RWBY: Grimm of Equestria

"I can't believe he turned his back on us. He just-- " A male voice interrupted.

"Step away from my throne. We have more work to do if we want to restore the power of the White Fang..."

"We? Everyone knows what you did. You abandoned your brothers at Haven!" A goon intervened.

"I am ordering you to step away from my throne... Now!"

"We're not taking orders from you anymore!" Another goon rebelled. "We heard you folded the moment you got sass from the Belladonna girl. I guess she's got more control over you than you-- "

Suddenly, a slash is heard.

"Hey, wait a second! No!"

A sword was then drawn as the White Fang members attempted to flee, but a series of fatal slashes hit them with no effort, causing them to bleed out in the throne room. The swordsman withdrew his blade back into his hilt and stared aimlessly while sitting in his throne.

"The Belladonna girl..." as he stood up. "Blake..."

Suddenly, he slashes the throne in half and gritted his teeth.

"AAARRGGHH!!!"

"Aww... My...head..."

"Where...are we?"

"Whatever this place is, it's certainly not Mistral."

"Wait, where are Ruby and the others?"

"I was going to ask the same thing. Hold on... Horses? Cowboy hats? A desert? Oh no, I think we ended up in the Wild Wild West!"

"That place only exists in movies, Jaune. Besides, these horses don't seem like they have much to offer."

"You might want to change your mind about that, Ren. Look."

"Howdy folks, how can I help y'all?" A cowboy's voice came from a pony.

"I was wrong..."

"This thing isn't going down so easily." Blake huffed as she shot at the bugbear.

"Ya think?" Rainbow Dash quizzed.

Bang bang bang.

Gunshots flew everywhere as the citizens around Twilight's castle galloped away to safety, with some being trapped inside their houses. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow attempted to fly in and attack the bugbear, only to be smacked away with brute force and end up hitting the castle.

"ROARRR!!!"

"Hang in there, girls!" Yang cried. "Pow, right in the kisser!"

Zap zap.

"Take that, cretin!" as Rarity shot a magical beam.

"ROARRR!!!"

"I'm alright, guys! The bugbear is stronger than last time for some reason."

"Those wings are flappin' faster than the sunrise!"

"In that case... Ice Flower!"

"Say what now?"

Weiss began to use her glyphs to encase Ruby's sniper bullets in ice. The ice enhances Ruby's attack, and the area where the bullet hits is frozen on impact. Ice Flower is named for Weiss' association with ice, and Ruby's last name. The bugbear's wings were then frozen solid, making the beast immobile and standing on the ground on all fours.

"Woah, how did you do that?" Rainbow scratched her head.

"Uhh, have you met Ruby?" Yang smirked.

"Never mind." Twilight said. "That attack combo seemed to work!"

"Eek, it's coming this way!" Fluttershy panicked.

"Freezerburn!"

Weiss started to freeze the ground while Yang jumps into the air and proceeds to punch the frozen ground, all while firing Ember Celica. The evaporation then creates a mist which can be utilized for cover and creates opportunities for sneak attacks. Freezerburn is named due to the pair's respective associations with cold and heat. As the bugbear dashed into the mist, the entire gang was nowhere to be seen.

"Good thinking as always, Ruby." Blake said while hiding in the mist.

"Where did he go though?"

"Stay sharp, kids." Qrow then switched to his scythe. "Where is this bastard?"

"There!" as Weiss pointed to the left of the castle.

"ROARRR!!!"

The bugbear continued to swipe the gang, but they kept dodging its attacks and it eventually started to grow tired.

"Ready Blake?"

"Always."

"Bumblebee!"

Blake's Gambol Shroud shot out her ribbon attachment, which Yang grabbed one end of. Blake then started to swing Yang to create momentum for her punch whilst firing her Ember Celica. The ribbon sped up as Yang lifted herself off the ground and she let go of it, causing her to take flight and fly towards the bugbear. A direct punch in its face also sent the beast flying into the distance, accompanied by the sounds of explosive shotgun shells.

