Chapter Twelve: Little Miss Malachite Part Two

The mercenary rolled up to the town, adjusting his glasses. This place was a ghost town… probably literally. But, the fog was thick and he needed to stop. Where the hell was he anyway? The fog wasn't there fifteen minutes ago. So, what was he getting into?

"Hopefully, Little Miss didn't run into any trouble after getting away from those Roses." He pulled out a cigarette, lighting it. "Those guys are trouble. But, what exactly is Cinder planning for them? I don't think I could take them out, even just one."

He walked forward now, worried about his motorcycle hitting something. He walked forward, bumping into someone. He fell to the ground, landing on his ass.

"Hey, watch where you're go—" He started, his jaw dropping and the cigarette falling from it as he saw who he'd run into. Towering above him, narrowed eyes fixed on him, was Ruby Rose, easily the last person he'd wanted to run into. He'd heard snippets of why she was the one Cinder had the most concern about, rumors of something else hidden within her power, but he'd never actually gotten to see her in a fight.

"So, I suppose it isn't a coincidence that you're here," The powerful, dangerous fist of Sundragon grabs him by the collar. "Give me one good reason I don't pound you to a pulp."

"I-I was just in the neighborhood," Mercury raised his hands. "I-I'm trying to get out of the fog. You beat me. I-I've got no quarrel with you now. I would like to call a truce. J-Just let me go and you won't see me again."

To his utmost surprise, Ruby released him, turning around and walking forward. Mercury panted, clutching his throat, which felt swollen (though, not from being choked). Something didn't sit right with him, so he had to satiate his curiosity.

"Why aren't you more upset about your friend's death?" He demanded. "Weiss was going to slice me to ribbons, but you're letting me go."

"You're better than that," Ruby kept walking. "Your soul is better than you think. You should find a better purpose. 'Sides, if I beat the shit out of you here, your friend's help would have been in vain."

Mercury was dumbfounded; Ruby Rose, the most violent of the group, was sparing him. Was… Was she more benevolent than she let on? Or, more likely, did she know he was no threat to her? That was the far more likely answer, but Mercury really didn't want to think about that. Something else was on his mind.

"What did you do to Little Miss?"

"The girl? She's at the hotel with the maid, Sustrai."

"S-Sustrai?!" Mercury went pale. At his tone, Ruby stopped, turning to face him.

"What do you know about her?" Ruby asked, stepping closer.

"D-Don't trust that woman." Mercury said, taking off toward the middle of the town. He had to get there quick, had to rescue Little Miss!

With Maria

"Where is Ruby?" She asked, crossing her arms and sighing. "She's been gone for half an hour."

"There is a lot of fog." Pyrrha reassured her. "It's probably all she can do to be quick. There must be something that she can find."

"I say we head to the front desk and check on this Malachite." Weiss clutched her rapier. "I would like to find some information out of her. There is something off about her aside from her apparent White Fang connections."

"Well, we'll have to be careful." Maria said. "I think you should go, Weiss. Just say you're getting your strength back and need a drink and would like room service, but were too proud to ask your friends."

"That could work," Weiss nodded, opening the door.

"Room service," Sustrai smiled, looking at the group as she rolled in a tray. She looked at Weiss, looking to the bed and then her again. "Oh my, I thought you were sick."

"I am trying to regain my strength. But, thank you for room service."

"We didn't order anything."

"Oh, it's all complimentary," Sustrai waved it off.

"That doesn't mean we ordered it," Pyrrha said.

"Oh, we always bring up drinks and food and change the sheets. Worry not about your having ordered it. We like to be proactive here. You agree with that notion, don't you?"

"Uh, sure," Maria said. "What do we have?"

"We have roast chicken, steamed ham, water, wine, soda pop, among others." Sustrai listed off what she had. "So, what sounds good?"

"D-Don't take any of the food," Malachite stumbled into view, landing on the ground.

"Malachite!" Pyrrha and Maria moved over to her, helping her up. "Are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine," Malachite held her head. "I-I just remembered something important."

"What would that be?" Maria asked, Weiss shifting her gaze to Sustrai, who seemed quite irritated with Malachite for her interruption.

