RWBY: A Thorn in My Heart

Chapter 28: Ugliness on the Outside

"We are live here on Atlas News!" A news reporter woman yells, instantly snapping Ruby out of her stupor. She turned her head away from the beast with Weiss's face momentarily to see a white van pull up a few feet away.

"This just in, a large Grimm is attacking outside Atlas Pharmacy! It appears despite huntsman and huntresses already on the scene, it seems to have caused substantial damage to the neighboring buildings using what appears to be dust on its body. All citizens should remain clear of this area!" she exclaimed to the camera.

Ruby bit her lip in frustration,

"Yeah maybe you should take your own advice?! Get out of here!" Ruby yelled, startling the news reporter.

"Yeah right! A Grimm that uses Dust, this is the biggest scoop of the century! The news reporter woman said as she shook her head defiantly.

Ruby groaned in annoyance, not only did they have to figure out a way to save Weiss, now they had civilians to protect at the same time and with Weiss's semblance more destructive than ever that wasn't going to be easy. As she pondered that thought, Grimm Weiss noticed Ruby's lack of focus; it felt a strong attraction to her more than ever as it desired to grab her and possess her for herself.

"G-Get…Ruby!" she roared as she lunged at Ruby, who had barely enough time to activate her Aura guard and felt a force like Nora's hammer slam her shoulders, almost dislocating them, as she was forced to the ground. Her red Aura flickered as her head hit the concrete floor and she winced in pain and shock. Had she not activated her Aura, that attack would certainly have splattered her brain on the ground and ended her mission then and their. The others also felt the force of the attack as the Grimm's large body knocked them aside with its wings while they stumbled. The pain form being pushed finally snapped them out of their shock as they groaned and struggled to lift their heads. As they did, a terrifying sight beheld them. Weiss's face was receding back into the Grimm's body as it was covered by black ooze.

"Weiss! Stay with us please!" Blake yelled frightfully, but it was no use. The transformation had been completed and the Chimera's face replaced Weiss's fully. It glared at Ruby, who sported a frightful look, tears stinging her eyes as she saw her friend disappear.

"Eat… her lips." The Grimm stuttered as its jaw twitched, almost dislocating itself as it then opened wide revealing 3 layers of razor sharp fangs slowly heading towards Ruby's mouth. She could feel intense heat from the mouth as it drew closer to hers. She froze with terror at the thought of her friends eating her face off as drool oozed on her face.

The News team was about to turn the camera off, not wanting a graphic scene of a huntress being eat alive to be broadcast before their bodies froze from a realization.

"Wait…did that Grimm just speak!?" the cameraman asked the reporter, whose eyes widen and sparkled as she smiled. This story was getting more exciting by the moment. She motioned the camera away from the scene towards her.

"Yes, it would seem this is the first confirmed Grimm that can speak human tongue. How will these huntresses and huntsman handle such a terrifying new threat in Atlas?

Dark Continent

Cinder and her team were watching television from the formers office, grinning madly at the broadcast. They were enjoying the sight of Team RWBY's helplessness and shock even more than the chaos the Chimera Weiss was brining.

"Guess the Schnee president's getting some more publicity." Mercury snickered. His remark brining a sadistic grin from Cinder, whose eyes narrowed as she focused on her new pet.

"Yes, once she's disposed of those "heroes", I'll undo the transformation right in front of the camera. Her reputation will be ruined, we will have more bodies for Monstra, and those brats will finally for the scarring us!" she yelled as she rubbed the hole that once held her eye before Ruby sliced it. It always burned, even with Hazel's semblance. With his semblance now in Weiss's possession, Cinder felt assured her pet would easily be able to kill any huntress since she could just ignore most strikes and keep attacking. Cinder's only regret right now was that she wasn't personally killing them herself, and soon entered her office the reason for this inaction.

"I do hope that is soon. After all, I wouldn't want my dear sister to suffer for long." A white haired late teenager sarcastically said as he entered, sporting a smug smile.

"Glad you could make it to see your sister's final moments as president, Whitely." Emerald said.

"Pleasures all mine, or at least it will finally be once I get back the company from that bitch." Whitely bitterly remarked. Ever since the day she was reigned in as heir, he had been confined to meaningless paperwork for a meager buck. Such royal blood being subjected to grunt work was a massive insult to his pride. He clenched the sword on his waist as he gritted his teeth in rage.

