, not gonna answer now. You continue on explaining the story to us. About what you know of it."

"Okay." Pyrrha said, looking at Jared, then away from him. "A callous old man, who refuses to leave his home, is visited by four traveling sisters."

Jared pressed a button on his Apple Watch to make the presentation change off of his phone. Each of the four girls performs a different action, with the white one sitting down, the green bringing a basket of fruits, the orange calling their host out of the building, and the purple gesturing to what's around them.

"The first understands his reclusive nature and urges him to use his time in solitude to reflect and meditate. The second brings him fruits and flowers, tending to his crops and revitalizing his garden. The third warms the man's heart, convincing him to step outside and embrace the world around him. And the fourth and final sister begs him to look at all that he has, and be thankful." Pyrrha said, watching the video where a golden light emanates from the old man until it surrounds the four girls, who go on their way with the glow still around them. "In return for their kindness, the man grants the maidens incredible powers, so that they may continue to help others all over the world. They graciously accept, and promise to share their gifts with the people of Remnant 'til the end of days." She comes back to the office as she lists the four off. "Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall; the four maidens. My mother loves that story."

"Would you believe me if I told you that one's been around since I was a boy?" Ozpin asked.

"You're not that old, Professor." Pyrrha said, laughing.

"Well, would you believe me if I told you it was true?" Ozpin asked, turning from playful to deadly serious in a millisecond.

Pyrrha is silent for a moment, then gives an uneasy chuckle, "I beg your pardon?"

"What if I told you that there were four maidens existing in this world, that could wield such tremendous power, without Dust?"

"You mean...like a Semblance?" Pyrrha asked, trying to make sense of this development.

"Like magic." Ozpin said, giving a small smile as he delivers his secret.

"I…" Pyrrha said, looking down.

"Yeah. First time hearing this, it's pretty crazy." Qrow said.

"It really was. I'm cursed with knowledge. Knowing that this would happen. It kills me inside that there's nothing else I can do but help the people here." Jared said, walking towards Pyrrha. "That fairy tale didn't exist in my world, but it does here. Hell, back in my world. You guys were fairy tales."

"You're serious?" Pyrrha asked, turning her gaze from Qrow and Jared back to Ozpin again, amazed.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Ozpin asked, straight-faced.

"...No." Pyrrha said, struggling for the right words. "Why...why are you telling me this?"

Ozpin glances at Qrow, who nods his approval, then he looked at Jared, wanting an answer.

"Tell her, because I don't have the courage to." Jared said, walking around the room. "I've kept secrets all this time. The only one I let slip was Thanos. But this affects me personally."

"You're right, it does." Ozpin said, before looking into Pyrrha's eyes. "We are telling you this, Pyrrha Nikos, because we believe you are next in line to receive the Fall Maiden's powers."

"We?" Pyrrha asked, eyes growing wider and wider until she realizes what's going on.

At that moment, the elevator doors open, and she sees Glynda Goodwitch and General James Ironwood step out.

"Sorry we're late." Ironwood said, as he straightens his tie and Glynda fixes her glasses.

"Wait, what is this? Who are you?" Pyrrha asked, overwhelmed, narrowing her eyes at Ozpin.

"You know who we are. We're still the same teachers and Headmasters you met when you arrived at Beacon." Goodwitch said, coming forward with Ironwood and Qrow, spreading her hands and trying to sound reassuring.

"And I'm still the same Jared as I've always been." Jared said, walking around the room. "You just don't know it yet, but I help these folks now and again. Because I have the foreknowledge, and it comes in handy."

"But we've got a little part-time job." Qrow said.

"We are the protectors of the world." Ironwood said.

"And we need your help." Ozpin said.

Pyrrha is shocked into silence as everyone in the room looks to her.

"What do you say, Pyrrha, old buddy, old pal?" Jared asked, taking out a gun and shooting a bullet at Pyrrha for her to catch it. "Do you want to help us? Because honestly, I don't want to see this world fall."

Elevator...

Pyrrha is looking nervous, with the group of "protectors". She looks at Ozpin, Glynda, and Jared as if seeing them for the first time while a steady beeping signals each floor passed.

"Where are we going?" Pyrrha asked, apprehensive.

