Chapter 24: Child's Play

And I've returned, though this time with a smaller chapter as I'm getting tired of the long ones. Sorry, but my job is becoming a pain to my feet, so this is really just a relief chapter. However, don't you worry. After this I'll be uploading another chapter we all know and love called, 'The Amazing Jaune Arc', with a possible chance my beta reader will check it. Until then though, enjoy this Halloween like chapter involving...

So once more, everyone was waiting to see what Mayden would show them. Hopefully something that had more...common sense than that last one. One that didn't make the girls cry or smile at it. I mean, seriously? The males wondered just what the women saw in that last one. It hadn't even been real love!

"Alright everyone." Mayden then said. "Since it's almost Halloween, time to get into the business of scary."

'I'm sorry...but, what's Halloween?" Whitley then asked genuinely confused.

"Hallo-ween?" Roan said getting the word out of his mouth. Neo doing the very same only with no sound.

"Hall-O-Ween. Hm? I like it." Mercury said after testing out the word on himself.

"Is that some kind of day?" Junior asked.

"Halloween?" The mystery girl also never heard of this word. Maybe it was some kind of event. She knew the Empire had many like that. Granted, most seemed to just praise the fat man that secretly ruled the country. So on days like that, she and her group dealt with those in the shadows one by one. A true event to her.

"...Huh." As for Mayden, he just realized that the cast upon him never even had a Halloween before. Thinking on it that made sense. Just because their world had similarity to the real world, didn't mean everything was alike. Still though, to think they never heard of Halloween, or knew it. "Don't you guys have like, a day to celebrate scary things?"

"Uh, I think we have something called Grimm Fest." Tock said. "Oh wait, is that still around?" She then asked her fellow peeps who were alive and should know about it.

"Grimm Fest, oh yeah. I remember that day." Roman said with a chuckle.

"It's that day where people dress up as Grimm to make people less scared of them, acting all silly at night." Emerald then tried recalling the festival that happened once a year.

"Right, right, I saw that happen in a village one time." Coco laughed. "Aside from a few, most of the costumes are pretty bad. You know, store bought, uh."

"I remember that day." Velvet smiled. "I pretended to be a Jackolope as a kid. Mom thought it was cute."

"Oh please." Russel went. "Talk about a kiddie costume," He then jabbed a thumb at himself. "I on the other hand, chose a better one. An Ursa."

"Nevermore." Dove said.

"I got some sweet bone armor based on a Boarbatusk." Sky said.

"Beringel was my thing." Cardin chuckled.

"Forget costumes. I just saw those films involving them." Mercury smirked. Before his life went abusive, he at least got to enjoy some sweet films before as a kid. The excitement, the fear, such good times.

"Films huh." Yatsu said. "My favorite was the one with the Grimm biting people and turning them into Grimm Zombies."

'Loved the film.' Neo went into agreement while shivering the good type. One of the few films she found herself favoring. Some of the cast nodding having found that film interesting.

"Lame." Tock went. "Seriously, you kids and you fancy new films." Tock talked like an old person...which she technically is. "Back when I was a kid, the best film was Grimm-Zilla. Attack of the Kaiju Grimm. Now that's a classic."

"Kaiju?" Fox muttered. "I think they made a reboot on that one."

As those talked about the holiday, Mayden just watched them in silence. Thinking on it again, it made sense that Remnant would have some form of Halloween. Using his powers, he checked the world and some information and saw that Remnant indeed celebrated the holiday known as Grimm Fest. A holiday where people pretended to be Grimm for the sake of showing people they wouldn't be scared of them. Kinda like how Halloween-the current version-was made for fun by people pretending to be monsters or whatever.

Guess Remnant really did have their own things.

"Okay, ignoring this Grimm Fest," Which did sound interesting, and the alternative version of Halloween. "For now we'll be seeing another world that while short, might just get your fear on."

"Oh. Now do explain." Mercury smirked wondering if they're seeing some horror world.

"Will this involves zombies, dare I ask?" Adam then said surprisingly.

"Nope." Mayden said.

"Some kind of horror comedy?" The red Malachite sister questioned.

"Nu-uh."

"A world ruled by a mad man?" Mystery girl asked.

"Not even close." Mayden smiled with his usual non-existent lips. "If anything, just wait and see now." Then as his words said, the screen lit up with everyone ready to see what it is. "Oh, and just a reminder, this one is shorter than other worlds. So don't be surprised when it ends."

"Better be good then." Fox said a bit interested. Especially since his eyes were somehow capable of seeing, possibly due to Mayden. He'll probably tell his friends this later.