"A monster with horrible powers is nearby. We need to run. Th-The rider is back. AS soon as I ate the food, it appeared."

"What are you talking about?" Sustrai scoffed. "All my food is prepared with love and dedication of decades of tradition and practice."

"Run…" Malachite fell back, passing out, a black liquid leaking from her mouth and pooling behind her.

"Poor girl is having a fever I'll bet," Emerald laughed softly. "I'll take this poor child and see if I can't nurse her back to health."

"Uh, sure." Maria said. "Please be careful."

"I shall. Do eat while I take care of her," With that, Emerald left the room, leaving the group to their own devices.

"So, what do we do?" Weiss asked.

"We investigate," Maria said. "I'll try to use Life and Death to see if anything is happening."

"Is there a way for us to see if something is going on?" Pyrrha asked.

"And, won't it only pick up on Cinder, since your Semblance was forced awake by her presence?" Weiss asked.

"I have to try," Maria clenched a fist, summoning the Beholder of Life and Death, the eye emerging and shining like a spotlight a spot where a vision was appearing. A strange, inky blackness pooled around the vision, forced out by something else. A fire became lit behind it as the blackness started to take shape. In the darkness, a human figure could be seen… or, rather it was like a human. It seemed to be a powerfully strong rider. They all jumped back as it took another shape, still remaining humanoid.

It was a flaming horseman, black horse with white bones protruding, burned off to reveal its hideous skeleton in places. The rider was a lumpy mass of black goop that was consistently melting and reshaping in that humanoid shape. Both the horse and rider had glowing orange eyes, staring straight at them. Their open maws were both rows of jagged teeth and a red void that opened into an abyss.

They all gasped as it emerged, splitting in two and forcing itself down Maria and Pyrrha's throats. They struggled and tried to stop it with their Semblances, but they were ineffective against the strange apparition that had come from the vision.

"Wh-What happened?" Maria asked, panting as she felt her face heat up.

"Th-This is like what happened to me." Weiss clenched a fist. "We need to go, quickly before—"

The three screamed in pain as the room around them shifted once again. This time, they were in a dark, haunted looking place, candles lighting up the room and casting dim shadows.

"Where is this?" Weiss asked.

"This seems like…" Pyrrha looked around. "No… It couldn't be."

"Where is this?" Maria looked around, completely on her guard.

"This is where Jaune and I—" Pyrrha started before they felt a powerful presence walking toward them.

"You fools are too easy to fool," A chilling, haunting voice came from nearby. Standing in front of the door was a tall woman with a physique that radiated power. Bandages wrapped around her breasts and chest, as well as her waist. Her body was exposed and her black hair covered one eye. The other was a brilliant orange with a slight silver glow coming from the other one hidden underneath her hair.

"C-Cinder!" They shouted, all getting ready to fight. Maria rushed in first.

"You'll pay for hurting my daughter, you bitch!" She lunged for the Grimm, but she was swatted away with little effort.

"You'll have to try harder," Cinder stared down at her. "Your grandmother was a far better warrior than you are."

Maria thrust her hand forward, Life and Death wrapping around the Grimm tightly. "Oh yeah? Well, how about a taste of my warrior's power? Aura Burst!"

A snaking wave of Aura ran up the vines of Life and Death, encircling the Grimm and binding her arms to her sides, before shooting through her. Cinder flinched for a second before looking down and laughing.

"A hundred years ago, Aura was a problem for me," She scoffed, rising into the air. "Now, it's nothing more than an annoyance."

With that, she flexed her arms, snapping Life and Death. She stalked toward Maria, who was shocked.

"B-But, you're a Grimm!" Maria exclaimed.

"I am far more than a simple Grimm now," Cinder spread her arms wide, eyes mad with fury and power. "I am a god among all who walk this world. Not even Aura can stop me! What say you now, Maria Calavera Rose? And, what of your comrades?"

Pyrrha was frozen with fear, unable to move. Her face was pale, sweat drenching her body as Cinder walked closer.

"Ah, Pyrrha," The redhead's voice came out in a terrified squeak as Cinder stepped in front of her. "I bet you're wondering about your cousin, Jaune. Well, worry not. You'll soon meet the same fate as he."