"Wish you could be the one to kill her? What killing Adam wasn't enough for you partner." Cinder said as she pointed to his blade. Whitely averted his gaze as he remembered that night. It was one suppose to be just like any other once he started working for Cinder's faction. Simply bribe the guards to leave, give dust to the White Fang, and get a fortune from Cinder as a result. Then that bull faunus shows up and he had to waste his energy from years of secretly sword training on him.

"No, my blade should never have had to touch the filthy skin or putrid blood of that stinking cow peasant." Whitely arrogantly spat, his tone annoying Emerald who felt it was an insult to speak so vulgar towards her master. Before she could charge her robot arm to put a hole in their benefactors face, Cinder raised her hand, stopping her in her tracks.

"Indeed, and once the bitch queen has been dethroned, you'll finally get what's coming to you my friend." Cinder softly said, her tone and words appeasing the young man who placed his hand to his chest like a noble and departed gracefully. Once he was out of the room, Mercury gave her a smirk.

"I hope he gets what I think you mean." He venomously said. After all, once Monstra is released they won't even need soldiers or dust anymore. The most powerful Grimm in existence would annihilate any kingdom foolish enough to challenge them. Best those things would be used for is food for the Grimm, and that spoiled brat would be no exception.

A silent nod from Cinder confirmed his question to his joy. Emerald was almost as happy before pondering something she felt she had to bring up with her master and lover.

"I still don't see why we don't just go in and kill them ourselves." She asked, though in a curious manner to avoid sounding rude, such a thing towards Cinder even Emerald feared could cause death.

"The chaos will attract more grimm to Atlas and make our work easier. Once the huntsman have exhausted themselves fighting or die, it will be easier to collect the bodies for Monstra." Cinder said, her explanation not easing Emeralds frustrations though. Seeing this, Cinder summoned a portal and out came a disgusting sight almost as putrid as the stench which made her and Mercury clasp shut their noses. It was Tyrian Callows putrid corpse. His skin infested with maggots and his hand and jaw revealing bone beyond peeled and rotten skin.

"We have spent 5 years gathering the bodies of refugees, homeless bums, and exuding corpses from graves like Tyrian. The strongest Hunstman and Huntresses will provide even greater power once sacrificed like he will. Said bodies don't come easy so we must be smart in how we procure them." Cinder explained. It was easier to acquire bums and refugees because the general populace was callous towards them and wouldn't notice their disappearance. Now that Ironwood was finally catching on to them, Cinder knew it was time to enact her endgame as she continued tow watch the attack on Atlas and team RWBY unfold as she layed in her chair amused.

Atlas

"Ladies and Gentlemen stay tuned as we bring you more updates." She said as she cut the camera.

"Yes! I am sure to get a big raise for this scoop!" She said as she high fived her camera man.

As the team was congratulating themselves, they felt their bodies suddenly shake. Yang had finally heard enough of their incessant monologue while her sister was being hurt and, her eyes red and hair on fire, grabbed hold of their entire van and lifted it above her head.

"How about you rats make yourselves useful for once and distract the cat!" She screamed as she threw the van with the team towards the Chimera.

Just as its fangs got within an inch of Ruby's lips, the beast suddenly ceased its attack and darted its head towards the sound of the van, only catching a glimpse of its headlights as the hood smashed into the monsters chest and forced it into a nearby building.

Yang ran up to her sister, who laid motionless on the ground in shock, barely breathing.

"Rubes, don't worry big sis is here!" Yang yelled, snapping Ruby out of her state. She slowly picked herself up as she rubbed the back of her head and groaned in pain.

"Where's Weiss?" Ruby asked, her question making Yang dart her eyes around nervously. She just realized what she did in her anger and felt a mix of shame for endangering the news team, but also some amusement feeling they deserved it for being annoying.

"I think she's over there." Yang nervously said as she pointed to the wreck of the van, exuding smoke from its hood as it pressed up the Grimm against a wall as the camera crew and reporter wobbled to their feet, dizzy from the impact. Suddenly, the Chimera ripped the vehicle in half as it roared in anger, scaring the crew away into a dark alley.