"Oh...my..." Fluttershy gasped.

"That was...AWESOME!" Rainbow praised.

"Good job, team!" as Ruby gave her friends high fives.

"Impressive! We've never seen combat skills like yours before."

"Hehe, what can I say? My nieces and their friends are the best huntresses anyone could ever ask for."

"Thanks Uncle Qrow. Shall we get going to Canterlot?"

"Yes Ruby. The Ponyville train station is only a couple of blocks away from here. Follow me if you will."

"Of course, but how are we supposed to buy tickets if all of our money is stuck in Remnant?" Oscar asked.

"It's okay, I got you guys covered. Royal ponies like me don't have to pay anything, and any friend of mine can come along."

"If only I was still heiress..." Weiss thought to herself.

"You're serious? Thanks Twilight!"

"Yeah, thanks Twilight, as always!"

"Don't mention it."

"Maybe we'll find the others in Canterlot." Yang said.

"Like we've said before, I'm sure they'll be alright for now."

"Come on, let's get moving. Oscar?"

"Huh? Oh sorry! For some reason, this unicorn just kept staring at me."

"Lyra? Oh, don't mind her, sweetie! She may act a bit strangely sometimes, but I assure you she's a kind soul."

"Hold up. Does anybody have something to drink first? I'm all out."

"Hehe, so soon Uncle Qrow?"

"Ya like apple cider, fella? I can brew up some for ya once we get back!"

"Ehh, why not? Sure, thanks."

"Onwards!" Pinkie shouted.

Time was of the essence. We all withdrew our weapons so that these ponies didn't think that we were crazy. However, as they came back into their homes, I heard them cheer specifically for the six of us in our group. I actually don't understand why. I get that they are thankful for us saving their lives, but are we really worthy of receiving such praise?

"So, you six are the protectors of Equestria?"

"Yes...and no, Miss Rose. Even though we have been called to action on several occasions, we did get captured in a couple of situations and had to rely on other ponies to come help us."

"That's the magic of friendship for you! In all seriousness, even we don't have a perfect track record of defeating the bad guys."

"How relatable. Let's try checking our scrolls for a signal."

"Signal? Sorry, but as of now, technology doesn't exist in Equestria. Only in the alternate Equestria will you be able to phone or call somebody."

"Drat!"

"Can't you use magic to do something about it, Twilight?"

"Sorry Blake, but I wish that was possible."

"Well, at least we've got even more of a fighting force than before." Oscar admitted.

"Don't get too cocky, kid. This is only just the beginning of another long haul."

"There has to be a reason why Salem sent us to this exact place. She must've been here before or something."

"She must be a scary witch." Fluttershy imagined.

"An ugly one too at that." Yang added.

"Now, we wait for the silly train to show up!"

"Oh, we're here? Hehe, I must've dozed off."

"Yeah, me too, sis. H-Huh?"

When the gang arrived at the Ponyville Train Station, they waited on the platform and Yang noticed something, or rather, a strange figure across the other side of town. However, when she shook her head, the figure was gone.

"Yang? What's wrong?"

"I..."

"Ruby, can you excuse us for just a moment?"

"Yes Blake."

Blake then took Yang go to a private corner away from the group, hoping that they could reconnect.

"I was just seeing things. I'm sorry. I still get flashes from that night."

"Hmm..."

Blake sees Yang's flesh hand shaking uncontrollably before she composes herself.

"Do you think Adam's still out there? "

"I don't know. If he went back to the White Fang, there would have been serious consequences. But, he never really liked people telling him what to do. Adam's strong, but his real power comes from control. He used to get in my head, make me feel small. But now, I see he just wanted to pull me down to his size."

The both of them look at Yang's prosthetic hand, which Blake carefully grasped.

"Hey, I'm not leaving. And if we ever see him again, I promise I'll be there."

The two share a smile.

"And I'll protect you."

At this, Yang's eyes widen and her expression turns into a frown.

"W-What?"

"What?"