Somewhere inside some store, toys were everywhere and messy and laid about. There was barely any form of light inside, and the ground had trash all over it. If someone wasn't careful, they might trip over it.

A young child though, was doing that however. Slowly entering keeping an eye out. Having evidence of small fear on them. Wearing a red jacket and some small black shorts with black hair that ended with the tips being red. The youthful fair face having caution on them but with also some blood on them.

"Ruby!?" Cinder' eyes widened, having not expected to see her enemy here and now. Not to mention all scared with blood on her face.

"Oh man, now what happened to Red?" Roman asked a bit genuinely concerned. He might kill people, sometimes teenagers like Ruby, but even he wasn't such a monster that he'd off a child this age.

"This cannot be good." The mystery girl simply said.

As for Ruby, the young child just moved forward still keeping an eye out for...something. Carrying two tools, a small axe, and some kind of buzz saw moving forward with them. A small look of determination on their face.

The screen then changed to what's above Ruby, where after a few seconds a shadow moved past the screen with a sinister chuckle.

"That...sounds familiar." Cardin said while eating his chips slowly.

"Oh man, now that's creepy." Dove mentioned.

Hearing it, Ruby looked up once more, but saw no one. Yet that didn't deter the child into believing nobody had been there. Still, when they saw no one, Ruby moved forward to where a tarp laid covering the path they were on. They'd have to move it.

"This is clearly some kind of horror world." Junior just said. His bodyguards nodding with everyone else more or less in agreement.

"Think it's a Grimm?" The blue Malachite sister asked the red.

"No idea. Maybe." She replied.

Ruby walked carefully, having the buzzsaw move the tarp. Just in case he was near. Instead Ruby found nobody, but made her way into a bigger area inside the store she was in. The back entry with massive shelves full of toys, boxes, tools, and other things one would expect.

As Ruby walked, a flash of light caught the child's attention with a small noise. Breathing sharply, Ruby turned and saw it was some kind of little toy car. A police one flashing blue and red with something to say.

"Dead or Alive, you're coming with me."

"Well if that isn't omnimouse, then I don't know what is." Tock chuckled chewing on her popcorn. Whitley just closed his eyes a bit yet squinted enough to see.

Hey, he's still a kid.

Realizing this must be his message to them, Ruby slowly started moving forward. Following the police car that was leading them...somewhere. As Ruby kept going carefully, all that caution went out the window when they saw...him!

"..." Down the path where the small vehicle led Ruby, the young child saw a grown man tied up, beaten, bloodied, bruised, and some rope around their neck. The person then looked up, revealing...Tai.

"!"

"Plot twist!" Mercury said in utter shock.

"Oh my Oum!" Emerald just went as she never thought of that.

"This...this can't be good." Yatsu simply said with Velvet nodding with him.

"..." The mystery girl didn't show it, but her fists certainly did. Tightening up as she saw this Ruby girl's father being held captive. Restrained by what must clearly be a mad man. While she never knew her parents, she has seen children with their own having fun and loving one another.

It made her sick seeing this.

Tai then looked up, hurt, seeing his precious child. A child turned scared as Ruby saw their father.

"Dad!" Ruby shouted. Tai then began shaking his head for some reason, but Ruby didn't care. Quickly the youth tried going to him only to nearly trip and fall. Getting up, a voice could then be heard throughout the building. Tai's voice.

"Ruby...is just...different." Tai's recorded voice said. Playing out over and over with Ruby getting angry. Knowing full well this was his idea to mess with Ruby. Using this message to mock Ruby's use of the hearing aid on them.

"Hearing aid." Sky looked confused. "Since when does Ruby have that?"

"She doesn't." Velvet said shyly. "This is probably a problem this version of Ruby has."

"Huh, kinda like Neo and her voice." Neo hit Roman for that comment.

Hearing this, Ruby then shouted "Shut up!" But that didn't stop him from continuing playing with his games. Their play time.

"This is it." Mercury said. "The reveal of who it is."

"I hope nothing happens to this child."The mystery girl said worried about the young girl on screen. She did not wish to see such a cute girl face horrors like her and her own sister.

In response to Ruby's rage, the mastermind finally revealed themselves. Or at least their voice. "Don't you see, she's not your friend."

In another corner of the screen it showed some doll with blonde hair and glowing blue eyes along with other toys.

"That...looks familiar." Cardin said squinting his eyes.