It clenched it's teeth as it cracked its knuckles and enhanced its razor sharp claws, reading for another charge towards the heroes, who exhaled in exhaustion. They didn't know what to do to stop Weiss, she felt like she was invincible right now. Before they could even ponder what to do, the beast charged at them only to be snagged by two glowing hands of energy. As she squirmed in the hands that mysteriously appeared, Team Rwby and Sun looked above to see on top of a roof 5 huntsman, one of whom was a pale bald (almost Buddhist-like) man whose arms were enveloped with energy. Another was a dark skin girl around Ruby's age with shaved platinum blond and brown hair on her sides with pink eyes. Another was a middle age man around Qrow's age with shaggy brown hair and muscles as large as Hazel's, a large dark skin woman with brown hair, and a dog faunus man around Ruby's age with a dark blue tail and dog ears.

"Sorry we're late, you kids take cover the Atlas Ops will take it from here." The middle age man said as he eyed his bald comrade who nodded and whipped his aura arms, encasing the Chimera in a rope of aura.

"Ace Ops? Who are these guys?" Yang asked, but Blake frowned as she saw this unit. She knew them all too well.

"The Ace Ops are Atlas's top lapdogs. They work for not just Ironwood but the rich executives in the city council and just attack anyone who gets in their way of filling their pockets." Blake bitterly said. She remembered what Adam said about the day she lost her mother to the abusive police in Atlas. The Ace Ops, (granted different ones though she didn't know that as she was a baby) were there but didn't stop the violence towards her family. She clenched her fist as she vividly recalled Adam saying they smiling instead along with a councilman who merely handed them cash as to ignore it. Atlas police were not to be trusted, that was the message Adam engrained into her since day one of training. Seeing Weiss being snagged by them and wriggling frantically in that aura net only worsened Blake's anger as she ignored a punch to the face that came along with a lightning flash before her eyes.

"I heard that remark bitch!" the dark skin girl said as she darted by like the flash.

"Hey!" Yang said as she raised her fist towards the girl who struck her partner, but all she saw was another flash before the girl darted behind her and delivered a kick to her neck, knocking the fire brawler out.

"Yang, Blake!" Sun exclaimed as he clasped his hands. He summoned some clones to try and restrain the girl, but she just kept running at break neck speed and punched and kicked all them into disappearing.

"Harriet focus, we got a Grimm to deal with right now, that's more important than your damn ego!" The dog faunus said, raising his finger that caused her to freeze. Harriet gritted her teeth as she shrugged her shoulder angrily in compliance, causing him to release her from his semblance. She hated being ordered around, even more than someone insulting her unit, but knew she couldn't help but agree to his demand.

The dog faunus and his team jumped on the walls of the building and landed right beside Ruby, who was tenderly handling her sisters head, having caught it to avoid her being injured after Harriet knocked her out. She looked up to see the image of the dog man approach her, but with a smile and his hands raised slowly to assure her he wasn't in the mood for a fight. Ruby flinched a bit as he got closer. His appearance reminded her of Timber, who flashed before her eyes each step the dog man took. Seeing her fear, and assuming it was from Harriet's attack, the man took a deep breath as he decided to introduce himself.

"Sorry about her, she can be a pain in the ass, but she's got a good heart. My name is Marrow, that's harriet, this is my team leader Clover, his partner holding down that Grimm is Vine, and my partner Elm. Like your friend over there said, were the Ace Ops but I think I'm the only dog here right." He chuckled as he introduced his team, who smiles started to ease Ruby's discomfort. She took a deep breath and the image of Timber finally left Marrow's face as he smiled and reached out his hand to her to help her up. Ruby tenderly placed Yang on the ground, then slowly reached for his hand only to pause briefly as she still felt a sick feeling in her stomach from her trauma flashes.

"Stop it Ruby, he's not Timber. He's a huntsman and a friend you can make. No need to fear, no need to fear." She repeatedly said in her mind. It was hard for her to touch men, especially faunus men, after her rape but she had came up with a phrase to ease this discomfort. It was one of the few good things she felt came from therapy.

As she took his hand and got up, Vine started to grunt as he felt the Grimm growing stronger by the minute.

