Here we go! Hopefully the final chapter in the current volume! Next chapter will bring us into Volume 4, where Diego will start to reveal his past in full.

Please enjoy, be ye Faunus or human!

Diego pulled out his Scroll and called one of the few people he knew would have a means to communicate with him as he approached the school.

"Sun, pick up your Scroll now before I kill you myself!" he hollered. He almost didn't notice that what Grimm were in the area were giving him a wide boundary, as if avoiding him.

"Diego! Where are you?" Sun demanded.

"Near the school."

"What?! What are you doing there?"

"I'm finishing this once and for all, like I should've done more than eighty years ago!" Diego answered.

"Eighty years? But, you're not-"

"I'll explain later! Right now, if there's anyone I should know about in my area, tell me now."

"Uh... Ruby and Weiss are headed your way, and Jaune and Pyrrha are still missing..."

Just then, Diego saw a pod shoot up into the sky from the school entrance. Looking in that direction, he just noticed a single red-headed figure disappear back into the school.

"I think I found them," Diego said back to Sun. "I gotta go. Take care of Yang and Blake for me until I get back!"

"I will," Sun answered. "Good luck."

Diego hung up, then sighed and walked towards the school once again. As he did, he saw some Grimm drop in from the Grimm Dragon above him in the sky. As he watched, Ruby and Weiss shortly came into the courtyard, battling the Grimm as they tried to get into the school. Diego felt his rage burning once more and with a roar he charged the Grimm, slaughtering all within sixty feet of him. Unknown to him at the moment, his eyes started glowing a sickly color and the Grimm started to give him a wide circle.

"Come on!" he shouted challengingly, "Is that all you've got Salem?! COME ON!"

"Diego!"

Diego looked to Ruby and Weiss, who were both scared and amazed at what he had done. He looked at them, then realized what had happened to himself.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I tried to hold it back, but it's too strong-"

"Just tell us that you aren't going to kill us, and I think we'll be good," Weiss interrupted. She clearly wasn't in the mood for debating his loyalty. Diego managed a smile.

"I'm not gonna kill you. On my honor," he said.

This seemed to satisfy the two Huntresses, and they looked up to the top of the tower before them.

"We've gotta hurry," Ruby stated. Weiss then fired some of her runes at the building side, making a path all the way to the top.

"You can do this," she said to her and Diego. Diego looked to Ruby.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Nope," Ruby replied, then started running up the side of the tower, Diego in hot pursuit. They rushed up the side of the building, knowing that time was running out with every step. However, by the time they got to the top, it was too late. The deed had been done, and Diego just managed to see Pyrrha get disintegrated before his very eyes.

Then, something happened that Diego was actually glad to see. Ruby's eyes glowed a bright silver color as she cried out in rage and sorrow for her fallen friend.

"What?!" Cinder shouted, and the Grimm Dragon screeched. Diego just smiled.

The Silver-Eyed warrior has revealed herself, he thought. Before Ruby charged into the fray, Diego looked to her.

"Ruby!" he called, "I'm not sure if you can hear me or not, but go for the dragon! Leave Cinder to me!"

Ruby either heard him or coincidentally acted the way he was hoping for, because she immediately went for the dragon, screaming like a banshee the whole way. Diego chuckled at the sight, then looked to Cinder. The new Fall Maiden smiled.

"Diego," she said in mock happiness, "I missed you. We all do."

"It has been too long, hasn't it?" Diego asked, giving the same mocking tone.

"Quite so," she stated, "I so wish that you didn't run out on us. We were so happy together."

"Which 'we' are you referring to again?" Diego asked, "Us and the gang? Because I don't remember the two of us being a thing."

"The rest of us, of course," Cinder answered, "I know that you and Salem were close."

"Too close for your comfort," Diego replied, making Cinder lose her original tone. Diego smiled wider to see that she had lost her cool somewhat and continued.

"Why aren't you attacking me yet, my dear apprentice? Did Salem give you orders otherwise? I guess she wants to test your loyalty."

Cinder growled and charged up her magic. "I will kill you if I have to, regardless of what she wants!"

"Glad to hear that. I'll make sure to tell Salem in person," Diego stated. He then readied himself for combat, much to Cinder's amusement.

"Do you really think you can take on the powers of a Maiden, Diego? I've known you to be quite foolish, but this would top them all. I still find it surprising that Salem ran in fear of you all those years ago."

Diego looked at Cinder as his eyes glowed a sickly color.

"Then allow me to enlighten you..."

Diego suddenly started screaming in pain as his body took on a horrendous transformation before her eyes.

His skin became black as midnight, his face and parts of his shoulders and hands turned white, his eyes a sickly red, and all of his equipment disappeared and was absorbed into his skin. Bone-like spikes grew out along his spine, some more along his arms, and his eyes now looked more reptilian in addition to the glow they sported. He towered over Cinder and growled. When he did, Cinder felt a huge surge of power erupt from him, the same power her Mistress possessed. He looked more intimidating than any Grimm Salem had created, and when she looked into his eyes, Cinder felt only one emotion: fear. Diego spoke, and his voice was dark sounding, his mouth also giving off the same glow as his eyes.