"But that night... It was supposed to me protecting you."

Yang started to shed a tear, but it wasn't long before Blake wiped it off. In an attempt to be a source of comfort, Blake tried to wrap her arm around her friend's head, but the sounds of rails screeching interrupted the two.

"The train's here!" Ruby jumped up and down. "Blake? Yang?"

"Yeah, wait for us, Ruby." Yang sniffed.

"All aboard!" The train conductor yelled.

"Ya might wanna watch your heads, folks."

"Ow! I'll be sure to remember that next time."

"Hello, Your Highness." The train attendant bowed to Twilight. "Sorry to interrupt you, but is it too much to ask your new friends here to store their belongings?"

"He's talking about our weapons, isn't he?" Ruby whispered to Yang.

"No, not at all! Ruby, Canterlot is a short distance from here anyway. Do you mind putting your things in the cargo hold for now?"

"Sure Twilight. Let's go, guys."

"Next stop is Canterlot!" The conductor yelled again.

We all entered the train car and the doors slid shut behind us. There was a car specifically for luggage and other cargo on this train, which contained bins for us to put our weapons and Dust in.

"I might as well listen to some music." Yang said.

"Somebody wake me up when we get there, okay?"

"Minus the recent attack, this world would seem like the perfect paradise for any huntsman or huntress to be a part of."

"Oh, you bet, Oz! There are tons of awesome things to do in Equestria!"

"Ya mean other things besides reading Daring Do books and fantasizing about the Wonderbolts, right?" A.J smirked.

"Hehe, right."

"We understand that you all are in a dilemma right now and while it would be nice to give you a grand tour of our home, it would just waste more valuable time for you to stop this witch you call Salem."

"If only we had more time on our hands, Rarity..."

"It seems like a long time will pass before Salem gets her Grimm hands on all four Relics. I do believe, however, that her subordinates will struggle heavily to even reach the other kingdoms in Remnant without being caught in the crossfire."

"Relics?"

"The Relics are the physical manifestations of the four gifts to humanity as bestowed by The Gods. These gifts are knowledge, creation, destruction and choice. The Relics were left behind when the two brothers abandoned Remnant. It is said that each contains great power, and if anyone were to wield all four they could change the world. In truth, the four brought together will summon the God of Light and God of Darkness back to the world where they will pass judgment on humanity. If the human race has come to accept one another and learned to live in harmony, the gods will live among them as before and make them whole with the ability to cast magic again. If humanity remains divided and demanding of them, however, the gods will destroy Remnant and all its inhabitants."

"Salem is currently looking for the Relics, a fact that made my sister, Raven, worried about. Salem has Grimm searching Beacon Academy, which has been destroyed for months, and her second target was Haven Academy. So far, we only have our hands on the Relic of Knowledge, which is a lamp."

"So those books and tales were true, huh?" Blake asked.

"I see. These Relics sound similar to the Elements of Harmony, which the six of us have used to save Equestria countless times.

"It is indeed a similar situation for us. We are still looking for the Relics of Choice, Creation, and Destruction."

"Which reminds me... Who is the Spring Maiden if it's not Vernal?"

"Maybe Cinder already killed her beforehand and just lured everyone to Haven for that trap?"

"No, that can't be it."

The gang all suddenly turned to Yang who still had her headphones on, listening to music on her scroll. With a puzzled look, she kind of felt creeped out by everyone staring at her.

"Ruby, is something wrong?"

"Uhh, no Yang! We just wanted to ask you a question, that's all."

"Oh, of course! Anything for my little sister!"

"Yang, at Haven Academy, we sent you down to the Vault of the Spring Maiden to get the Relic, right? Well, you never really told us who opened it."

"I didn't?" Yang gulped. "I'm sorry, I forgot. It's probably not important to you guys anyway, right?"

"Yang, you're talking to the Element of Honesty right here, and judging by how much you're shakin', I can tell you're lyin'."

"C'mon firecracker, what could be so bad about telling us who the Spring Maiden is?"