"Harriet just had to get mad and make other people mad too huh?" he said as he clenched his teeth. He dug his heels against the rooftops ledge to give himself more leverage as the Chimera applied more force to its aura bindings and roared. Electric Dust soon spotted out from its body that sent shockwaves to Vine's body, electrocuting him as he screamed in pain. Before the Ace Ops or Ruby could react, the Chimera then stabbed its hand with a Gravity dust crystal from another and sent out a wave of purple energy. The energy caused the heroes to plop their bodies to the floor laying on their chests as they felt like a wrecking ball was pushing them down. Any attempt to get up felt like their spines were going to snap.

"Damn it!, hey… Cl-Clover… Where's the goo-good luck now." Harriet grunted, barely able to force her words out under the pressure the gravity was pushing on her face. Clover could barely roll his eyes in annoyance before noticing the Grimm approaching them. It sharpened its claws at it took a few steps closer and drew its eyes on Marrow and Ruby.

"Faunus, go away… She… Mine!" Chimera Weiss grunted. Ruby's eyes widen in horror as she realized Weiss was going to kill him out of jealousy.

"Did Weiss really envy her and Blake's relationship so much she'd want to kill her?" Ruby thought to herself.

She tried to force her body up, but it was futile. The gravity was still in effect and she couldn't even reach crescent rose. She tried to summon thorns and vines, but the pressure pressed those two to the ground as she shot them. Dread infected Ruby's heart from her helplessness. All she could do was avert her eyes to what would certainly be the evisceration of her new friends innards as the Grimm picked him up.

"No Ruby! Don't close your eyes!" a man's voice screamed, putting Ruby on alert as she instinctively did as she was told.

Suddenly the doors to the Pharmacy opened and Pietro wheeled outside, despite Klein's audible objection.

"Focus, Focus on that Grimm and think of a happy time I your life, NO! The best time of your life!" he yelled with all his strength as the gravity soon began to effect him, causing his wheelchair to crumble as he plopped on his chest.

"Why does he want me to?" Ruby began to ponder before her heart raced at the sight of the Grimm slashing Marrow's chest. His Aura took the brunt of the slice, but his uniform was getting cut, revealing his chest. Ruby knew in that instant if she didn't do something he would die from the next strike.

Ruby took a deep breath and began to think.

"My happiest memory." She thought.

In that moment, all time felt slow. All noise was drowned out as she pondered what her happiest memory was. She first thought of her mother baking her and Yang cookies. She mentally shook her head as this wasn't enough. Her first mission at Beacon?

"Banzai!" the team said as they raised their arms in unison joyfully as they headed to Mountain Glenn.

"No, that's not it." Ruby said.

Was it her wedding or wedding night?

"No that's a little embarrassing." She said, her face blushing as she had mixed feelings of joy to adulterous shame for engaging in a threesome with Blake and Penny that night, despite how much pleasure she felt.

She had so many good times with her family and friends but non seemed to bring her a feeling of absolute bliss or excitement like Pietro wanted. Ruby then noticed a recent memory, the image of Marrow getting slashed. Her heart fluttered as she saw his painful expression. She then suddenly took noticed of something else near his face, his dog ears. Then she saw his tail wag.

"Dog ears, tail, hey… he's just like Thorn." She said, realizing she had saw Timber in him rather than something positive like her son. Her son was a dog faunus like him, just like the rapist who tormented her, Timber. Her memories then flashed to her rape at Mountain Glenn, her bulging stomach that carried the product oft hat horrible encounter. Then her painful therapy sessions where she was forced to tell her counselor and the group of rape victims her thoughts Her heartstrings tugged as she remembered talking about her deepest darkest secret.

"Sometimes I am really grateful Thorn was born with my eyes. If he had his eyes,…. I'm not sure I could even stomach looking at him." She said as she covered her eyes and broke down in sobs.

Ruby hung her head in shame remembering this. She at times felt underserving to be a mother, having neglected to love her son when she was pregnant. She then remembered seeing him in an incubator with that breathing tube in him. Even though she tried to convince herself she could love him and be a perfect mother like Summer, she secretly felt unworthy to be that.

"Happy!" Pietro's voice echoed, causing Ruby to become startled.