"THIS is what Salem ran from that night! This is what I have become thanks to your Mistress! And as powerful as a Fall Maiden is, you are no match for the power I have been given! Prepare yourself, Cinder Fall, for this is your end!"

Diego's hands glowed with dark energy and several dark crystals appeared, which he fired at Cinder. The evil Maiden dodged them, then sent a wave of her own energy at him, but the energy simply spiraled around him before becoming corrupted and then sent right back at her. Cinder was surprised and barely blocked the attack herself. But she wasn't given much time to rest, as Diego quickly charged her, striking furiously at her with sharp claws on his now Grimm hands. She deflected them the best she could, but even in his Grimm form, Diego still possessed his previous combat prowess. Meaning, she was screwed. Eventually, Cinder may as well have been a punching bag. She could no longer keep up with the sheer power Diego possessed nor was she a match for him in melee combat. He clawed up her face, pummeled her till she was beyond bruised, and even used his powers to cause all kinds of harm. Soon, she lay battered and beaten as he stood over her. She looked up at him, then smirked.

"Well, do it then," she said in a weak, almost inaudible voice, "Kill me."

Diego raised a hand, poised for the kill. It was all over now. He could relieve Salem of one less minion, and soon weed out the rest before going for the queen herself. It could all be his...

Diego roared in anger and his hand came down and cracked the roof beside her. Cinder was dumbfounded, but didn't attempt to rise as Diego spoke.

"No! Because when push comes to shove, I am not like you or those you work for!" he shouted, "But I can tell you this..." He picked her up by the throat and lifted her off her feet. Cinder struggled, but to no avail.

"Look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you!" Diego ordered. Cinder obeyed, slowly and reluctantly.

"I spare you only this once, because I pity you and those who work for Salem. The puppets at the mercy of the puppeteer. But pray that I never have to encounter you again, for I can't promise that I will be as forgiving next time. And another thing... when you look in the mirror and see the scars you've earned in this fight, know that I could've killed you, but decided to spare you instead. Until we meet again... my former apprentice."

Diego's hand glowed and Cinder suddenly lost consciousness, then Diego dropped her. Looking around, he noticed that Ruby had stopped her own onslaught on the dragon, though whether it was dead or not was unclear. What was clear was that Ruby herself was lying unconscious on the roof nearby, Crescent Rose nearby. Diego sighed as he felt much of his rage ebb away. Most of the spikes in his new form retracted back into his skin as he walked towards her. Picking her up gently, along with her weapon, he jumped off the top of the tower, headed for the nearest evac ship.

The guards down at the docks, along with what Huntsmen and Huntresses remained, were watching the city closely, in case more people managed to get out alive. General Ironwood was among those that remained. As they watched, a Grimm figure suddenly dropped in front of them and they aimed their guns at it. They were surprised when they saw a little girl in its arms, as well as the almost-human appearance it had, however intimidating. Ironwood looked closer, then shouted, "Hold your fire!"

"But sir-"

"I said, hold your fire!" Ironwood shouted again. Reluctantly, his men obeyed as the Grimm stepped closer. As it did, it transformed into a familiar figure, who flashed Ironwood a tired grin.

"Thanks for not blasting me to pieces," Diego said, "Is there room for more on that plane? Because that looks like the last of the people in Vale."

Ironwood nodded, and led Diego onto the evac ship. Diego handed Ruby over to one of the paramedics on the ship, then smiled at Ironwood again.

"Thanks... James," he said, and walked off into another section of the ship, not noticing Ironwood's own smile. Diego then looked to one of the medical staff nearby.

"Do you have anyone by the name of Yang Xiao Long on board?" he asked.

"Yes, we do," the nurse he had asked answered.

"Where is she?" he inquired. She pointed to one of the rooms reserved for the wounded and he gave her a quick nod before walking towards it. Inside, he found what he was looking for. Or more appropriately, who he was looking for.

Yang was lying on a medical bed, seemingly unconscious at the moment. Her right arm had been sliced clean off, but she was otherwise unharmed as far as he could see. A small tear escaped Diego's eyes as he looked down at her. Diego stepped closer to the bed and leaned down next to her.

"I'm sorry..." he said softly, "I should've never left you. This is all my fault..."

"Diego?" he heard her murmur, then her eyes opened partly to look at him. Diego was almost too relieved to speak.

"Diego...?"

"I'm here," Diego said softly, running a hand across her cheek, "And I'm not leaving you again. That's a promise, Goldilocks."

She smiled slightly at this and her remaining hand grasped his own as they felt the plane take off, leaving the city of Vale still in ruins and a bigger fight up ahead. One which Diego intended to win.

And this time, he would not lose those he loved...

Salem looked through the Seer Grimm in her chambers, as it gave her a look at the now ruined city of Vale. She was holding a look of admiration and pride.

"She's fortunate that he allowed her to live and that I'm willing to let this one slide," she stated. A sigh escaped her for a moment. "I know that in the end we may have to kill each other, but until then..."

She made the image disappear and a worried expression crossed her face.

"Please be safe, my precious Diego..."

And with that, Volume 3 comes to a close! Next chapter, Volume 4, where we learn of Diego's backstory and the relationship he had with Salem. I'm kinda excited to get this far into the story.

Thank you all for staying with me so far! Like, review, and I'll see you in the next chapter!

Bye!