"If I tell you who it is, it better be kept a secret between us and nobody else in Remnant or even here in Equestria."

"I will cross my heart and keep this a secret with all my life, Yang."

"Same here. There's nothing to be afraid about, Yang. You can tell us anything."

"The Spring Maiden...is Mom."

"WHAT???" Ruby and her allies gasped.

"The Spring Maiden was Raven this entire time?"

"Plot twist!" Pinkie interrupted.

"Another bird name?" Fluttershy wondered.

"No, Raven is the name of my mother."

Raven Branwen is the mother of Yang Xiao Long, the twin sister of Qrow Branwen, and the former lover of Taiyang Xiao Long. Her weapon of choice is her sword with a rotary chamber filled with six types of Dust blades. She is the current leader of the Branwen Tribe, as well as a former member of Team STRQ. She is also the true Spring Maiden and had been using her fellow tribe member, Vernal, as a decoy. Taiyang said Raven had a straightforward approach and saw strength as all-important in a fight, traits that Yang inherited. He adds that Raven was ambitious and gave her all to whatever cause she saw as just while acknowledging she had unspecified faults that greatly contributed to the dissolution of Team STRQ.

"Miss Xiao Long, why must you withhold such valuable information from us?"

Yang then started to shed another tear and began feeling pressured.

"I understand now."

"...You do?" Yang sniffed.

"Even though Raven gets along poorly these days with me, you, and your father, you still love her deep down inside and don't want her to die. I am starting to feel the same way, too. She must feel the same way about her tribe."

"So, you took the lamp from her because you knew that Salem would be hunting down both a Maiden and a Relic at the same time?"

"Yeah, I did. I'm so sorry for not telling you this in the first place. It was a lot for me to take in and convince her to give me the Relic."

"Don't be. I'm more proud of you than upset. The thing that makes you strong, Yang, is standing up for yourself and being able to face anything no matter how difficult it may be. Even though you may be experiencing traumatic flashbacks, you never gave up and continued the journey. That's why we're so lucky to have you on the team!"

"Ruby's right. You've gotten a lot more stronger ever since the Fall of Beacon and it's because your heart is made of pure gold that can't be burned."

"You now know what's it like to live in shadows and cast out the light. It's always an honor to fight by your side, Yang."

"Thank you, girls." as Yang wiped off her tears.

"Now there's the smile I know!"

"I think this calls for a group hug!"

Everyone came in to embrace Yang with a big hug, which she reciprocated. However, the touching moment was interrupted by a vibration.

"Hold on." as Ozpin's voice switched to Oscar's. "Ruby, there's something underneath your cloak."

"Is there? Because I don't feel... AHH!!!"

"What is it, Ruby?" Yang asked.

"IT'S THE LAMP!!!"

"WHAT???" Everyone else flipped out.

The Relic of Knowledge takes the form of a lamp and was situated in Mistral's Haven Academy, whose insignia forms a stylized lantern. It was the same lamp that Professor Ozpin reminded his peers about to safely secure it to Atlas.

"How is that possible?" as Blake scratched her cat ears.

"I don't know! Salem must've accidentally teleported the lamp with us and she didn't even realize it."

"Well, it's no longer an accident now, kiddo!" Qrow laughed. "At least we have some firepower to work with."

"Yeah, but Salem could still get the other three Relics." Weiss stated.

"A lamp, huh? Well, according to Madam Pinkie, which is totally not me, genies come from lamps. You know what happens next? You rub the lamp!"

"We're not doing that yet, Pinkie." Yang said. "It would've been better if I asked my mom what the lamp does since she is the key to Haven's Vault, but it's too late for that now."

"Hehe, oh Pinkie! There are no such things as genies in Equestria!"

"Don't be so quick to judge, Twilight! as she looked her right in the eye.

"Maybe this old mentor of yours, Princess Celestia, would know what to do with the lamp."

"She has pretty much all the answers that you will be looking for, but right now, we gotta get you home safely, Ruby."

"I hope..."