"Right! Right happy I know! Wait…" Ruby exclaimed before she realized something, she didn't know anything. How to be a mother, how to be a perfect huntress and leader, or how to be happy. All those uncertainties were what she focused on so much since being raped and impregnated.

"What am I sure of?" she thought. Suddenly her own words echoes in her mind as she saw a flash of white light ahead of her. She slowly walked towards it, hearing the sound of giggling and a woman's voice. She soon recognized it was her own, but pondered who she was speaking too. As she went up to the light, she finally could hear and see clearly. She smiled and formed tears of joy as she found her answer.

"I love you my sweet little rose." She said in unison with her memory. She was speaking to her 5 year old son on the transmitter on the ship. His bright face with cute dog ears and tail wagging bringing joy to her spirit.

"That's right, every time I talk with you becomes the happiest moment of my life." She said she was enveloped by the light.

Ruby then opened her eyes as they glowed silver, emitting a giant flash of energy even greater than the one she used earlier. The Chimera dropped Marrow as it screeched and was consumed by the light. When the shine faded, Ruby felt her eyes burning and aching in pain. Her head started hurting, but she ignored that as she looked to see a naked Weiss on the floor, her body had returned to normal, save for a red scars from dust infusion on her arms and a black mark on her stomach. Ruby fought her drowsiness as her vision began to fade as she crawled to her partner. A sudden gasp from Weiss who groaned in pain before coughing a bit was all she needed to hear before closing her aching eyes, embracing her exhaustion.

Atlas Hospital

"A shocking development tonight as it was revealed Weiss Schnee, president of the SDC was in fact that Grimm that attacked Atlas. How did she transform into a Grimm and why did she betray Atlas? Police are still investigating this yet no news of any arrest is in the air right now. The SDC has issued a statement…:" the television showcasing the news report turned off, or rather was forced off as Sun threw the remote at the tv.

"Weiss a traitor!? What bullshit!" he roared as looked at the emergency room like saying "In operation" and started breathing heavily. He ignored the secretaries outrage, who panicked and shut up once seeing Yang's red eyes, glowing with rage over this indecent news report.

"She didn't betray anyone, if anything I betrayed her." Blake solemnly said, remembering their fight that caused Weiss to run off and get captured. It was not fair to blame Weiss for this attack, but she knew the people were going to point fingers at her because they couldn't understand that. All they would see is a monster that attacked Atlas instead of the kind friend she knew. She then turned her attention to Yang, wearing a neck brace while waiting for her aura to heal her injured neck from Harriets kick, pacing around the hospital waiting room. She was biting her fingernails rapidly as panic for her sister and teammates conditions enveloped her. Blake saw her partners state, it was the exact same one she was in after the war when Ruby was being treated for a possible miscarriage. As much as she wanted to tell Yang to stop her pacing or chewing, she had no strength left in her. She could only sit and clasp her head, guilt and fear overtaking her mind.

"This is all my fault, if only I didn't yell at Weiss maybe…" before she could finish her deprecating speech, Sun flicked her head with his finger. She cried as she felt the sting in the move and looked at him, his face stern despite tears flowing down his face.

"And if I had just manned up and been honest with you this wouldn't happen either. Where does thinking like that get us? Nowhere, we need to think like Ruby now!" Sun exclaimed. His speech eliciting a sigh from Blake as she wiped tears from her face.

"Yeah, she'd be hopeful right now." Blake solemnly said. Her heart pounded like a drum remembering all the times Ruby's optimism, even if blind at times, kept them all inspired through dark times. She had to follow her example like always even when her wife was hurt.

Soon a doctor emerged from Ruby and Weiss's room, almost slipping on his back as he was caught off guard by everyone running up to him and grabbing his coat.

"How are they!? Are they alive!? What happened to Weiss is she!?" they all asked before being shut down by a stern yell from the doctor, causing them to retreat embarrassed. The man informed them that Ruby's eyes suffered some strain but the staff put a clothe of medicine around them and should heal them by morning. The news of Weiss's injuries were much more severe, fate being cruel and causing their spirits to begin cracking, they started losing the hope they had just achieve. The doctor was referring to that black mass in Weiss's stomach.

