Back outside the school, everyone was shocked when the light vanished from around Ruby.
"Ru… Ruby?" asked Yang as she and the others looked at two Ruby Roses laying on the ground. One of them was the normal Ruby while the other was the Grimm Ruby who was now in a pitch black dress that had small red lines running through it like spider webs.
"How… how could you have separated us?!" asked Grimm Ruby while looking at her bleached white hands.
"You underestimated the power of the Silver Eyes," said Ruby as she tried to stand on wobbly legs.
"I was just too weak to actually destroy you," she said.
"Ruby!" said Emerald as her group ran toward them, but stopped when they saw the scene before them.
"We needed to retreat!" said Grimm Ruby as she stood up and ran to them with a little bit of a limp. As she ran her dress lifted a little to reveal a nasty burn on her left leg.
"You're not getting away that easily," said Winter as she went to use a glyph, but Cinder caused an explosion that covered their escape. All of the Paladins also returned ships which retreated.
"Looks like we avoided a catastrophe today," said Ozpin while watching the ships leave. All of the Hunters and Huntresses had already dealt with the Grimms which had appeared except for a few stragglers.
"I'm sorry, this is all my fault," said Ruby who was fully standing and looking at him.
"I knew there was something up when Emerald introduced me to Cinder and her group but I didn't try to get out until I met Salem, and by then it was too late," said Ruby with a regretful expression as she looked down at the ground.
"I bet that she tricked you into a Grimm Pit," said Ozpin.
"That's how I became that monster, I had been trying to fight to get control ever since she met Yang and the rest of you, but it took till what sis said about mom for me to get the control that I needed," said Ruby.
"This is not your fault, Ruby, I also messed up and caused you to fall into their trap, I should have been more careful with that picture," said Yang as she hugged Ruby who just broke down crying.
"Think you owe everyone an explanation, Ozpin," said Mr. Schene.
"Right, let's move this to my office, I can explain it all better there," said Ozpin. Later that day, at Salem's castle.
"So, not only did you not kill the Maiden, the human Ruby managed to separate herself from the Grimm half," said Salem who was sitting on her throne.
"This is my fault, I suggested that we go back to help Ruby, leaving the Maiden alive, I never figured the scream was the human side getting free," said Emerald as she knelt before her.
"Yes, this is your fault, but you also saved Grimm Ruby, and now I have a new plan, so I'll forgive you this time, Emerald," said Salem with a wicked grin.
"Next time I meet my human half I'll end her for good," thought Grimm Ruby as she sat at the table, a small dark red light appearing in her eyes while looking at her burnt leg.
To be continued?