RWBY: Team CRML

Chapter 31

Marek

Having recovered his aura, Marek, Ruby, the remaining members of team JNPR, and Qrow all sat around a campfire. Qrow had a bandage around his torso where Tyrian stabbed him with his scorpion tail. Qrow had also informed them about the maidens and Salem. "Really? No questions?" Qrow asked.

"I have one." Jaune turned to Marek. "Why did Tyrian call you 'prince'?"

There were a few seconds of silence before Marek removed his hood and bandanna. "I'm the adopted son of Salem." he told them.

This was followed by more silence. "You're what?"

"Care to elaborate?" Jaune asked.

Marek sighed. "Me and Mist are twins, but me and Shadow aren't related. Both of our families were slaughtered by Grimm. Salem found us and raised her as her own. But I saw what she was. Growing up surrounded by monsters, it took a long time for me to see her for what she was. And when I did, I tried to leave. But...you can see how well that turned out." he said, gesturing to his Grimm-like features. "So, that answer your question?"

"What did she do?" Ruby asked.

"She tried to turn me into what she is." Marek replied. "Or at least, let someone else try. Said 'once you see what kind of power you could possess, you'll change your mind'. Next thing I knew, I was tied to a table. Then this scientist walked over with a syringe filled with a dark liquid. Said it was filled with Beowolf DNA and a hint of the liquid from the Grimm pools."

"Grimm pools?" Nora asked.

"It's what they're born from." Marek replied.

"What happened next?" Ruby asked.

Marek rolled up the sleeve of his jacket, showing his snow white skin with dark red veins running up his arm. "He injected it into my arm." he pointed to a spot on his forearm. Marek closed his eyes as he turned his head away from them. "The pain was...indescribable. I could feel the stuff spread through my body like a wave. Slowly. At a steady pace." he raised his hand and had his claws extend from his fingernails. "Salem was right. I did get power. But at a cost. I'm not sure I'm even human anymore."

Everyone fell silent. "That's about it." Marek had his claws retreat as he rolled his sleeve back down. "Anyways, all this talk is making me tired. I'm going to get some sleep." he stood up and walked over to a nearby tree.

Chrome

Outside of the Belladonna residence, night fell upon Menagerie. However, Chrome was wide awake and standing outside on the balcony just outside of his bedroom. Leaning against the railing, he stared out at the trees while the gentle breeze blew against his skin.

"Chrome!" Sun rushe outside and over to him. "Chrome, I gotta show you something!"

Sun pulled out his scroll and began searching through his photos. "What is it?"

"Okay! So, I was in the market yesterday, right?" Sun said. "And I saw someone wearing a White Fang mask."

"So?"

"So, your mom said that the White Fang don't wear masks in Menagerie!" Sun replied.

"Look, I don't know what you want me to do about it, but I'm not exactly looking for a fight here." Chrome told him. "Why don't you go to Blake with this?"

Sun nodded. "Yeah, okay."

Running off to tell Blake, a few seconds passed before a loud crash echoed. Sighing, Chrome headed towards the source just in time to see Blake slap Sun twice.

Sun told Blake what he told Chrome but Blake wasn't having any of it. "I'm trying to help!"

"I don't want your help!" Blake said as she snatched Sun's scroll and threw it into the trees. Hearing a feminine gasp, the three of them turned to the trees. Narrowing their eyes, a figure covered in black jumped from the trees.

"A freakin' ninja!"

"A spy!" Blake said, quickly giving chase.

Chrome was quick to react, following his sister as their mother came outside. "What's happened?"

"The White Fang is evil, I totally called it, and I'm bringing your daughter back!" Sun said before following the two of them.

Kali watched with a worried expression as the three disappeared from sight.

Jumping from tree to tree, Chrome and Blake were quickly catching up to the spy. Leaping onto a building, the spy looked back just as Chrome landed on the roof. Rolling as he hit the ground, he swung one of his swords at her but she jumped back, dodging it. Using her whip to attack, Chrome blocked it before she jumped over a pipe, using her whip to cut it open.

Blake slid through the steam as Chrome jumped over the pipe. Landing in front of the spy, Chrome readied himself. "Why are you watching us?" Blake growled.

Sun jumped to the roof behind her. "Give it up! I'm not above hitting a girl you-" he was cut off as the spy slashed her whip at him. Falling onto his back as he avoided it, Blake went to attack, kicking the scroll from the spy's grip.

As the two went to retrieve it, Sun tackled the spy with his semblance, using his copies to keep her pinned. Blake picked the scroll up as Sun's semblance wore off. The spy got up and picked up her weapon, aiming it at Blake.

Seeing this, Chrome went to attack but stopped as the spy's mask broke and fell off her face, revealing who she is. "Ilia?" Chrome said, surprised.

"Wait, you know her?! But she doesn't even look like a f-" Sun was cut off as Ilia strikes an electric hit near his shoulder with her weapon as her skin and freckles change colors. Sun cried out as he fell.

"Sun!"

"Give it to me." Ilia growled.

"No."

Ilia changes color again.

"You shouldn't have come back." Ilia told her.

She uses her weapon to create a rush of dust. Shielding their eyes as the dust settled, Ilia was gone.

Seeing Sun lying on the ground, Blake rushed to his side as Chrome sheathed his blades. "Sun! Sun!"

Hours later, Marek

Waking up to the sun shining in his eyes, Marek sat up along with the rest of his group. Hearing a pained cough nearby, Marek looked over to see Qrow holding his wound as he coughed with a hand over his mouth.

Walking over, Qrow pulled his hand away, a purple substance coasting his palm. Ruby walked next to Marek and saw it, too. "Well... That's unfortunate." Qrow said before passing out.

End of chapter 31