"You don't need other friends." The voice said with Tai noticing the mastermind near his child. Trying to warn Ruby who couldn't understand. "They try to keep us apart," The voice continued on as Ruby tried backing away to wherever the voice is coming from. "Try to ruin our fun," It showed the doll again only closer revealing more features.

"Really familiar." Velvet said a bit scared. Velvet pulling down her shades as she got a good look at the doll. She swears she's seen it from somewhere, or at least it felt familiar.

"But I won't let that happen." The voice echoed with Tai still trying to get Ruby's attention, who couldn't understand as the child just kept backing away. Suddenly the voice came into Ruby's hearing aid saying, "It'll all be over soon." He said. "Don't worry Ruby. You're going to thank me when he's gone."

Tai tried once more to warn Ruby, shaking his head desperately at one final attempt. An attempt that failed as Ruby backed into a shelf where suddenly, something hit Ruby. Saying one last thing before Ruby fell unconscious.

"When they're all gone."

"Whitley was looking away at this point, glad the theatre was dark so nobody would see his position. Like hell he wanted to see murder. He should be glad they were seeing the end.

"Oh man." Cardin didn't like Ruby. Not one bit. But even he didn't want her to face...whatever this is. His team also in silent agreement.

The scene then changed, showing the ceiling, Ruby down, and the toy car.

But the thing most interesting was when a small person(?) started coming out with a knife being dragged across the floor. The edge making noise indicating whoever this is, had sinister plans for it.

"This is it." Yatsu said readying to see just who the enemy is trying to harm this young child of Ruby.

"Three bucks say it's a Grimm." Roman whispered to Neo.

"?" Adam just continued staring, waiting to see who this person is with Cinder doing the same.

"Guess what Ruby," The voice said as the child then began waking up, hearing the enemy's monologue. "Now it's going to be you and me...forever."

Tai was still trying his best to scream, being horrified at what was about to be done to his sweet child. Feeling desperate as he's unable to even move. Even worse, the rpe tied to his neck led to a type of machine that lifted things, which just activated.

"Oh crap." Emerald said in suspense.

"Seems someone is about to die by loss of oxygen." Cinder commented now seeing how this man was about to die.

"I'm surprised his wife or anyone isn't here to help." The mystery girl said wondering why nobody was helping.

"His wife huh." Mayden creplied. "Yeah, like Remnant, Raven more or less ditched him along with Ruby's sister, Yang. Though Yang does visit them from time to time."

"That's...good." The mystery girl said glad at least these two sisters weren't apart. Though she did find anger at seeing this Raven leaving behind Tai and Ruby.

"Okay, but how come nobody is coming to the rescue?" Fox asked.

"Because the person behind this made certain." Was all Mayden told them.

"Okay, but why doesn't Tai just use aura?" Whitley said while still looking away.

"Different world, different rules." In short, that world had no aura. "Just keep watching to see what happens.

As Tai struggled, Ruby became fully aware as the child then saw him. Speaking while saying, "I was broken Ruby. I couldn't make you smile. But I'm better now."

The scene then finally revealed the mastermind of all this horror. Wearing blue trousers, a striped colored shirt, and little shoes. A small toy that was smaller than even Ruby, and had blonde hair with permanently red eyes with a horrifying look on his face while carrying a knife.

It was Ruby's toy friend...Jaune!?

"Oh Oum!" Dove just screamed.

"That-that-that isn't right!" The red Malachite sister said while holding her sister who also looked shocked.

"He just looks...gross!" She screamed.

"Never thought I'd see Jaune like this." Cardin muttered.

"..." Mercury just said nothing, but the conflict was in him. Jaune. That weird goofball idiot...he's the killer. But he's a freaking toy.

"How is a toy this evil!?" Tock said feeling this was unnatural, even by her standards. Others shared her thoughts.

"Yeah, uh." Mayden said not sure how to describe it. Jaune here-this version anyway-is a Buddy Doll. An advanced A.I. toy that is supposed to be a friend to whoever they meet, Ruby in this case."

"Then why is it like this?" The mystery girl asked.

"True, I can't imagine a toy to be like this." Cinder said. While she didn't care much for this Jaune, she wondered how such a toy ended up like this. Because she doubted whoever made these Buddy Dolls would make this.

"An Atlas employee did it." Mayden said. "Messed with the programming, removed all safety features. Making this thing a ruin wreck, and you're about to see how."

"I know how to make you happy now." Jaune said holding the knife ready to what appears to be stabbing Ruby. The poor kid breathing heavily at the former friend. "Maybe you don't want to be happy?"