"Wh-What did you do to him?" Pyrrha asked, backing away on instinct. She couldn't do anything. The only thing she was able to do was hope that her fate wouldn't be so cruel.

"I-I'm sorry, Jaune." She sobbed as she felt her tears run down her cheeks. The Grimm stepped closer, but was stopped by a Black Glyph.

"I-I won't let you hurt her." Weiss stood up, face flushed and sweat pouring down it. "I'm tired of being your puppet, Cinder. Today, you die."

"Ah, Weiss," The Grimm stepped closer, the Black Glyph shattering, and cupping her hand under Weiss' chin. "I had seen such potential in you. You, a member of the Schnee family, a family with incredible potential as Semblance wielders. But, I suppose I was mistaken. Someone with your potential wouldn't waste it by dying here."

With a single flick of her wrist, Cinder flung Weiss backwards, sending her slamming into the wall. Weiss slumped to the ground, eyes fighting to stay open as she tried to glare at the Grimm. When they finally closed in unconsciousness, she was out of energy, unable to move or even talk.

"Weiss!" Maria shouted, standing up on shaky legs. "You'll pay for that, you bitch!"

She took an Aura powered leap, punching Cinder in the back of her head. "Aura Sphere!"

Cinder's body made no reaction to the Aura, the glow of the attack blinding and causing her hair to whip forward in the motion of the attack.

"Didn't I tell you that your Aura was useless?" Cinder had an almost bored expression on her face as she reached her hand casually back and backhanded Maria in the jaw. The Rose was sent flying backward, spinning from the force of Cinder's blow. Her body spun like a corkscrew, making four full rotations before she slammed into the wall, falling unconscious.

"Now, Pyrrha, don't you see?" Cinder continued walking to the redhead. "It's pointless to resist me. If you wish to be my enemy, then I can arrange that, but I want to give you a chance to join me once again. Worry not, I will not punish you for defecting before, but you must make a choice."

The Grimm held out her hand, a sly, dangerous smile on her lips. Pyrrha was trembling as she looked up, tears rolling down her cheeks. She began to reach her hand up to the monster, ready to accept her offer.

At the lobby, Ruby kicked open the doors, walking in with her hands in her pockets. She marched behind the desk, opening the door at the back.

"Can I help you, Ruby?" The voice of Sustrai asked, a smile on her face.

"Yeah, I'm looking for something," Ruby turned to face her.

"Well, guests are not allowed behind there," Sustrai took a step closer. "I'll have to ask you to leave."

"Oh, is that so?" Ruby asked. "And, what if I don't want to leave?"

"I-I… How dare you?!" Sustrai shouted, clenching her fists. "You will leave this area, Ruby Rose, or I will escort you out with security."

"Send 'em over," Ruby lit a cigarette and stepped closer. "I'm just itchin' to fight something. Or, is there no security because there's no one else in this shithole of a town but you and us?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Sustrai took a step back.

"Oh, do you?" Ruby asked, snapping her fingers. In walked Mercury, arms spread wide.

"Mercury, you traitor!" Sustrai shouted, throwing a knife at him. Sundragon caught the knife, however, crushing it.

"I was loyal to Lieutenant, not you, Emerald." Mercury said. "I can't and won't forgive you for what you've done to Little Miss."

"Oh, you poor pathetic fool," Sustrai, nay, Emerald, said, chuckling softly. "You swore your loyalty to the Mistress and you shall remain on her side. And, you know the punishment for going against that is death."

"I ain't afraid of you," Mercury ran for her, his arm extending forward like a bullet. Emerald smirked, a black rider appearing in front of him. It enveloped his arm in its substance, seeping up to his face and entering his mouth. He choked and tried to expel it, but it was just too strong, causing him to gasp and choke further.

When it had fully entered him, he began gasping at the horrors he saw. Ruby's eyes widened, moving to help him, when something stabbed her leg. A miniature horse having pierced her. It entered her body, Sundragon unable to grab it. Emerald laughed, her body shifting to its normal colors, her hair turning green and her skin darkening.

"This is a special version of my Semblance I had made just for someone like you," Emerald smirked. "It's the most potent and dangerous form of my ability."