"Well, we're going to somewhere nice, even if it's a bit creepy and depressing at times." Jared said, sipping a cup of tea. "I don't like it, but what can you do? It's the vault. Under Beacon Academy."

The elevator continues downward through the vertical tunnel of dark green lights until it opens its doors and their passengers step out, with Pyrrha being the last to leave as she absorbs the sight of the large, sparsely-lit hallway she is now being lead through. Glynda waits up for her behind the others.

Hallway...

"I'm sure you must have questions." Goodwitch said.

"Maybe one, or two…" Pyrrha said, still taking it all in.

"It's okay, Pyrrha." Jared said, smiling. "I get that this is overwhelming for you."

"I still don't understand. You said I was next in line to receive the Maiden's power. What do you mean by that?" Pyrrha asked, while they continue on.

"The Maidens have existed for thousands of years. But much like in nature, the seasons change. No two summers are alike. When a Maiden dies, her power leaves her body and seeks out a new host, ensuring that the seasons are never lost, and that no individual can hold on to that power forever." Goodwitch said.

"So, how does the power choose?" Pyrrha asked.

"Through a series of stupid and convoluted rules." Qrow said, over his shoulder.

"Qrow." Goodwitch said.

"Hey, don't get mad 'cause I'm right."

"And what about those adventures I had with you and the Doctor?" Pyrrha asked, walking towards Jared. "Were they for nothing?"

"Well, you could say they were a test of sorts. To see the decisions you would make overtime. To see if you could carry a burden, that's all." Jared said, happily. "I'd say, you've passed."

"Wait, you only wanted me to come along with you to see if I was the right one for this." Pyrrha said, walking towards Jared. "When did you get involved with this?"

"After the dance, really. I thought it was time I contributed to this. But maybe I'll tell you the rest another time."

"At first, the only thing that was certain was that the powers were specifically passed on to young women." Goodwitch said, going back to Pyrrha, explaining it all carefully. "But as time went on, it was discovered that the selection process was much more...intimate."

"...intimate?" Pyrrha asked, concerned.

"As we understand it now, when a Maiden dies, the one who is in her final thoughts is the first candidate to inherit her power."

"Unless it's a dude or some old hag. Then the power goes to someone random, and our job gets a lot harder." Qrow said.

"Why tell me all of this now? Why not wait until I've graduated?" Pyrrha asked.

"Honestly, we've run out of time. I don't know if you've noticed, but things are getting a lot scarier out in the world. Tensions are high. Grimm are growing stronger, more prevalent. And it's not going to be long before the peace we've been enjoying for so long goes out the window."

"You're not...talking about a war?"

"Not a war between nations." Ironwood said.

"We can fill you on the details once we know that you're with us. And why Jared convinced you to travel with him and the Doctor in the first place. To see all of time and space. For now, all you need to know is that one of the Maidens has been attacked. And for the first time in history, part of her power was stolen." Qrow said.

Room...

A humming of electricity is heard as the group comes to their destination at the end of the hallway: A large machine with lit screens hooked up to two rectangular pods, one of which is upright to show through the glass window a young girl dressed in minimal clothing with a burn scar over her left eye and across her face.

"Is that…" Pyrrha said, stepping forward hesitantly.

"Pyrrha…" Jared said, walking towards Pyrrha to grab her hand, as if to give her comfort. "Meet the current Fall Maiden, Amber. This is what happens to huntresses in the end really, one of them becomes a Maiden for a season."

"She's...still alive." Pyrrha said, holding herself together.

"For now. We're using state of the art Atlas technology to keep her stable. But there is a lot about this situation that is...unprecedented." Ironwood said.

"What do you mean?" Pyrrha asked.

"It's complicated Pyrrha." Jared said, letting out a sigh with his eyes closed. "Very complicated. I've watched enough RWBY up to a certain point to know what will happen."

"Won't...her power...just transfer to the next host?"

"Look who's been listening!" Qrow said, whispering to Ozpin and Jared. "She is smart."

"Under normal circumstances, yes. But this is a delicate situation. It's not uncommon for the last thoughts of the slain to be of their attacker." Ironwood said, glancing at Amber. "And to make matters worse, no one's seen the power split like this before. For all we know, it will seek out its other half."

