Legal Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY, Red vs. Blue, or any of the shows' characters. They are the rightful properties of Rooster Teeth.
Chapter Thirty-Six:
"It seems as if our lucky charm's transformation is complete."
Clover heard Salem's words as if from far away, but he could not so much as move a muscle.
The Nevermore shifted behind the cocoon, cooing the entire while, and Salem lifted her white head of hair in its direction, "Take him to the spawning grounds." She said, and Clover winced at the knowledge that Salem was completely visible now, knowing that did not bode well.
Cinder laughed behind Salem, her visible eye holding a malicious gleam, "The human you is completely gone now, Captain Ebi," she said as if basking in unabashed entertainment, "Not even your comrades will recognize you anymore."
Clover wanted to protest since he was still very much present within himself, but the dull pain that lingered all over his body gave him pause. After all, he really had no idea what had happened underneath the miasma surrounding him. He thought back to the bone fragments that had grown around his scars and on his arms, of the mask that now covered the top half of his face, and he couldn't help but shudder.
He watched silently as the Nevermore's talons slowly ripped apart the tendrils of purple and black miasma that had wrapped him up so securely before, revealing what looked to be black scales coating his skin along with glistening white bone patches. The creature cooed all the more loudly as it hoisted him up into the air with its talons, and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of the black tail where his legs had once been.
"My trinket certainly makes a fine Grimm." Salem murmured in an assessing and proud voice as she circled around him, "Look."
She conjured up a reflective liquid above her hand then, holding it out so that he could take in his new form all the better. What Clover saw was enough to cause his heart to break. Currently in a living nightmare, he wanted nothing more than to wake up but the lingering pain reminded him this wasn't a dream. His luck had truly failed him.
"Your healing is coming along nicely, even with my aura boost helping to speed things up." Jaune noted as he sat on the opposite side of Oscar's bed from Qrow, a thoughtful look crossing over his features then, "Maybe it has something to do with you being an Inheritor?"
Oscar sent a questioning look to Qrow, who merely shrugged his shoulders in response, "Your guess is as good as mine." He informed the two young men, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back in his seat, "Not that I'm complaining, considering you gave us all quite the scare."
And for him, no less. Someone who arguably didn't deserve it. Oscar's face flushed at the remark, "I'd do it again in a heartbeat, Qrow," he said, "Especially after everything you've done for us."
"Kid." Qrow began before stopping talking entirely, feeling touched by the sentiment even if he still wasn't sure he deserved it or how to even properly respond.
Jaune sniffled then, wiping his nose on the back of his hand, "It's a good thing Nora and Donut aren't here right now, or you'd really hear some bawling." He tried joking.
Oscar and Qrow both smiled gratefully at his efforts, just as the door to the room opened, Winter and Robyn standing in the doorway with serious expressions plastered on their faces. "You got a minute?" The tall blonde asked gruffly as the pair closed the door behind them.
"That depends." Qrow asked, raising an eyebrow, "How are Jimmy and Hargrove liking their new digs?"
Winter sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "If by digs you mean an Atlesian detention cell," she said, "Then they're acclimating to them as well as can be expected."
It hadn't exactly been planned that they'd be partially overthrowing the city of Atlas' entire power structure when they'd come to rescue Oscar and Kai, but that was ultimately what had ended up happening. Personally, Qrow just hoped that the time away from things would help Ironwood maybe cool off and start to see reason again.
"Which means we can focus on our search for Clover in earnest now that we know Atlas isn't going to be targeting Mantle again anytime soon." Robyn finished for her, a determined look in her violet gaze.
Qrow nodded, glad that they could finally get that underway for a whole list of reasons, though Oscar couldn't help but frown in thought as he glanced down at his bed, "It's strange," he spoke up then, green markings flaring up on his skin, "I can sense him still, but it's different than before? Like Clover is there, but isn't somehow at the same time."
Silence fell as the small group pondered Oscar's words, though Robyn broke it by snorting not a moment later, "That really doesn't give us much to work with, kid." She told him gently.
Oscar's freckled face reddened as he averted his gaze, "I'm sorry." He said under his breath.
"Not your fault," Robyn said to assure the teen, "We'll just have to find Lucky Charm the old-fashioned way."
Qrow stood up, giving Oscar's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before nodding at the other occupants of the room and then quietly moving past Winter and Robyn to collect his thoughts and ponder over what Oscar's description might mean. The door shut behind him, and he languidly moved down the building's various corridors. Lost in thought, he barely paid attention to his surroundings as he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"Hey, it'll be okay, Penny." Ruby was speaking to Penny a little further down one of the hallways of Schnee Manor just then, touching the redhead's arm lightly. Weiss and Ilia were also standing there, nodding their heads in agreement to whatever reassurance his youngest niece had just provided.
Penny looked over at the three of them, sniffling, "You...you think so?" She asked, sounding uncharacteristically doubtful for her.
Ilia nodded, a slight smile coating her freckled features, "Of course," she said, "Oscar is recovering well now, you know?"