Ruby looked around the room and saw it change. All around her were a dozen Cinder doppelgangers, their faces all cloaked in shadows save their glowing eyes, one orange, the other silver. But, before Ruby could make a move, their heads all morphed into Emerald's head.

"You see, my Semblance has the ability to make people hallucinate." The Grimm all spread their arms out wide, a gesture of basking in the power of the illusion. "Only in this concentrated variation of my Semblance could I produce the truest effect. This makes the illusion real. Your friends already fell to my Semblance causing them to do battle with each other. But, this version, all the damage you're dealt will be from the Semblance itself. With this knowledge, despair and die, Ruby Rose!"

All of the Grimm's heads turned back into Cinder's, all laughing in a monstrous laugh as Ruby stood there, hands in her pockets.

"Good freakin' grief, you talk too much," She said. The Cinders all paused, a slight look of confusion on their faces (or, at least, it could be considered that since their faces couldn't be seen). "You really think a hallucination would scare me? I've already figured out how the shitty thing works."

"Wh-What?" Emerald's voice boomed from around her, Sundragon throwing a powerful punch that resounded with a crack on one of the Cinder's faces. Emerald's pained shriek came from that Cinder, the illusion dissolving away more and more as Sundragon threw more punches.

It disappeared completely as Emerald's body slammed into the wall and then through it. The barely conscious Emerald looked up at Ruby, horror on her face.

"H-H-How?" She barely managed to get out from behind her broken teeth.

"Your shitty illusion doesn't hide you completely," Ruby stood above her. "I could see through it and right to you. Your soul is as obvious as an explosion."

"B-But only the Mistress…" Emerald started, gasping in horror as she looked at Ruby. "N-No wonder she constantly wanted us to focus on you. Y-You're the biggest threat."

Ruby narrowed her eyes, grabbing Emerald. "Tell me what Cinder's Semblance is."

Emerald said nothing, slipping into unconsciousness. Ruby let her drop to the ground, looking for where Mercury was. On the ground, there was a note.

"I've taken your car. I'm sticking with Cinder. Take care of Little Miss and make sure she gets home to Vacuo safe. Good luck fighting Cinder."

"Jackass," Ruby crumbled the note, tossing it. As if by coincidence, Malachite stumbled into the room.

"Wh-Where am I?" She asked, looking around. "I-I don't recognize this place. L-Lady Emerald!"

She rushed over to the fallen Emerald, looking at her. She then looked at Ruby.

"P-Please help me!" She grabbed onto Ruby, begging. "I-It hurts! Th-The flesh is wriggling inside of me!"

Ruby looked at her, narrowing her eyes. She looked down at her neck, seeing the Grimm flesh latched tightly around it. The silver eyed girl used her Semblance, carefully pulling it out.

"Ruby, we followed Malachite down here to—" Maria, the others following her into the room, gasped as they saw Ruby removing the Grimm flesh from her, tossing it away. Maria thrust her hand forward, Life and Death wrapping around it, Aura surging through the vines to disintegrate the creature of Cinder's flesh. Malachite dropped to her knees, gagging and choking.

"What happened to you?" Ruby asked, looking at them to see their cuts and bruises.

"We were trapped in an Illusion brought on by the black rider," Maria held her arm. "Hey, this green haired chick matches the description Blake gave me of one of the higher-ups of the Fang. In fact, this one is one of Cinder's inner circle. To think she would come here to face us.

"Well, we'll deal with her later," Ruby said. "You can read minds, right?"

"Only if they're conscious."

"We should rather ask about her," Pyrrha pointed.

"I'm a member, or, I guess former member, of the White Fang," Malachite's voice was soft as she spoke, looking at no one but Ruby. "I was one of the ones guarding Mistress Cinder. But, I was used to test her Grimm Flesh, making me her slave. The goal was obvious… lure you all here so that Lady Emerald could kill you."

"But, do you have a Semblance?"

"No. Or, rather, if I do, I've never seen it," Malachite looked down. "I truly don't know if I have one. But, I will not stand in your way. All I want to do is make it back to Vacuo, to my home. Please let me go. I… I only joined them because I was afraid they would hurt my children. Lady Emerald placed an illusion on me that my memories were gone, which was only possible with the Grimm Flesh."