"We don't exactly know what it is, but we can only assume its some sort of tumor. Her Aura is keeping it contained, but when I tried to remove it, the mass started retreating back into the body and growing. I had to have a special nurse infuse Aura into her to stop the infection. But the way it moves around her body is sort of like a Grimm. I have never seen anything like this before" He explained.

Everyone nearly dropped to the ground hyperventilating. A tumor! And from what it sounded like, whatever happened to Weiss that transformed her may happen again.

"Okay kids settle down, as long as Ruby is around your friend has a fighting chance." Pietro said, he had experienced this despair before years ago but knew they needed to stay focused on the positives right now.

"Wha-What do you mean?" Blake asked, fighting her tears.

After getting permission from the doctor, the group went in to see Weiss and Ruby, the former wearing a breathing mask and being supported by an Aura nurse and the latter sleeping peacefully with her clothe over her eyes.

"My wife had silver eyes just like Ruby here." Pietro said as he wheeled up to her bedside.

"She told me stories of people like her being able to evaporate or freeze Grimm with just a glance of those eyes. I never believed it until I saw her do it the day I lost her." Pietro said. His explanation brought smile to Yang's face. She fought her soreness in her neck and ran to hug him, understanding what he was implying.

"So she gets back up, pow pow! And laser eyes the Grimm tumor and Weiss is all better!?" she exclaimed.

"Hahaha Yes, that's about it. Better keep it down though, she needs her rest." Pietro laughed as he placed a hand on Ruby's hand, smiling as he felt like he saw his wife again after so many years.

"My wife was once the legendary huntress the Grim Reaper." he said, earning a surprised reaction from the group. She was spoken in the stuff of legends for huntresses, having been said to have slain armies of Grimm with a single glance. Pietro couldn't help but chuckle at their reactions and remarks. All of it was indeed true though. He witnessed it the day he suffered an accident and lost the use of his legs.

"My wife rescued me and a group of men when our ship crashed. She saved us, but went blind in battle because she overused her eyes to stop the army of Grimm that came after us, and thats when I... lost her." he sadly said. He honestly wished he was blind too so he didn't have to see the image of her marred body that laid before him that day, having succumb to her injuries though retained a smile from what Pietro assumed was satisfaction her sacrifice wasn't in vain.

"Just let her rest and the same won't happen to Ruby. I get your worried for your friend but Ruby over here will make everything right I assure you." He said.

Sun and Blake then ran over to Weiss, ignoring the nurses orders to stand back as they placed their hands on her shoulder and the former caressed her hair.

"You can be a pain, but you don't know how happy we are that your gonna be okay." Sun said what Blake was thinking to her amusement as they kept crying tears of joy at the sight of her heart monitor beeping normally. It was another assurance for them everything was okay and when she woke up they could sort their problems out.

Everyone's smiles soon evaporated as the doors to the room opened up, revealing Harriet and Marrow, the latter folding his arms and looking down disapprovingly. Blake noticed it was more of a self-deprecating look than one at them unlike his partner who merely smirked at Yang seeing her brace. Yang's eyes redden as she stood in front of her sister. She was extremely pissed seeing her attacker act so smug.

"Ready for round 2 bitch!" Yang dared Harriet who simply ignored her and causally walked past Yang. An injured woman was no challenge to the ace op, then again she wasn't a match for her even when not; something her look said to Yang. Pietro had to hold Yang's hand back before the injured girl did something drastic next to Ruby, the sight of whom calmed her sister down into deactivating her semblance. It almost reignited however, once Harriet pushed Blake and Sun aside forcefully to Marrow's objection. She then slapped a cuff on Weiss's hand to her bed.

"Weiss Schnee, when you wake up, just know that you are under arrest for treason against Atlas!" Harriet announced to the shock of everyone present. Marrow sighed as he looked at Ruby's comatose body, glad she wasn't awake to see the chaos unfolding right now.

The title I know I changed but it felt better to represent the disparities existing within being brought to the surface. Weiss is under arrest!? How will her team clean up this mess? Adam's killer is finally revealed and I am sure your thinking how Blake and Weiss would react to it being the latters brother. Next time, Qrow and RWBY try to convince Ironwood and Ace ops to fight public opinion and spare Weiss in CH 29: Faith