"That's right." Weiss said confidently while looking at the brunette gratefully, gripping Ilia's hand in her own, "We'll find Captain Ebi in no time."
Penny stared at them for a long while before a smile lit up her face once more and she reached up to squeeze Ruby's hand on her shoulder, "Thank you. You're right, of course!" She exclaimed jovially, her spirits returned. Just as Qrow was about to walk down the opposite direction and give them some space with a slight smile on his face at the warm display he'd just witnessed...
"Hey, birdman!"
He paused at the sound of Kaikaina Grif's voice addressing him. The tan-skinned Faunus was flanked by an exasperated Grif, an amused Pyrrha, and a thoroughly horrified Simmons, "Kai!" The lanky redhead got out in a hurried whisper, "You shouldn't address Qrow like that!"
Kai rolled her eyes at Simmons' cautiousness, "Eh, he's fine with it." She stated with an indifferent shrug, before her brown eyes landed on the older man once more, "Right?"
Qrow shrugged, raising an eyebrow in mild amusement, "What did you need, spitfire?" He asked, deciding that with the youngest Grif sibling it was best just to get right to the point.
"Can we go and visit Oscar now or what?" Kai asked hopefully.
Pyrrha nodded her head as well, "Jaune's with him too, correct?" She asked, clearly wanting to see the blond as well.
It occurred to Qrow that no one had really been allowed to visit Oscar just yet, so naturally they'd want to do so now when given the chance, especially since Kai had last seen the young teen from within a jail cell. "Yeah. They're both still in the same room." Qrow said as he motioned his head towards it further down the hall, "Just don't do anything that reopens his wounds."
"Psh. No promises." Kai muttered with a grateful wave of her hand before they were heading down the corridor again, a light skip to her step. Qrow watched them go, glad that Oscar and his nieces had such good friends here. He just prayed that Clover was all right too, wherever he was.
Clover found himself inwardly panicking at the sight of his reflection: a distinctly humanoid-looking Grimm looked back at him, covered in dark black scales and glistening bone fragments adorning its back and chest like armor plating, bumps of bone protruding from his biceps as well. His hands were webbed and claw-like, with black fins protruding from the sides of his arms. And further down...
His legs were gone, a muscular tail in their place.
"I haven't seen a Mer in a long time." Cinder mused as the liquid mirror dissipated.
"Not even you would have been one if I'd let your transformation be complete." Salem told her, gesturing to the woman's Grimm arm as she looked over at Clover appreciatively, "Our trinket is indeed special."
He wanted to scream then underneath the mask covering his face, but the Nevermore's taloned grip tightened then, the hum of its lullaby once again seeming to put him at ease no matter how much he tried to fight it.
A dark purple energy suddenly wrapped around Salem's far too pale hand, and she clenched her hand into a fist within it, her eyes and face markings glowing as she did so, "More importantly, I now have access to my Inheritor's abilities." She stated pleasantly, lips curving into a cruel imitation of a smile, "We can shatter the barrier very soon."
"And after that?" Cinder asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Patience, my dear." Salem snapped her fingers then, motioning for both Cinder and the Nevermore to follow her as they walked across the wasteland they'd found themselves in once they'd left the Nevermore's space. Clover was carried along with them as she continued, "You'll get your turn."
Salem turned to Clover then, "Of course, it is imperative that I keep my pet at my side as well," she said, "Though I suspect you really wouldn't want to go back to your little friends now besides."
Cinder smirked, "If they saw you now," she remarked with mirth, "They wouldn't hesitate to put you down."
"It matters not." Salem declared, seeming to pick up on his growing shame and panic as they continued walking towards a large group of blackened figures in the distance, "After all, as a reborn Grimm, you have a new family now."
The figures were Grimm, Clover realized. Far too many to count of various shapes and sizes. The Nevermore cooed as if in agreement with Salem, gently placing Clover on the ground as tale flopped helplessly to and fro as the horde of Grimm continued to approach.
"They must smell the fresh meat." Cinder mused as their small group was circled.
Salem calmly reached down and touched Clover's shoulder, a glowing green clover mark appearing under her fingertips. Somehow, Clover found himself kneeling once more on two dark scaled legs not a second later. "A mark to indicate you're my special trinket, and a gift to help making moving on land easier." She said in way of explanation, as the encircling Grimm approached even closer, their hands outstretched towards Clover as if in curiosity.
Clover could only remain frozen, kneeling on the ground as he felt claws touch his skin, Salem smirking down at him indulgently the whole while as she spoke to Cinder, "Let's let our dear Captain Ebi become acquainted with his new family, shall we?"
Author's Notes: A bit of a shorter chapter, but we're closing in on the final stretch! I made up the "Mer" Grimm concept as sort of a nod to one of my other fics. Things are going to get very heated and intense in the next few chapters before the final one, and I thank you for sticking with me. :) As always, friendly comments are appreciated. :D
We are quickly approaching the final chapters and I already have the ending outlined and planned. I'd like to thank everyone who has stuck with me while writing this rambling story of mine! I can't believe I'm almost finished with my first RWBY fic. It has been fun being able to develop a crossover for the series with RvB!