"...her assailant." Pyrrha said, connecting the pieces together.

"The result won't end well for any of us." Jared said, letting go of Pyrrha's hand. "Look at what happened to Madoka and the others. I don't want a repeat here. In this version of events, Pyrrha."

Pyrrha lowers her head in thought, then suddenly comes forward and places a hand on the glass of Amber's pod.

"If all of this is true, why keep it secret!? If this girl is so important...if we're truly on the brink of war, why not tell everyone?" Pyrrha asked, suddenly sounding angry, turning to the teachers and one of best friends, and gesturing wildly.

"From what we understand, it used to be common knowledge." Goodwitch said, coming forward to explain.

"Excuse me?" Pyrrha asked, not expecting that answer.

"How do you think legends and fairy tales get started?" Qrow asked, now his turn to elaborate as he pulls out the familiar flask. "Even the craziest ones come from somewhere."

"Like how the story of magical girls and witches were considered a story back home for me." Jared said, drinking a cup of Mami's tea from a thermos. "The same goes for super heroes. I thought they were fake, until they were real. It also applied to the Doctor too. Hell, all of this was a show on TV for me."

"Jared has the knowledge to help us and he confronted us the day after the dance." Ozpin said, while Qrow gets the lid off his flask to take a swig. "Right after he left with Ruby. He thought it through, and it was before meeting the Holy Quintet."

"Our group was founded in order to protect both mankind and the Maidens. Those hungry for power hunted them with the hope of inheriting their strength." Goodwitch said.

"And as you can imagine, the ones that succeeded weren't exactly the ones you'd want to have unimaginable power." Qrow said, finishing his drink.

"And so our brotherhood chose to remove the Maidens from the public eye, allowing their existence to fade away into legend." Ironwood said.

"The things we're telling you go against hundreds of years of human history and religion." Goodwitch said.

"No one would want to believe us. It would cause an uproar." Ironwood said.

"It would cause panic. And we all know what that would bring to clawing at our Kingdom's walls." Ozpin said, turning his gaze away from the others. "Which is why we would like to…"

"I'll do it." Pyrrha said, with Ozpin looks up, surprised, as she stares at the ground, continuing. "If you believe that this will help humanity…" She gives them all a resolute look. "...then I will become your Fall Maiden."

"Pyrrha, are you sure about this?" Jared asked, walking over to Pyrrha to support her. "About becoming the Fall Maiden. It's like becoming a magical girl from what I've seen of it. Once you say yes, there's no turning back. You won't be you anymore, you won't be human."

"I'm sure." Pyrrha said, as the others silently turn to each other with wary faces. "That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

"It is, but I'm afraid it's not that simple." Ozpin said, walking to Pyrrha. "Given Amber's condition, you won't be able to inherit her power naturally. However, General Ironwood believes he has a solution."

"For the past few years, Atlas has been studying Aura from a more scientific standpoint; how it works, what's it made of, how it can be used. We've made...significant strides. And we believe we've found a way to capture it." Ironwood said.

"Capture it and cram it into something else." Qrow said, gesturing to Pyrrha as she takes a second to realize what that means. "Or in your case…"

"That's…" Pyrrha said, looking at Ironwood.

"Classified." Ironwood said.

"...wrong!"

"The feeling is mutual." Goodwitch said, glaring at Ironwood.

"I know it's wrong Pyrrha." Jared said, looking at Pyrrha. "But there isn't anything I can do to prevent this. And to make sure time goes the way it's supposed to. Desperate times calls for desperate measures."

"And these are indeed desperate times. We can't transfer Amber's power to you, but we can give you what those powers are bound to." Ironwood said.

"...her Aura." Pyrrha said.

"Her life would become intertwined with yours. The question is…" Ozpin said.

"What's that going to do to you?" Qrow asked.

"I never found out what would happen to Pyrrha." Jared said, still drinking the thermos filled with Mami's tea. "If the process completes. What might happen is spoiler territory. That's all I know, really."

"You have an important decision before you, Miss Nikos." Ozpin said, as Pyrrha fully understands the dangers she might face. "There's no guarantee this transfer will work. And there's no telling if you will be the same person if it does. Like Jared said, in the universe you go to time and time again with him, magical girls are a thing there. The process from becoming a human to a magical girl is irreversible. Like with becoming the Fall Maiden. I advise you to take time on this matter. But understand that before the Vytal Festival is over, we will need your answer."