"No problem," Pyrrha smiled, holding out her hand. "I can understand being afraid and giving in to that fear. Let's part ways on friendlier terms."

"I-I'd like that," Malachite smiled, taking her hand.

"Well, Mercury took our car, so we'll just take this bitch's car." Ruby pointed to Emerald, picking her up by her hair.

"Is she still alive?" Weiss asked. "She looks in bad shape."

"She's in bad shape because I worked her over real good," Ruby took a drag on her cig, dragging her around the hotel to find a nice car. It was the size of a van, a convertible top opened, showing six seats.

"So, where to now?" Weiss asked.

"The next town is Violet City," Maria looked at her scroll's map. "It's halfway between Sanus and Vytal."

"We have to go to Vytal?" Weiss asked.

"It's the only place to get a passage to Menagerie," Maria said. "Vytal will give us passage to Mistral and from there, we can go to Menagerie. Only from Mistral is Menagerie possible."

"That sounds convoluted," Pyrrha sighed.

"If we were flying, it wouldn't be," Maria sighed, rubbing her head. "But, to protect innocent lives, this is what we have to do."

"If that's how it has to be," Pyrrha nodded. "Then, that is how it must be. Well, onward."

"Right," Maria grinned. "In Violet City, we can also drop off our passenger."

"As long as you don't drive this car like the last one." Ruby got in the car, sitting in the front.

"Hey, I'm not a bad driver," Maria stuck her tongue out at Ruby, who put her hands behind her head and tilted her hat down over her eyes.

"Certainly an immature one," Pyrrha muttered to Weiss, who snorted.

"Hey, I heard that!" Maria turned around. "I am not an immature driver."

"A guy honked at you and you jumped out of the car and attacked him," Weiss said.

"That wasn't recently," Maria scoffed, holding her hands up.

"That was last week!" Weiss shouted. "Dummkopf, you even kept his mirror as a souvenir."

"Can we just go?" Ruby rolled her eyes. "We don't have time to bicker like children over this."

"Yeah, let's go then," Maria hopped into the car. Weiss and Pyrrha carried the unconscious Emerald and deposited her in the middle of the back seat.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Malachite asked. "I mean, what if she wakes up and tries to attack us?"

"If she does, we'll all collectively beat her into submission," Maria held up a hand. "Now, let's get driving."

"There's one thing I've wondered," Weiss looked at her. "How can you get all these cars without licenses in the towns they're from. Every area in Vale, Vacuo, and Mistral has different rules."

"Eh, I just wing it," Maria shrugged.

"That's obvious," Weiss sighed.

"Whatever, miss 'honorably stabbing you in the heart'." Maria rolled her eyes. "I know what I'm doing."

"I swear to god, old lady, if you don't shut it, you're riding in the trunk," Ruby glanced over at her grandmother from the corner of her eye.

"Fine, fine," Maria said as she started the car with the keys left in the ignition. They took off, down the road, ready to begin the next leg of their trip. It wasn't going to be positive, most likely, but they would fight to the bitter end to help Autumn.

Meanwhile, Sun and Glynda were at the airport, getting ready to board a plane.

"Do be careful, Sun," Glynda held the Faunus' arm as he looked over the railing. "In your older age, I'm having to look after you far more than you looked after me."

"Sorry, Glyn," Sun grinned. "I'm just so excited to see my baby girl again. It's been ages."

"Well, if you don't be careful, it'll be her visiting you in the hospital," Glynda sighed.

"I know, I know," Sun waved his hand at her. "By the way, you heard anything from Maria yet? She hasn't called me and I'm a little worried."

"She's doing the best she can on her business trip," Glynda shrugged. "Plus, this is Maria we're talking about."

"I suppose you're right," Sun chuckled. "Maria never was the type to call often."

"Besides, it'll be good experience for Ruby anyway," Glynda sighed. "But, regardless, I think they'll be fine."

"So what did she say when she called you the other day?" Sun asked.

"She said she's doing fine and she'll talk to you later." Glynda smiled. She hated to lie, but this was for the best for now. She would tell Sun the truth later.


And, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy and I'll see you next chapter.