"Maybe you're broken to." Tai watched as he could feel his doom close while Ruy dealt with this horrible situation. The evil doll's own logic so messed up, that it did found a solution to 'help' his best friend.

"Maybe I need to open you up, and see what we're dealing with!" Jaune said as he made a small tear on Ruby's shirt. Now deciding to see what's wrong with his friend once and for all. "I'm gonna FIX you Ruby!" Jaune then raised the knife ready to end it all.

"Oh shit!" Cardin said never thinking Jaune-even a toy version-would ever go this far.

"Seriously, how'd he end up like this!?" Whitley said still not looking.

"Bad influence and faulty programming." Mayden told them.

In an attempt to divert Jaune's knife, Ruby then decided on one course of action.

"Y-You are my buddy,"

Sing.

"Until the end." Normally such an action would never work, but because of Jaune's own faulty programming and unhealthy desire to be Ruby's friends, hearing those words shocked and confused him. His head shaking at hearing the word friend.

"Huh-What-Ruby-!?"

As for Tai, his situation wasn't looking any better. The carrier now lifting the rope slowly strangling this. Seeing this, Ruby quickly looked around to find a way to help. Then noticing the police car nearby.

"You are my buddy," Which Ruby grabbed. "You're my best FRIEND!" Then slammed it onto Jaune knocking him away.

"Thank goodness." The mystery girl said.

As Jaune was sent flying grunting, Tai was now slowly losing breath with his body shaking as it was losing air.

"Dad!" Ruby cried as the child grabbed the buzz saw and started climbing up on the shelves to save Tai. This was their mess, their fault. Ruby never expected Jaune to end up like this. To become so far from the kind Buddy Doll he once was, and ending up as a killer.

"Hold on, killer?" Roman went. "This thing killed others?"

"Yep." Mayden explained. "And trust me, those deaths weren't pretty." Roman gulped at that.

Eventually Ruby finally got up to the top of the shelf, and saw Tai slowly moving less. Realizing they had to free their father soon, Ruby held the buzz saw and began to cut into it. The rope slowly snapping.

Unfortunately, at that moment, behind the boxes, a certain 'friend' would try and ruin this. Because as Ruby tried freeing their dad, Ruby then heard something.

"Accounting. Accounting." Turning around, from the boxes out burst Jaune with his knife.

"Now that's creepy." Mercury whispered.

Screaming, Jaune took advantage of this by leaping at Ruby. When that happened, with a yelp Ruby fell down yet at the last moment grabbed the rope that was choking their dad with the buzzsaw falling and breaking into pieces.

'Now that isn't good.' Neo wasn't sure why, but she didn't like this creepy ass doll. Seemed more than a little messed up. Heck, in a way it was kinda like her. Small, deadly, but without any of the cuteness.

She hoped this Jaune died.

As all three swung a bit on the rope, Tai showed himself finally nearing death. The rope having cut off his oxygen supply and was slowly dying. Jaune of course didn't care.

"You are ruining our fun Ruby!" Jaune shouted swinging his knife around.

"Get off!" Ruby shouted trying to grab the little freak. But an idea came in mind as suddenly Ruby grabbed the knife, and then realized it could be used.

"You're going to play with me now!" Jaune continued to say trying to get Ruby to stop. Ruby then usd the knife to cut the rope dropping all three with the broken dolling shouting, "ONLY MEEEEE!"

"That's one yanderee if I ever saw one." Russel shivered.

"Oh yeah. Creepy to." Jaune's face on that thing was all messed up. Sky had to wonder how this thing was even sold in the first place.

As all three fell with a thud, each of them sprawled in some form of pain. On the other hand, Tai now showed himself to be breathing again, the rope no longer putting pressure on his throat.

As for Ruby they groaned slowly getting their position. When suddenly Ruby saw the knife. Quickly Ruby grabbed the knife and got on top of Jaune. The A.I. machine could do nothing as Ruby screamed with Jaune unable to do anything but scream, "NOOOOOO!"

Ruby jabbing the knife onto the little toy's generator causing sparks to fly. Pushing it in further to truly end it.

"...Rubyyyyy…" The broken toy Jaune said as its power supply had been damaged and was slowly shutting off. Ruby, letting go as the child heard their former friends last words. "I thought we were... friends...?"

Ruby..just looked sad. The child hated Jaune...but knew fully well that the doll only ended up like this because of all the bad influence Jaune witnessed. The programming causing him to be more dangerous than he should have been. Plus...Jaune had been her first friend.

With a sigh, Rub left as Jaune slowly shut down while saying, "You are my bud-"

"...So...they were friends?" Adam asked.