Pyrrha doesn't respond, instead placing her hand on the glass separating the maiden from her potential replacement, seeing her scared expression reflected on the scarred face of the dying girl, before turning away from this expected destiny as Ozpin gives one final warning.

"The assailant that attacked the Fall Maiden has made their first move. And there's no telling when their next move will be." Ozpin said.

"Pyrrha, you're basically doing what Madoka had to do." Jared said, walking towards Pyrrha to place his hand on top of hers. He feels Pyrrha's heartbeat race rapidly. "Whether or not to become a god to save all magical girls from becoming witches across all of time and space."

Amity Colosseum…

Cinder Fall is smirking as she sits in one of the Amity Colosseum's seats along with the rest of the cheering crowd, their screams being drowned out by the announcements.

"Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for! The one-on-one finals!" Port said, over the broadcasting system.

In the center of the battlefield's stage, Yang Xiao Long smirks confidently as the camera pans down the line of final fighters, a few new faces mixed in with Sun Wukong, Penny Polendina, Mercury Black, and the troubled Pyrrha at the other end of the line.

"Barty, why don't you explain the rules?" Port asked, as the TV screen goes back to the announcers box for him to be with his co-host.

"Ah, it's quite simple, Peter. Instead of a bracket system, each round of the finals will be randomly determined immediately before the match takes place!" Oobleck said.

"Much like any good hunt, there will be zero time to prepare!"

"Ah, yes, yes! Now, let's see who our first match will be!"

The energetic doctor points out to the screens above the stadium as the roulette starts spinning, this time for competitors instead of biomes.

"This is gonna be good." Jared said, eating some jelly babies. "Really good."

"Where were you last night?" Ruby asked, looking over at Jared. "You said that we were gonna be playing some Yoshi's Crafted World."

"I had to do a thing at a place."

"You do look like you didn't sleep." Blake said, noticing Jared's baggy eyes.

"Yang Xiao Long and Mercury Black!" Port said.

Ruby is cupping her hands to make sure her encouragement is heard from her spot alongside Jared, RWBY, JNPR, and SSSN, "Break a leg, sis!"

Cinder, still smiling, gets up from her place and begins walking out, eyes on the battlefield.

"Would all other combatants please leave the stage!" Port said.

The rest of the lineup does so, and Yang starts walking up to Mercury in the middle as the floor around them opens once more, with a ring of spotlights rising up to automatically fix their lights on the remaining two.

"You better not go easy on me." Yang said, smiling.

"You wish." Mercury said, laughing darkly.

Both brawlers face the crowds one last time, then slowly start advancing on each other, arms raised defensively until their hands can almost touch, as the final countdown commences.

"Three! Two! One! Begin!" Port said.

Immediately, Yang throws a punch, and Mercury spins his foot to meet it, creating a shockwave between the weapons that launches him back. He closes the distance quickly and aims at her feet with his boot, but she leaps over it and fires off a shot of her Ember Celica that he rotates to avoid. They fight fist-to-fist for a moment, Yang getting in a fiery blast on her opponent at the cost of him also landing a blow on her. She falls back on her feet when Mercury shoots himself into the air to get farther away from her, looking up and smiling.

Yang doesn't relent for a second, launching shot after shot only for Mercury to dodge each of them, sliding around the stage on clouds of air until he attempts to come down on her with his leg. She blocks and pushes away the attack, but he goes under her shotgun burst and manages to land a kick on her, though she still lands in a crouch, now grimacing. She launches forward with a double blast and continues landing blow after blazing blow on him, right up to when he roundhouse kicks her in the back and attempts to hit her with his heel. She gets out just in time and punches he ground trying to get him, but he leaps out and twirls to get a hit on her. One of his kicks seems to pass over her, but then he brings it down hard enough to shatter the steel underneath, which Yang narrowly rolls backward to avoid.

