"So you can beat him?" Lilac asked.
"Not in present form, and it's her. But like Flux, I can also embrace a greater power and become stronger." Jet explained. "I can gather the Four Semblances of Asmo and offer them to the light goddess, becoming one with my human side, and gaining great power over dust and light."
"That sounds promising." Lilac commented, but Ruby knew there was more.
"Or, I can follow Flux's footsteps and perform the Darkening Ritual of Deus before the dark god, embracing my Grimm side, and empower myself with darkness and strength." Jet concluded.
A silence followed his words.
"You're going to choose the light, right?" Ruby asked. He had to. If he went with his darkness, he'd be a Grimm, and that would mean-
"Maybe." Jet replied slowly. "It might be better to use Flux's own weapons against her."
Ruby felt anger enter her heart. She'd been a firm believer in the good side, in this case, light, but to hear that Jet might use evil to beat Flux, no matter how strong she was, was terrible. Sure, he used darkness to fight, but he served for the good of humanity! Was he really prepared to throw all that away?
"I know what you're thinking." Jet said, with a sad smile at Ruby's stare. "You think I'm insane for even thinking about turning to Deus. Well let me ask you this, hero." he continued, now returning Ruby's hard look. "Am I evil for being part Grimm?"
"No." Ruby replied at once. "But that and throwing away your human side to become Grimm are totally different things!"
"Are they?" Jet countered. "I, Jet Xiao Rose, use darkness as both my weapons and my shields. Midnight Rose, my Dharc Armour, all of it is made from pure darkness. My semblances come from my original semblance to copy abilities, which is also born from pure darkness. Even these," he extended his wings, "come from the darkness that you fight and hate. But I'm fighting something that threatens all of humanity, and I'm one of the only ones that can stop it. So, if I sacrifice one of the greatest gifts of this life, wouldn't that be considered noble, and not evil? Please tell me you're not that closed-minded."
This cut off what Ruby was about to say. Closed-minded? Was she closed-minded?
"What do you mean?" Ruby asked.
"I mean, you've got to shatter this belief you have that good is light and evil is dark, like in the storybooks and movies. From what I've learned about this whole world, it's about survival. Everything that's done around here is all a part of surviving." Jet elaborated.
"Have you ever heard of the phrase 'the ends justify the means', Ruby?" Lilac asked, sitting next to her, and Ruby felt the girl's slender and smooth leg touch her own. She shifted away slightly as Izzet moved next to Jet, their shoulders touching, and Jet put an arm around her. Remembering the fact that Izzet was one of those 'touchy-feely' girls, Ruby didn't complain.
"Jet is the perfect example of that." Lilac explained. "He uses darkness, pain, and some of the worst abilities ever to destroy his foes. But at the end, he's keeping his friends safe, and destroying threats to humanity, saving innocent lives. So if he becomes an enemy of humanity himself, but only hunts down Flux and destroys her, a definite threat to society, does that make him a bad person?"
'He loves you, and he wouldn't do anything that might hurt you intentionally. He's always thought of you when he does anything that involves you, and tries to protect you.' Izzet thought to her. 'You of all people would know how caring he is, even though he uses such dark power. Is he really going to change if he sides with Deus to destroy Flux?'
It felt strangely like Ruby was being exorcised of all her doubts and worries. Each time a counter-argument or a fear of hers entered her mind, it was instantly dispelled by what the trio around her had said. Where fear once stood, now doubt in her hate of the darkness stood, even dispelling… no. It would never dispel that.
"Fine." Ruby said, though her voice came out soppier than what she'd intended. "But my mom died by that darkness. I'll try, but you need to give me time."
"Very well." Jet replied. "We'll leave you now."
"Actually, can Izzet stay with me?" Ruby asked. She had to know something.
Jet and Lilac exchanged glances with the silver haired girl, and Izzet certainly looked surprised, as did Lilac. Jet, on the other hand, had a knowing look in his eyes, but he changed his face to one of understanding.
"Of course." Jet and Lilac replied at the same time. Jet let go of Izzet and reached out, taking Lilac's hand in his own as she reached across Ruby. The pair vanished.
'What is it, Ruby?' Izzet asked, the telepath gazing into Ruby's eyes, the red and blue shimmering marbles of her own showing concern.
"Izzet, when Jet has to choose, between light and dark, to defeat Flux, which will he choose?" Ruby replied with her own question, though she knew how she was going to answer.
'I'm not sure.' Or maybe not. 'On his own, we both know Jet would choose the dark side. His powers all come from darkness, and even his name is derived from a dark gem. Raven, his mother, is the name of a black bird. And we both know what his father was.'
"Right." Ruby said, hoping there was more to this than just names.
'But with you, I don't know. He's used to the darker powers, and most if not all of us know about his Grimm half, but he might try and use light in order to destroy Flux. Because of you.' Izzet explained.
"Because of me?" Ruby asked, now confused.
'Yes! Because of you, who's shown him some kindness, he resolved to try. You don't know what he was like before you met him.' Izzet continued. Now Ruby was curious. She hoped the telepath could tell, though by her smile, she could. 'Believe it or not, he was really timid when I first met him.'
"Timid?" Ruby spoke in surprise. There again, she was a little iffy too on the first day.
'He didn't speak. Back then, he hid his wings, and never spoke with such confidence. Nouvelle used to bully him too. It wasn't until our trials of initiation that we found out how strong he was. It was just the two of us and a death stalker. I panicked and it went for me, but he didn't show any fear. Know what he did?' At Ruby's shake of her head, Izzet continued.
'He took a grenade-launcher hammer called Diminuendo and cut the stinger off before blasting it through its skull, all in one move! I wasn't nice to him either at the time, and Nouvelle and Lilac were coming out of the bushes in time to witness it too.'
"Sounds like Nora's weapon." Ruby muttered to herself.
'After that, he was made our leader. Things only got better after that, but he showed a major increase in confidence once he met you, Ruby. To him, you're the spark that blazes in his heart. You're more than just a loved one, you see. If he were to lose you…'
Ruby didn't even need Izzet to finish her sentence. She finally understood. Everything Jet did, it was with the goal of protecting her. That must mean that his other goal, his mission of defeating Flux was connected to her. But why? Everything was much clearer now except that one point.
'And now, I must ask you,' Izzet spoke with a sad smile, 'have you done all of your Christmas shopping?'
"Yes. Why?" Ruby asked. She was normally so excited about Christmas that she bought her gifts beyond a fortnight in advance. Izzet's smile widened.
'Then, I'll see you in the morning.' Izzet whispered, and a blackness appeared around her hand. At the same time, she felt a small, sharp sting on the back of her neck, and blacked out.
Ruby's body fell into Jet's hands. She felt pleasantly heavy as he and Izzet tucked her into her bed. He gazed once more upon her sleeping face as Izzet embraced him from behind, and felt her chin upon his shoulder. He twisted his neck and gave her a small peck on the cheek.
'Time to get the others.' Jet thought to her.
'Yes.' Izzet responded.
The two of them vanished, leaving Ruby's sleeping form alone.