"Were." Mayden said. "Unlike the prime world, this version was 'born' as a broken A.I. doll. Jaune was Ruby's first friend due to her lack of socialness, but ended up like that because he learned bad things and felt betrayed when Ruby abandoned him."

"That is...sad." The mystery girl said.

"Yeah, but it doesn't excuse all the crap this toy's done." Junior told her.

"Pretty mu-wait, original?" Whitley then said.

"Oh nothing to worry about." If these guys thought the Jaune of this world was bad, then how would they think of the original Jaune who was really messed up. Best Mayden didn't show em that.

With Jaune dead, Ruby got up to find Tai. "Dad!" Ruby called out. As the child walked thought, a voice could be heard.

"You are my buddy...You are my buddy," Hearing this, Ruby stopped and then turned around.

"... until the EEEEEEEND!" With Jaune jumping at him with the knife creaming the last part in full rage!

"Oh Oum!" Whitley shouted regretting even watching. Having thought it was over.

"Yikes!" Roman also shouted having grabbed and hugged Neo. The female assassin just rolling her eyes as she held Roman to comfort her boss.

Emerald dropped her popcorn and Mercury decided to make certain he slept with one eye open if he ever fell asleep anytime soon.

Those like Tock, Adam, and Cinder showed nothing, but also showed signs of slight surprise. Even the mystery girl's eyes widened a bit. Who knew such a deranged doll had this much determination.

Ruby screamed as Jaune go closer and closer, eyes full of red malice.

Bang!

When suddenly a bullet shot came and slammed into the doll knocking Jaune away just in time.

"Okay, now that's impressive." Mercury smiled.

Back on screen, Ruby gasped at what had happened, and turned to see who had done it. There, by the side, is Roman Torchwick himself. The criminal who had thought Ruby killed Neo, finally knowing the truth that it was this little monster that did the deed.

His customized cane smoking with the hidden trigger in it, the thief looking serious as he then said, "This is the end."

"Whaaaaa-" Roman went.

"Oh yeah, in this world you know Ruby." Mayden told Roman. "Sadly here in this world, your daughter Neo ended up killed by Jaune."

Neo looked a bit shocked, but for two reasons.

One: She's Roman's daughter! As in a real one!? She couldn't tell if she should be flattered or not. Two: She died!?

The small assassin then shrugged. Sucked that she died, but at least Roman avenged her.

Steps could be heard as suddenly from behind the downed doll, Tai came out freed from his restraints. Looking rather pissed to as he stomped his boot on the killer doll's back, keeping him in place.

Tai then grabs the dolls head and pulls hard while saying, "Don't... fuck...with my son!" Then rips out the head with his bare hands, and throws it.

"Incredible." The mystery girl wished she had that.

"Not that impressive...but not bad either." Mercury said. He's seen way cooler stuff than this, but hey, not bad.

"Cool I guess bu-wait a second." Roan then said, realization coming upon him. "Did that guy just say, son!?"

"Right, should have mentioned this earlier. This Ruby is a boy." Mayden then explained that piece of tibet.

"But, she-I mean-he, looks like a girl!" Emerald said. The Ruby on screen was wearing boy clothes, but to her and others, it just looked normal.

"True, but some kids do look like boys or girls at their young age." Mayden told her. "Though I admit, Ruby's sister Yang, whenever she visits, does sometimes dress him up as a girl. Skirt, panties, cape, and junk like that, but Ruby in this world is still a boy."

"Weird." Cardin went.

On screen, Tai then looks down at his son, who then said "Dad."

Together, they then hugged each other knowing that this nightmare was finally over. Tai thanking Roman who gave a curt nodded, and the ruined Jaune head finally shutting down permanently.

The night over as those involved were sent to the hospital. With later on Ruby along with her friends Weiss, two boys called Blake and Adam, with his sister Yang burning the doll. And so they would hang out together, glad they were at peace.

"...Well." Cardin said finishing his chips. "That sounds...sweet. So, what's next?"

And so ends the evil saga of Chucky. How did you think of it, cause you know, I used the reboot version. More tame in some ways than the original franchise, oh, Chucky of that one was worse. Plus, did you see what I did. In Beacon Jaune was Ruby's first friend, so here it's the same only worse. Plus I did a little gender bender with Ruby and Blake as a boy, not to mention Roman helping despite being a thief. Either way, this was a nice relief chapter for me. While it isn't now, happy early Halloween people.

P.S: No omake this chapter, as it's purely relief. You'll see Ruby and the gang next chapter.