They exchange kicks after this attack until Mercury hits her backwards, and he rushes forward only to receive a fist to his chin, then his torso, knocking him on his stomach. He gets up right as Yang starts raining down fire again, causing him to somersault back until one explosion causes him to get knocked off of the stage. He saves himself by firing his boots downward and flying back in front of his enemy, unleashing a series of kicks that she deflects with her arms. She ducks under one attack only to receive another as Mercury jumps into the air to knock her back, and he follows it up with a shot from his boots. Yang avoids it effortlessly, not noticing it still hanging around behind her.

Switching tactics, Mercury starts shooting his foot out in every direction, each kick into the air accompanied by a silvery blast that are barely even aimed at Yang. She dodges each one coming her way and gets in close through the circling barrage of shots, fighting with their fists again until Mercury kicks her into the air and knocks her right back to the ground, followed by the dozens of swirling shots that now converge right on to Yang.

When the blasts stop coming down on his opponent, Mercury gets up from his crouch and grins to himself, dusting off his outfit and seeming as happy as can be until the smoke from behind him erupts into flames. His momentary shock turns into another smile as he turns around to see the red-eyed Yang slam her knuckles together and come at him. Screaming, she lands a punch that sends him back, and she rushes up avoiding each kick and even taking one with no effect to pound at him with an unrelenting bombardment of left-right blows. He has enough time to let out a pained groan before she hits him in the stomach, his Aura sparkling up to try and defend him from the last hit to the face by the upset blonde. He lands on his back as the buzzer sounds over the roars of the audience.

"What a way to kick off the finals!" Port said, as Yang lowers her fists and closes her eyes, breathing a sigh of relief before opening them back up to her usual lilac and raising her arm in victory.

"Yang Xiao Long wins!" Oobleck said, while the stage is enclosed by the stadium floor again.

"Yeah! You did it, sis!" Ruby said, splaying her arms in excitement.

"Way to go, Yang!" Blake said, giving a standing ovation as Weiss Schnee pumps her fists.

"That was the most awesome fight ever!" Jared said, snacking on popcorn chicken. "You were amazing out there Yang!"

Yang is wiping her brow with an arm as she addresses the hunched-over Mercury, "Better luck next time."

She starts walking to the exit, getting pretty far away before Mercury seems to get up outside her peripheral vision.

"There's not going to be a next time, Blondie!" Mercury said, murderously angry.

A sharp sound is heard in the sudden silence as Yang turns around just in time to see Mercury leap forward with a kick to his unsuspecting victim. Yang scowls as she just manages to both bring her gauntlet down on and shoot his leg before he hits her. The second she does so, there is a sound of something breaking. The audience gasps in shock, and Mercury reels back from the pain.

"Yang!" Jared said, at a loss for words. "I forgot that…"

"My word!" Oobleck said, getting up from his chair.

"Cut the cameras!" Port said, looking at someone offscreen.

"That is gonna attract a lot of Grimm." Jared said, sadly.

The looks of surprise, horror, and hatred at Yang cut to a view of Mountain Glenn, where two Goliaths near a ruined hamburger joint and a pack of Beowolves up in the construction beams of an unfinished building all look towards the Colosseum floating near Beacon.

"My leg, MY LEG!" Mercury said, still grasping his injured body part, rocking back and forth.

"That's what you get, you little…" Yang said, trash talking. "Huh?"

Yang stops just as she notices the Atlesian Knight-200 droids and two Soldiers circling the Huntress-in-training and raising their guns to her.

"Yang Xiao Long, stand down!" A soldier said.

"What!? Why!?" Yang exclaimed, not having a clue as to what's going on.

"Mercury!" Emerald said, as she rushes over to her partner's side, comforting him.

"Why'd she do that!? WHY'D SHE ATTACK ME!?" Mercury exclaimed, crying hysterically.

Yang receives a disgusted scowl from Emerald, only now looking up at the screens above her to see the footage of what just transpired: Yang circling the crouched-down Mercury until the footage cuts to him just standing there and her suddenly shooting him in the leg. The sound of something breaking rings out, and Mercury screams and falls over in pain.

It takes a moment of staring at the images until Yang finally understands what she did, and her gaze turns up to the wide-eyed, terrified faces of Jared, Blake, Weiss, and Ruby. She looks around at the guns aimed at her and the people cursing her name, still not knowing what just happened or what will come next as the screen cuts to black and the credits roll.